Elizabeth Thompson Bunce in Glomer Challenge,
Leg 24, Indian Ocean, April-May 1972

Elizabeth Thompson Bunce born Mineola, NY, 1915; B.S. Smith College, 1937; M.A. in physics, Smith, 1949; awarded Honorary ScD., Smith, 1971. Bunce taught physical education at Kent School, Summit, NJ; was instructor in physics at Smith College, 1949-51; and worked summers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, where she helped run experiments on explosives for the Navy during WWII. She joined the permanent staff there in 1951, was senior scientist and served as chief scientist on many expeditions, being the first American women to have served in that capacity on any research vessel. After retirement, she served part-time as acting chair of geology and geophysics department at Woods Hole. Bunce is best known for her work on seismic refraction studies of the crust and upper mantle of the ocean floor.