Julia Thompson Foundation
Support for the 2008 South African Grid School is provided by the Julia Thompson Foundation. Julia was an experimental particle physicist at the University of Pittsburgh in the United States. She was a dedicated teacher of students, and a passionate advocate for increased participation of women and underrepresented groups in scientific research.
In 1999 during a visit to South Africa, Julia contacted the education ministry in Cape Town and visited several high schools to learn about their physics programs. Her efforts subsequently led to programs to send teams of US physicists, teachers and undergraduates to high schools in South Africa to help initiate programs that would enhance hands-on physics training. The programs are now sustained through the efforts of local education ministries and scientists.
Julia was a dedicated scientist and teacher whose work was interrupted at the height of her career. She is remembered as a tireless and tenacious physicist, a compassionate and caring individual, and, above all, a champion for the underprivileged.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Julia Thompson Foundation, and its goals of furthering the education and training of young African scientists.
More Pictures
Physics today obituary
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Thanks to all speakers and delegates!
Check the after school page for info, talks etc.
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