Laura Bassi (1771-1778), Italian physicist. Bassi was appointed Professor of Physics at Bologna University aged 21 and was the first women to hold the post. She was a woman of powerful intellect, expert in many fields including languages, mathematics, physics and philosophy. In touch with the most important scholars of her time she wrote 28 scientific papers, on chemistry, physics, hydraulics, mathematics, mechanics and technology. She studied electro-magnetism and, together with her husband, the medical uses of electricity.