Payne-Scott, Ruby (1912-1981), was an Australian physicist , known for her pioneering work in radio astronomy. She discovered many properties of sunspots and solar flares . She also advocated gender equality in the workplace.
Ruby Violet Payne-Scott was born on May 28, 1912, in Grafton, New South Wales . She studied mathematics and physics at the University of Sydney , receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1933 and her master’s degree in 1936. After graduating, she worked as a physicist at the University of Sydney Cancer Research Institute. The research involved the use of radiation in cancer treatment. The institute’s cancer research project ended in 1938. Payne-Scott then found work as a teacher, and later as a librarian.
In 1941, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, now known as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) , hired Payne-Scott to conduct research on radar . She developed an interest in radio astronomy through her work. Astronomers use radio waves emitted by celestial objects to produce images of the objects. She conducted the earliest radio astronomy experiments in Australia with physicist Joseph L. Pawsey in 1944. In the following years, Payne-Scott made major contributions to the budding field of radio astronomy. Her research focused on radio observations of the sun. She contributed to the discovery of three categories of solar flares.
Payne-Scott married William Holman Hall in 1944. At the time, the Australian government barred married women from holding permanent federal positions. To protect her position at CSIRO, Payne-Scott kept her marriage a secret. Women were also required to wear skirts in the workplace. Payne-Scott breached that rule as well by regularly wearing shorts. In 1950, CSIRO discovered Payne-Scott’s marriage and changed her employment status to “temporary.” She passionately protested this demotion. Payne-Scott left CSIRO in 1951. She died on May 25, 1981, in Sydney .
