fbpx

KidsKonnect

Dorothy Hodgkin Facts & Worksheets

Dorothy Hodgkin was the first female British chemist to win the Nobel Prize (1964).

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /People /Figures /Dorothy Hodgkin Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Dorothy Hodgkin Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Dorothy Hodgkin was the first female British chemist to win the Nobel Prize (1964). She is known for her work in advancing a scientific technique called “X-ray crystallography.”

See the fact file below for more information on the Dorothy Hodgkin or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Dorothy Hodgkin worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND

  • X-ray crystallography is a science that uses X-ray beams to confirm the atomic and molecular structure of a substance. Hodgkin used this technology to determine the structure of biomolecules (biological molecule).
  • X-ray crystallography has helped scientists to determine the structure of DNA. It is an essential tool in the science of structural biology.

EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION

  • Dorothy Hodgkin was born on May 12, 1910 in Cairo Egypt. She was the oldest of three daughters. Her father was John Winter Crowfoot and her mother was Grace Mary.
  • Hodgkin and her family lived between two countries, Egypt and England. In the summer months the family would return to England to avoid the heat of Egypt’s warmer months.
  • In 1921, at age 11, Hodgkin’s father enrolled her in the Sir John Leman Grammar School in Beccles, England. In this school she was one of two girls allowed to study Chemistry.
  • After graduating from the Sir John Leman Grammar School in 1928, Hodgkin rejoined her parents who were living in Jerusalem. Hodgkin’s father had recently accepted a position in 1926 as the Director of the British School of Archaeology.
  • In the same year (1928) Hodgkin enrolled in the Chemistry program at Somerville College, Oxford. At the time Somerville College was one of the only schools to admit women.
  • Hodgkin graduated from Oxford in 1932 with a first-class honours degree. She was the third woman at Oxford to ever receive this distinctive title.
  • After graduating from Oxford, Hodgkin began studying for a PhD in Chemistry at Newnham College,Cambridge.

PHD FINDINGS

  • While studying for her PhD at Cambridge University, Hodgkin became aware that X-ray crystallography had the potential to show the structure of biomolecules.
  • Hodgkin was presented her PhD in 1937. Her work focussed on using X-ray crystallography to confirm the structure of a chemical compound called “sterol.”
  • Sterol is a subgroup of a steroid. It is found naturally inside of plants and animals.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • In 1934 Hodgkin was awarded a research fellowship position at Oxford. She continued to hold this position until 1977.
  • Oxford went on to appoint Hodgkin with the title of “Reader” in 1957. This position is given to distinguished academics with an international reputation.
  • One year after being appointed as a Reader, Oxford gave Hodgkin her own scientific laboratory.
  • From 1977 to 1983 Hodgkin was awarded the title of Fellow at Oxford. This title allowed her to give lectures to students at the University.

SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES

  • A steroid is an organic compound that helps compose cells and send signals to other molecules.
  • Penicillin is a type of antibiotic typically used to treat bacterial infections.
  • Vitamin B12 (also known as cobalamin) is a natural vitamin that helps to regulate the human nervous system and support the development of red blood cells.
  • Insulin is a hormone found in the human body that regulates carbohydrates, fats, and protein by regulating glucose from the blood into the liver, fat, and skeletal muscle cells.
  • Hodgkin was the first person to confirm the three dimensional structure of a steroid. She published her finding in 1945.
  • In 1945 Hodgkin also helped to confirm the three dimensional structure of penicillin. Her work on penicillin was not officially published until 1949.
  • In 1948 Hodgkin used X-ray crystallography to better understand the structure of vitamin B12. Prior to her observations limited views of the substance had been published by other scientists. Hodgkin’s new observations were so advanced that she was later awarded the Nobel Prize in 1955 for her findings.
  • Hodgkin first began studying Insulin using X-ray crystallography in 1934. The technology at the time was not sophisticated enough for Hodgkin’s research. It took 35 years for the technology to advance enough to allow her to work on more complex and larger molecules of insulin.

LATER LIFE & AWARDS

  • Hodgkin devoted a large portion of her later career towards helping scientists in other countries (in particular China and India). She was also active in improving the relationship between the countries in the East and the West.
  • From 1975-1988 Hodgkin was the President of a group called the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. This group brings scientists together from around the world so that they can promote peaceful initiatives towards international security and development.
  • Hodgkin’s work has been instrumental in the development of structural studies of biology. Her work has inspired her students and her colleagues from all around the world.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Dorothy Hodgkin went by her maiden name Dorothy Crowfoot for the majority of her career. She finally decided to change her name to Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin in 1949.
  • On her 16th birthday Hodgkin’s mother gifted her with a book on X-ray crystallography. This book inspired her and helped determine her path for the future.

PERSONAL LIFE

  • Throughout her life Hodgkin was inspired by her mother whom she named as one of her top three heros.
  • Hodgkin was always passionate about issues regarding social inequalities and injustice.
  • In 1937 Dorothy married Thomas Hodkin. Her husband Thomas was an avid member of the Communist Party. Due to his affiliation with the Communist Party, Hodgkin was not allowed to enter the United States in 1953.
  • Together Hodgkin and her husband had a total of three children; Luke, Emily, and Toby.
  • In her later life Hodgkin struggled with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition which she had been previously diagnosed with at the age of 24 (1934).
  • Although she was bound to a wheelchair in her older age, Hodgkin still actively worked on scientific projects.
  • On July 29, 1994, Hodgkin suffered a stroke and passed away. She was approximately 83 years old at the time of her death.
  • Dorothy Hodgkin was known to be gentle and modest but driven with determination and courage.

Dorothy Hodgkin Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Dorothy Hodgkin across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Dorothy Hodgkin worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Dorothy Hodgkin who was the first female British chemist to win the Nobel Prize (1964). She is known for her work in advancing a scientific technique called “X-ray crystallography.”

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Dorothy Hodgkin, Facts
  • Hodgkin Timeline
  • Word Scramble
  • Chemist for a Day
  • Sentence Experiments
  • Chemistry Crossword
  • Interview with Dorothy Hodgkin
  • Sequence of Events
  • Experimental Wordsearch
  • See, Think, Wonder
  • Hodgkin in Five Words

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Dorothy Hodgkin Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 2, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources