Suffrage Science Engineering and Physical Sciences 2015

Suffrage Science

2015

Award Ceremony

8 March 2015 Royal Society Dining Hall 5:15 pm-8:30pm

Programme

5:15 Refreshments 6:00 The First Female Fellows of the Royal Society Welcome (Kat Arney) Marjory Stephenson (Jane Cope) Kathleen Lonsdale (Georgina Ferry) Some history: what held women scientists back?

(Carol Dyhouse)

6:30 Break 7:00 Award Ceremony

Passing on of heirloom jewellery

7:45 Have we come a long way?

Women in science then and now Discussion led by Kat Arney

Please note that photos will be taken during the event.

For further information contact: geco@csc.mrc.ac.uk

Suffrage Science Awardees 2015

Lucie Green (Space Scientist, UCL) nominated by Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE (Space Scientist, Science Presenter) Maggie says: “Lucie is a phenomenon. As well as having a great career as a Royal Society Research Fellow researching her area of passion – our local star, the Sun – she is also an amazing science communicator. She can engage anyone and has done this through numerous television and radio appearances and wonderfully enthralling live talks. In 2010 she was named one the UK top 10 best scientific minds under 40 and she continues to inspire the next generation to consider careers in science.

On top of as all this, she is the ideal drinking companion especially when discussing Life, the Universe and Everything.”

Lorna Dougan (Physicist, Leeds) nominated by Dame Athene Donald FRS (Physicist, Cambridge) Athene says: “Lorna is a deep thinker with a hugely positive attitude towards her science - and others working around her.”

Anne Vanhoestenberghe (Engineer, UCL) nominated by Clare Elwell (Physicist, UCL) Clare says: “Anne is an engineer who is pioneering techniques aimed at restoring function to paralysed limbs. She is an excellent advocate of Women in Engineering and is always enthusiastic about communicating her work to a range of audiences.

Anne is particularly inspirational in her outreach work, encouraging female students to take up careers in science and engineering, and providing straightforward and valuable careers advice. She is also a superb teacher, with her lectures and electronics workshops receiving high praise from students. Anne is an excellent role model and a very worthy recipient of this award.”

Susan Condor (Social Psychologist, Loughborough) nominated by Susan Gathercole (Psychologist, Director MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge) Susan says: “Susan is a social psychologist who has done ground-breaking work in the field of social identity and intergroup relations. Her work is widely regarded as both innovative and thoughtful, and she is an inspiration in a field that lies at the cross-section of social psychology and sociology.”

Anne Neville (Emerging Technologies & Deputy Head School of Engineering, Leeds) nominated by Dame Julia Higgins FRS FREng (Polymer Scientist) Julia says: “I chose to pass my jewellery to Anne because I have been constantly amazed by her innovative science. She draws inspiration from the natural world to provide engineering solutions to a wide range of problems ranging from the oil industry to medicine. This means she is truly inter- or multi-disciplinary in her work, bringing together scientists and engineers from very disparate areas. I met Anne when I was a member of the panel which elected her to the Royal Academy Chair and since then I have watched with pleasure the development of her immensely successful research.”

Ruth Wilcox (Biomedical Engineering, Leeds) nominated by Eileen Ingham (Immunologist, Leeds) Eileen says: “Ruth leads a large group of both theoretical and experimental researchers and has a passion for cross-disciplinary working. Her high intellect, vitality and enthusiasm for research together with her straightforward, considerate nature is an inspiration to all those who work with her.”

Anna Goodman (Population Health, London School for Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, LSHTM) nominated by Dame Sally Macintyre (Social and Public Health Scientist, Glasgow) Sally says: “I nominated Anna because of her passion for public health, social equity and environmental sustainability; her commitment to the next generation of potential researchers; her addressing big and topical questions in relation to how these effect our everyday lives (daylight saving, Boris bikes, free public transport for young people, mental health of young people); her international perspective, for example, her collaborations in Sweden, and research on mental health in young people in low and middle income countries.”

Silvia Muñoz Descalzo (Stem Cell scientist, Bath) nominated by Jennifer Nichols (Stem Cell scientist, Cambridge) Jennifer says: “Silvia is a developmental biologist of inspirational insight and adaptability. Her interest in how molecular fluctuations impact cellular behaviour led her to embrace multiple model systems from fruit flies to mammals. Our enjoyable and rewarding collaboration began when she was a post doc in Alfonso Martinez Arias’ lab, and our interactions continue to motivate me. Apart from her scientific legacy, Silvia has contributed valuable research tools and, most importantly, her time and energy for the scientific community, past, present and future.”

Patricia Bassereau (Biophysicist, Curie Institute, Paris) nominated by Petra Schwille (Biophysicist, Max Planck Institute Biochemistry, Martinsried) Petra says: “Patricia is one of the most original and inspiring female researchers I know. Trained as a soft condensed matter physicist, her major contributions to biology have been in the recognition of the functional relevance of physical properties of biological membranes. Her approach to employ giant vesicles as mimicry for freestanding cellular membranes, and to quantitatively investigate their mechanical transformations by various protein machineries, has inspired biophysicists worldwide and found many followers, even among cell biologists. She is an energetic and electrifying speaker, a provoking discussion partner, and a perfect role model for intelligent young female scientists.”

Alicia El Haj (Science & Technology in Medicine, Keele University) nominated by Molly Stevens FREng FIMMM FRSC MRPharmS FSB (Biomedical Materials & Regenerative Medicine, Imperial College) Molly says: “Alicia is an inspiration to me for many reasons. Her enthusiasm, hilarious sense of humour and constant support for younger members of the community make her really special. She’s made great scientific strides but is also a terrific agenda setting leader. I feel blessed to know her!”

Tamsin Edwards (Earth System modelling, Geographical Sciences, Bristol) nominated by Kathy Sykes (Physicist, Science & Society, Bristol) Kathy says: “Tamsin did a PhD in particle Physics, but went on to use the skills she learned to model climate change, seeing that it is such a pressing issue, and wanting to use her Physics for good. She began a blog All models are wrong, bravely sticking her neck out in a very contentious field. It’s become really popular. She’s gone on to feature in news media – as a great role model.”

Polly Arnold (Crum Brown Chair of Chemistry, Edinburgh) nominated by Lesley Yellowlees CBE, FRSE (Inorganic chemist, first female president of the Royal Society of Chemistry) Lesley says: “Polly is a fantastic researcher, an inspiring teacher and a wonderful colleague. Her science is challenging and demands dedication, stamina and an immense intellect. Note she parties in the same fashion. She is a loud and proud feminist and encourages the rest of us to be too!”

Produced by the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre www.csc.mrc.ac.uk Many thanks to Professor Amanda Fisher (Director, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre), who inspired all aspects of this project to commemorate women in science; Vivienne Parry for conceiving of science heirlooms (jewellery); Kiki von Glasow and Andree Molyneux for conceiving the programme of the awards night; L’OrÊal UK & Ireland and the Royal Society for their support of the project and the award ceremony; BA design students Lola Lou and Diana Dong from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design for creating Jewellery designs; Martin Baker for making the jewellery.

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