Submitted by:
Nicolas Cowan
General area of research:
suffragette, abolitionist, climate scientist and all-around badass
McGill courses:
Thermodynamics, radiative transfer, climate physics
Why you chose to feature this researcher:
She was arguably the first scientist to report that carbonic acid (CO2) makes the surface temperature of the Earth greater. A quote from one of her conference proceedings (presented by a male colleague since she wasn't allowed into the royal academy): “One receiver being filled with carbonic acid, the temperature was raised twenty degrees. An atmosphere of that gas would give to our earth a high temperature” E. Foote (1856) Link to a recent talk I gave with a slide about her: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5vwoyjlleo4lpna/cowan_cap_2021.pptx?dl=0
More info:
Yes
Highlighting research:
Describe in detail the research from this individual that you would like to highlight:
How does this research relate to a undergraduate curricular topic, and teachable concepts in physics?
rotational-vibrational transitions in molecules. Angular momentum, electric dipoles, quantum mechanics, radiative transfer!
What is the significance of this research? This can mean within the particular field, as well as broader societal relevance.
Climate change ain't rocket science: we've known about this since the mid 19th century!
Do you wish to upload figures and/or images relevant to understanding the research?
Yes.