Many people won't have heard of Elena Cornaro Piscopia, but as the first woman to receive a doctorate, she is credited with paving the way for women in academia.
And today, on what would have been her 373rd birthday, her legacy is being honoured with a Google Doodle.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ms Cornaro Piscopia:
Who was Elena Cornaro Piscopia?
Born in 1646 in Venice, Italy, Elena developed a love of studying from a young age, beginning with learning Greek and Latin.
She would later go on to master seven languages in total, including Hebrew, Spanish, French and Arabic.
To add more strings to her bow, Elena was also a talented musician and studied astronomy and mathematics. She had a particular passion for philosophy and theology, subjects she was determined to pursue through further study.
With her father’s encouragement, she requested access to the Doctor of Theology course at the University of Padua. The odds were not in her favour, however, as the Roman Catholic Church regarded a woman holding such a title with contempt.
Eventually, she was permitted to study at the university. Her thesis accumulated so much interest that the presentation was held in Padua Cathedral instead of the university to accommodate the sheer number of guests.
Just six years after claiming her doctorate, Elena passed away from tuberculosis.
Why is she being honoured with a Google Doodle?
Elena wrote her name into the history books by becoming the first woman in the world to earn a PhD, unconsciously opening the door for female academics all over the world and leaving a firm mark on a traditionally male-dominated sphere.
Today’s Google Doodle, created by artist Alyssa Winans, depicts Elena in the place she felt most content – the library.
Winans said of her sketch: “I was personally inspired not only by Elena’s single-minded dedication to her studies but also by the sheer enjoyment she felt at the prospect of quiet study.
“Although she received many accolades in her life, it was clear that they were never what she was after; she simply loved knowledge.
