Born in London on 6 March 1875, she was educated at the
John Roan School in Greenwich. Dawson began studying mathematics, chemistry, zoology and botany at
Aberdare Hall, the women's accommodation of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire (which would become
Cardiff University) in October 1892. She received her BSc in June 1896 as the first and only graduate that year. Previously, students had received their degrees externally from the
University of London, but while Dawson was studying, it joined with
University College Wales and
University College North Wales to form the University of Wales. Dawson also passed the BSc examination of the University of London in October of the same year. After her graduation, she worked as a temporary demonstrator at the University of Wales in return for advanced instruction in botany from the lecturer
A.H. Trow. In 1897, Dawson received an 1851 Science Research Scholarship for industrial research, which allowed her to work with
Harry Marshal Ward, a Cambridge botanist known for his support of women scientists, at the
Cambridge University Botanic Gardens. With Marshall Ward, Dawson studied the fungus
Poronia punctate, but their main focus was nitrogen-fixing fertilisation. She tested the industrial fertiliser 'Nitragin' and found that its effectiveness was dependent on the soil's existing nutrient levels and bacterial flora. While at Cambridge, Dawson also analysed the composition of a thousand-year-old Hebrew manuscript discovered at Old Cairo. She then taught natural history at the
Cambridge and County School for Boys. Entomologist
Frederick Wallace Edwards was among the pupils she inspired with a love of science. Dawson then returned to industry, and worked with fruit trees at a jam manufacturer. == Select publications ==