Catherine Alice Raisin (24 April 1855 – 13 July 1945) was one of the most important early female geologists in Britain. Her research was primarily in the field of microscope petrology and mineralogy. She was the head of the geology department at Bedford College for Women, in London for 30 years, and strived for women's equality in education. Raisin was the first woman in Britain to lead a university geology department. She was also the head of the botany department at the Bedford College for Women. Early life and education Catherine Raisin was born on 24 April 1855, in Camden, New Town, London, England. She was the youngest child and only daughter of Daniel Francis Raisin and Sarah Catherine Woodgate. Catherine had three older brothers, and her mother was 45 years old when she was born. Her father was employed at the Inner Temple as a pannierman. Raisin was educated at the North London Collegiate School, a private school for girls. From an early age, Catherine had an enthusiasm for geology, an obligation she owed to Sir Charles Lyell 'whose Principles of Geology was one of the most punctual books to stir my energy'. In London, when she was 18 years old, she started attending classes at University College London, where she first studied geology, then mineralogy. In 1877, Raisin attained a special certificate in botany, but could not start a degree until they were opened to women in 1878. In 1879, after passing the Intermediate Science examination she selected geology, botany and zoology. There she studied under Professor T.G. Bonney, while also attending Thomas Huxley's lectures at the Royal School of Mines. She was the first woman to study geology at University College, London. In 1884, she obtained her B.Sc. honors in both geology and zoology as top University College graduate.[2] Following her graduation, she worked on a voluntary basis as a research assistant to Professor T.G. Bonney. In 1893, at the age of 38, Raisin was the first woman to receive the "Lyell Fund" award from the Geological Society of London for her research on metamorphism. Bonney needed to accept the honor for her benefit, since the Geological Society of London did not permit ladies to go to its gatherings at the time. In 1898, Raisin obtained her D.Sc from the University of London; she was the second female geologist to achieve this accolade. Career Catherine Raisin spent