Eva von Bahr

Eva Wilhelmina Julia von Bahr-Bergius, (16 September 1874 – 28 February 1962) was a Swedish physicist and teacher at a folk high school. She was the first woman in Sweden to become a docent in physics. She is known for her contact with and support of the poet Dan Andersson, for her friendship and support of the physicist Lise Meitner, and as a Catholic writer. Biography Background Eva von Bahr's parents were häradshövding (district judge) Carl von Bahr (1830–1900) and his wife Elisabeth Boström (1838–1914). She was the sister of Johan von Bahr, mayor of Uppsala, and niece of prime minister Erik Gustaf Boström (1842–1907) and philanthropist Ebba Boström (1844–1902), founder of the charitable institution Samariterhemmet in Uppsala. Eva von Bahr was born at Mälby farm in Roslags-Kulla (now in Österåker Municipality). Academic career Despite her family's wishes she wanted an education and studied for a year at the Askov folk high school in Denmark, where Poul la Cour encouraged her interest in physics and mathematics. In 1901, von Bahr matriculated at Uppsala University, in 1907 she passed her licentiate exam and in 1908 she defended her doctoral thesis about infrared radiation absorption in gases. Her thesis was praised and she was given a docent stipend, becoming the first woman physics docent in Sweden.