Kidson, Elsa Beatrice (1905–1979)

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Kidson, Elsa Beatrice (1905–1979)

New Zealand soil scientist and sculptor. Born on Mar 18, 1905, in Christchurch, New Zealand; died on July 25, 1979, in Nelson, New Zealand; dau. of Charles Kidson (sculptor) and Kitty Esther (Hounsell) Kidson; Canterbury College, MSc, 1927.

Worked as demonstrator in chemistry at Canterbury College, and chemist at New Zealand Refrigerating Co. (late 1920s), before working at Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and finally the Cawthron Institute (1931–65); internationally recognized for research into magnesium deficiency in apples, vitamin C content of citrus fruits, and link between mineral constituents and nutritional diseases in tomatoes; was 1st woman fellow of New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (1943) and 1st New Zealand woman elected fellow of Royal Institute of Chemistry (1944); fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand; after retirement, studied sculpture at Wimbledon School of Art in London (1965).

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 4).