Elena Cornaro Piscopia was an Italian mathematician and theologian who as a child studied multiple languages, composed music, sang, played numerous instruments, and learned philosophy, mathematics, and theology, according to Association for Women in Mathematics.
As a young woman, she sought the life of a nun, and adopted the habit of the Benedictine order of nuns without entering a convent. She instead focused on her studies, becoming a known polymath – a person whose expertise spans a number of different subject matters – similar to predecessors like Leonardo Da Vinci.
Her doctorate, the first doctorate in the world awarded to a woman, was from the University of Padua, where she studied mathematics, philosophy, and theology. She received a Doctorate of Philosophy degree, after earning – but not being awarded – a Doctorate in Theology. The university did not award another PhD to a woman for 70 years.
After being awarded her doctorate, she went on to lecture at the university.
