Introduction

On International Women’s Day, Suffrage Science 2013 unites the voices of leading female scientists in the engineering and physical sciences underpinning medicine

The suffrage movement brought together women from all walks of life to campaign for the right to vote. They gathered in tearooms across the country – then the only socially acceptable place for women to convene outside the home – to discuss, debate and drive forward their cause. Over a century later great strides have been made towards equality, however men are still six times more likely to work in a science, technology or engineering profession than women 1 – despite women comprising almost half the workforce.

Suffrage Science 2011 celebrated the achievements of leading women scientists and communicators in the life sciences on the centenary of International Women’s Day in 2011. Following on from this success, Suffrage Science 2013 honours women scientists and communicators in engineering and the physical sciences, that relate to medicine.

Only nine percent of professors in the UK are women 1 and only six percent in physics 2 . In 2013, the centenary of the Medical Research Council, we decorate 12 leading women with bespoke jewellery heirlooms, reminiscent of the specially crafted jewellery received by leading women of the suffrage movement.

Commemorating women through the arts

Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design has created a unique collection of jewellery and textiles to commemorate and promote women in science. Inspired by the women celebrated in Suffrage Science: 2013 and referencing the suffrage movement, the collection echoes the continuing struggle for equality.

Students taking BA Jewellery and Textile Design degrees at Central Saint Martins have created bespoke heirlooms for women scientists to wear. These are featured on pages 30 to 53. After two years, jewellery will be passed on to the next generation of female scientists. Track their progress on page 56.

1 Women and men in science, engineering and technology: the UKRC Statistics Guide 2010 2 Academic physics staff in UK higher education institutions: Institute of Physics January 2012