Agnes Blackie

Agnes Randall Blackie (12 July 1897 – 18 February 1975) was New Zealand's first female physics lecturer and probably the Southern Hemisphere's only female physics academic at the time of her appointment. James Blackie was a Presbyterian minister, who had been an early student at the University of Otago, and the first graduate of the Theological Hall, while Jeanetta was the first Principal of the Presbyterian Women's Training Institute, later known as Deaconess College. James Blackie died in 1897, the year that Agnes was born. She described the practical demonstrations she would do during lectures as fun, and also gave public lectures. She was known to take particular care of female students, often inviting them for afternoon tea at her home.

Blackie died on 18 February 1975.

In 2017, Blackie was selected as one of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's 150 women in 150 words, celebrating the contribution of women to knowledge in New Zealand.