Marianne Kärrholm

Ebba Marianne Kärrholm née Hellsten (22 December 1921 – 21 January 2018) was a Swedish chemical engineer and educator. Conducting research from 1945 at the Swedish Textile Research Institute at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, she collaborated with textile companies. The year 1971 saw publication of a major study she coordinated for the Swedish Consumer Council on consumer-oriented technology, which was also published in English. After earning a Ph.D. in 1960, she became the first woman to be appointed senior lecturer at Chalmers. She became professor of the university's newly established Consumer Technology Department in 1984 until her retirement in 1989. The following year, she was awarded the Chalmers' Medal.

Early life, family and education Born in Helsinki, Finland, on 22 December 1921, Ebba Marianne Hellsten was the daughter of Karl Fabian Hellsten and his wife Märte Elisabet née Lindhe. In 1936, she moved with her mother, her mother's second husband, and her brother Martin to Malmö, Sweden, where she attended secondary school. After the family moved to Gothenburg she matriculated from the girl's grammar school in 1940. From 1941, she studied at Chalmers University, where she graduated as a civil engineer in 1945. In 1984, Kärrholm was promoted to professor of Chalmers' newly established Consumer Technology Department, so becoming the university's first female professor. She maintained the post until her retirement in 1989.

Marianne Kärrholm died in Gothenburg on 21 January 2018 and was buried in Marieberg Cemetery.