Summary
Eileen Gail de Planque (also Eileen Gail de Planque Burke, best known as E. Gail de Planque; 1944 – September 8, 2010) was an American nuclear physicist. An expert on environmental radiation measurements, she was the first woman and first health physicist to become a commissioner at the US government's Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).[3] Her technical areas of expertise included environmental radiation, nuclear facility monitoring, personnel dosimetry, radiation shielding, radiation transport, and solid state dosimetry.[4][5]
Eileen Gail de Planque | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1944 |
| Died | September 8, 2010 (aged 65–66) |
| Other names | Eileen Gail de Planque Burke |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse | Frank Burke |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Nuclear physics |
| Institutions | |
Career edit
Born in New Jersey and raised in Maryland,[1] Planque earned her bachelor's degree from Immaculata College (mathematics, 1967), master's degree from the Newark College of Engineering (physics, 1973), and PhD from New York University (environmental health science, 1983).[5][6] From 1967 until 1982, she worked as a physicist for the Atomic Energy Commission.[7] She joined the Environmental Measurements Laboratory, US Department of Energy, as its deputy director in 1982, and was promoted to director five years later. From 1991 to 1995, she was a member of the NRC. In 1997, Planque chaired a planning committee, Celebration of Women in Engineering, which developed conferences that encouraged women to choose careers in engineering and included the development of the website EngineerGirl.[5]
A fellow of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Planque was also a member of the National Academy of Engineering,[8] the Association of Women in Science, and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. In the late 1970s, Planque was a US expert delegate to the international committee for Development of an International Standard on Thermoluminescence Dosimetry.[5]
Planque served as president of the ANS from 1988 to 1989[1] the Health Physics Society, as well as Strategy Matters, Inc.[citation needed] She was Co-Chair of Committee for International Intercomparison of Environmental Dosimeters[citation needed] and director for Energy Strategists Consultancy, Ltd.[citation needed] She also served on the boards of Northeast Utilities Corporation, British Nuclear Fuels, EnergySolutions, Inc., Landauer, Inc., TXU Corporation, and BHP Billiton.[9]
Personal life edit
Planque was married to Frank Burke.[10] She lived in New York City,[11] and Potomac, Maryland.[12] She died in 2010.[2]
Awards edit
- Women of Achievement in Energy award [1] (1990)
- Outstanding Woman Scientist of the Year award [2] (1991)
- Henry DeWolf Smyth Award for Nuclear Statesmanship (2003)
- Women in Technology International Hall of Fame inductees (2004)
References edit
- ^ a b c d "E. Gail de Planque". The Star-Ledger. September 26, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Gail De Planque Obituary". The New York Times. October 8, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ^ Cox, Morgan; Richard Griffith; Hans Julius; Joe McDonald (December 24, 2010). "Obituary". Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 142 (1): 3. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- ^ "About NRC: Our Organization: The Commission: Former Commissioners: Dr. E. Gail de Planque". United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
- ^ a b c d Wayne, Tiffany K. (2011). American Women of Science Since 1900: Essays A-H. Vol.1. ABC-CLIO. pp. 341–. ISBN 978-1-59884-158-9.
- ^ "In Memoriam: E. Gail de Planque". Health Physics Society. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ Lubenau, CHP, Joel O. "In Memoriam: E. Gail de Planque". Health Physics Society. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ "E. Planque". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ "E. Gail de Planque, Ph.D., MSA SC 3520-17118". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Dr. E. Gail de Planque". The Hartford Courant on. September 26, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ United States. National Bureau of Standards (1976). Measurements for the safe use of radiation: proceedings of an NBS 75th anniversary symposium held at the National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland, March 1–4, 1976. NBS : for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Office. p. 436.
- ^ Committee on the Impact of Selling the Federal Helium Reserve; Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications; Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems; Board on Physics and Astronomy; National Materials Advisory Board; National Research Council (May 23, 2000). The Impact of Selling the Federal Helium Reserve. National Academies Press. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-309-07038-6.
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