Inventor's name: Helen Belyea

Date of birth: November 19, 1913

Date of death: May 20, 1986

Invention: She was the only female geologist allowed to work in the field by the Geological Survey until 1970.

Helen was a very accomplished equestrian and spent days at a time riding though the mountains of Alberta and British Columbia. She was the first female scientist to ever be awarded the Barlow Memorial Award for an economic geology paper. Her interests in outdoor activities were skiing, mountaineering, and swimming. Helen had worked as a lieutenant in the Canadian Navy. She was never directly involved in the feminist movement but was definitely sympathetic. She was an excellent role model who encouraged women who worked as her assistants during their student days.