Person Kennard; Olga (1924 - 2023); crystallographer Kennard Olga crystallographer Burgen, Lady Weisz Burgen 1924 - 2023 British Female Budapest, Hungary, Europe 23/03/1924 19240323 Cambridge, England 02/03/2023 20230302

crystallographer Crystallography Education: Jewish gymnasium in Budapest, Hungary; grammar schools in Hove and Evesham; Newnham College, Cambridge 1942 Career: Fled to England with her family (1938); Assistant to Max Perutz in the Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory under Lawrence Bragg (1944); moved to London, working at the Medical Research Council, RC Vision Research Unit (1948-1951); moved to the Chemistry Department, Cambridge University (1962); set up the University's Crystallography Unit; established a crystallographic lab at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London; was part of a small group of crystallographers who set up the European Crystallographic Committee (now the European Crystallographic Association), becoming its president (1975–81); founded the Cambridge Structural Database and became its first director (1965-1997) of the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre; visiting professor at the University of London (1988-1990). Honours: OBE 1988 Memberships: Academia Europaea 1993 University of Cambridge Doctor of Law honoris causa 2003 Trustee of the British Museum 2004-2012 Awards/Medals: Gmelin-Beilstein Memorial Medal of the German Chemical Society 2007 Ewald Prize of the International Union of Crystallography 2020 Gregori Aminoff Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 2023 eParents: Joir and Katerina Weisz, merchant banker and antique dealer. Siblings: Judith and George. Spouse: 1) (m. 1948) Dr David Kennard (divorced 1961); 2) Sir Arnold Burgen (m. 1993) Children: Susie Kelpie and Julia Pyper. Expert crystallographer who used X-ray diffraction to investigate organic and biological molecules. In particular, her work extended our understanding of alternative structures of DNA. Olga was dedicated to the advancement of chemistry and crystallography for the public benefit. Royal Society roles: Council: 1995-1997 Investment Committee 1996 Fellow 19/03/1987 62 The Royal Society Fellows Directory, Dr Olga Kennard OBE FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/olga-kennard-11735/; last accessed: 05/03/2025] The Jewish Chronicle, Obituary: Dr Olga Kennard, OBE, May 4, 2023, Gloria Tessler, [URL: https://www.thejc.com/news/obituary-dr-olga-kennard-obe-s8el3dc3; last accessed: 05/03/2025] University of Cambridge, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Dr Olga Kennard OBE FRS, 1924-2023, Monday, March 6, 2023, [URL: https://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/news/dr-olga-kennard-obe-frs-1924-2023; last accessed: 05/03/2025] CCDC, Celebrating Dr Olga Kennard OBE FRS, Founder of the Cambridge Structural Database, 1924 – 2023, Obituary, [URL: https://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/discover/news/celebrating-dr-olga-kennard-1924-2023/; last accessed: 05/03/2025] Kennard O, IM002509.jpg International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Kennard%2C+Olga RCN R71811 RCN R83214 RCN R71854 23 Mar 1924 - The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 05/03/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA4438 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 06/05/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes 9ce378bd-5fb1-4654-a7d1-55893cd53f07