Lesley Scott Souter

pioneering electrical and electronic engineering researcher. First woman to graduate in electrical engineering from the University of Glasgow

Engineering Achievements

Her first proper job was at the GEC research laboratories working on gas discharge stabilisers and gas-filled triodes. She joined the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and was soon on its national council, becoming vice president in 1959 and remaining actively involved to the end of her life. From 1944-49 she worked on electro-medical equipment then joined solid state physics group working on semi-conductors. 

In 1950 she, with other co-workers, secured a patent for “Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of resistors comprising a liquid high resistance medium” (Patent number GB637497(A)). By 1951 she had risen to become a team leader at GEC, working on the properties of germanium for radar and TV. In 1955 she moved to the Mullard Research Laboratories, in Surrey and then to Associated Electrical Industries’ Research Lab in Rugby. When the latter closed down she set up her own consultancy. 

In 1960 she gained a travel bursary to visit the USSR with another WES member to visit industrial plants and find out about the position of women in engineering in Russia.

More information to come.