Florence Buchanan (21 April 1867 – 13 March 1931) was a zoologist. She was awarded a London D.Sc. in 1902, was appointed as a Fellow of the

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

in 1904, and was awarded the American Association of Collegiate Alumnae's prize in 1910 for her research.

Early years

Florence Buchanan was born on 21 April 1867 in the St. Marylebone parish in London.

Education

Florence studied for a BSc in Zoology at the

, from 1886 to 1890, achieving a second class honours.

Research

Buchanan's early research interests were in the development of respiratory organs in decapod

Crustacea Crustaceans (from Latin meaning: "those with shells" or "crusted ones") are invertebrate animals that constitute one group of arthropods that are traditionally a part of the subphylum Crustacea (), a large, diverse group of mainly aquatic arthrop ...

, as well as poylchaete worms, which she researched at

(1889–1892), the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (1891), and the Royal Dublin Society (1893). By 1894, Buchanan's primary research interests had changed to the electrical effects in muscle, which she researched at J. Burdon Sanderson's laboratory in

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

(1894-1905), which then progressed into an interest in the heartbeat and form of the electrocardiogram, and transmission of reflex impulses in mammals, birds, and reptiles, which she researched at the Oxford University Museum laboratory (1904-1913). Buchanan is thought to be the first woman to attend a meeting of The Physiological Society, and she was among the group of six first female members of the Society in 1915.

Achievements

Buchanan was awarded a London D.Sc. in physiology in July 1902, for her research into electrical effects in muscle, as well as being appointed as a Fellow of the

in 1904, in order to continue her research in this area. In 1910, Buchanan was awarded the American Association of Collegiate Alumnae's prize, for her original research into transmission of reflex impulses.

Later years and death

Following the death of long-time collaborator J. Burdon Sanderson in 1905, Buchanan decided to continue their work into the heartbeat and form of the electrocardiogram, and transmission of reflex impulses herself, with occasional collaborative discussions being held with

Charles Scott Sherrington Sir Charles Scott Sherrington (27 November 1857 – 4 March 1952) was a British neurophysiology, neurophysiologist. His experimental research established many aspects of contemporary neuroscience, including the concept of the spinal reflex as a ...

. Post 1913, shortly after being awarded the American Association of Collegiate Alumnae's prize, Buchanan's publication rate started to decline, up until her death on 13 March 1931.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchanan, Florence Women mammalogists British women zoologists Women marine biologists British scientists 1867 births 1931 deaths