Constance Tipper

Constance Sleeper, an engineering student at Cambridge University, conducted research on the fracture and ductility of metals. She worked at the National Physical Laboratory in 1915 and later at the Royal School of Mines, where she developed a method for manufacturing metallic crystals. Returning to Cambridge in 1929, she focused on studying the mechanical strength and fracture of metals. Her research on steel led to the discovery of brittle fracture in ships used during World War II. She identified the ductile-brittle transition temperature, explaining why steel can break at low temperatures with minimal impact. Despite facing challenges during the war, she continued her studies and declined an invitation to the Royal Society due to their mistaken belief that she was a man. Constance Sleeper's contributions to metallurgy and her courage in challenging the scientific community are commendable. Constance Sleeper. She studies engineering in the Cambridge University. She investigates the fracture and ductility of metals. Constance was born in 1994 and died in 1995. In 1915, she worked in the National Physical Laboratory. The following year, she moved to the Royal School of Mines in Kensington. There, she created a method for the manufacture of metallic crystals. In 1929, she went back to Cambridge University where she continued her career for more than 30 years. Her research focused on the study of the mechanical strength and fracture of metals. Thank you to her studies in steel, where she discovered the brittle fracture in some liberated ships used in the Second World War. She established what is known as the ductile-brittle transition temperature, which explains why steel at very low temperatures can break with a very small impact, creating cracks that expand very quickly. One of the difficulties that she had is that she was forced to take part in the Second World War, so she had to focus her studies on the mechanical strength and fracture of metals. Also, in 1923, she was invited by the Royal Society to participate in their annual conference. But her invitation was a mistake because the Royal Society officials thought that she was a man, instead of a woman. For this reason, she refused the Royal Society invitation, saying to the press that it is my misfortune rather than my fault that I am not a man. Personally, we think that is a very admirable woman because not only has she made a great discovery in the metallurgy field, but also didn't be afraid of challenging to a such powerful group of scientists. Thank you for listening to our podcast.