An Exhibition Celebrating Some of Scotland's Finest Female Scientists

An exhibition celebrating some of Scotland’s finest female scientists

www.rse.org.uk All photographs © Ian Georgeson Photography

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470 28 29 As Scotland’s National Academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh is proud to number amongst its Fellowship some of the most talented leaders, thinkers and practitioners working in Scotland today.

In this exhibition, we have chosen to focus on and celebrate some of the exceptional women scientists within the Fellowship. Leaders and pioneers in their ﬁ elds, they are at the vanguard of new ideas, new knowledge and new technologies which are shaping our understanding of the world, supporting a more sustainable use of resources and securing advances in health care. Some are from Scotland, others have chosen to base their research and make their homes here; all of them are making a positive contribution to society.

When we approached the women to be part of this exhibition, we asked them Seven of the women featured why they chose to become scientists. The responses were varied and enlightening: for some it was always their dream or passion or they had been encouraged and were or are members of the inspired by family, friends and colleagues. For others, the desire to become a RSE Young Academy of scientist came later whilst studying at university and realising that, not only did Scotland. they enjoy and were good at science but, it was also a realistic career choice.

And what a career choice! Throughout the exhibition, we gain a sense of what these women love about their life in science: the joy in discovering and learning new things; the satisfaction that comes from working in teams and collaborating with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines; the pleasure in supporting and nurturing talent; and the fulfi lment that comes from doing something which is They are: making a diff erence to people’s lives and the way in which they live. Professor Sharon Ashbrook I hope that when you read these women’s stories and Professor Ineke De Moortel learn about their work, you will not only feel pride Professor Karen Faulds in what Scotland as a scientifi c nation is achieving but realise that, with science, anything and everything Professor Eva Hevia is possible. Professor Catherine Heymans

Professor Nicola Stanley-Wall Dr Rebekah Widdowﬁ eld Dr Silvia Paracchini Chief Executive

2 3 As Scotland’s National Academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh is proud to number amongst its Fellowship some of the most talented leaders, thinkers and practitioners working in Scotland today.

Professor Nicola Stanley-Wall Dr Rebekah Widdowﬁ eld Dr Silvia Paracchini Chief Executive

2 3 Women in the The RSE Today In 2014, the RSE elected its ﬁ rst female Royal Society of Edinburgh President, Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

The organisation is now led by its second female President, Dr Christina Dr Doris Reynolds RSE Fellows, past and present, Professor Dame Anne Glover and its fi rst female Chief Cruikshank Miller FRSE are an illustrious roll call of leading Executive, Dr Rebekah Widdowfi eld. Its Council (Board of FRSE Doris Reynolds was a British Geologist Trustees) has a 50:50 gender balance and 40% of Fellows scientists and thinkers. In common who made considerable contributions to Christina Cruikshank elected in the last fi ve years have been women. It’s also with other similar organisations with the fi eld of Geology and was awarded Miller made crucial noteworthy that the RSE’s Young Academy of Scotland (YAS) the Lyell Medal from the Geological such a long-standing history, women discoveries in analytical which comprises 135 early to mid-career leaders from science Society of London in 1960. During the chemistry. She was the and the humanities, the professions, the arts, business and were only able to join its ranks 1940s, Reynolds developed the theory of only female amongst civil society, has 57% female membership. relatively recently. In 1949, fi ve the fi rst 25 Fellows of ‘granitisation’ to try to explain the formation of granite in the Earth’s crust. Although the women were welcomed as the Heriot-Watt College The RSE seeks to address gender issues through its policy theory was later disproved, it led to greater fi rst female Fellows of the RSE and consistently fought for her place as a female in a work. In 2012, it published its seminal report on women in research and understanding in this area. and the RSE is proud to celebrate male-dominated research fi eld. An inspiration to her STEM, ‘Tapping All Our Talents’. The report featured the fellow teachers and students, she was partially deaf them here. now infamous ‘leaky pipeline’, highlighting the fact that almost and suff ered blindness in one eye following an accident three-quarters of female graduates were lost from STEM and in her lab. Her pioneering work included producing that, where women did stay in the STEM sector, they were the fi rst sample of pure phosphorous trioxide which signifi cantly under-represented in top positions across business, Dr Sheina Marshall proved that it was not responsible for the glow emitted public service and academia. The RSE’s follow up report, OBE FRSE from phosphorous, as had been claimed by others. ‘TAOT 2018’ published in association with YAS, showed that From the Isle of Bute, some good progress had been made in the intervening years Sheina Marshall was but that more needs to be done to attract women to study and a Scottish Marine Dr Charlotte work in science and to retain them within the profession. Biologist who played a Auerbach crucial role in medical FRSE The report highlighted the importance of positive role models, Dr Ethel Currie research during the Charlotte Auerbach providing the inspiration for this exhibition, which seeks to FRSE Second World War. was a Zoologist and give higher visibility to women scientists and celebrate their She researched diff erent Geneticist. Charlotte Ethel Currie was an esteemed Scottish successes. The RSE also recognises the lack of prominence ways of obtaining agar, which was required to produce fl ed from Nazi Germany Geologist, who worked at the University of many female leaders online and is delighted that YAS has vaccines, by scouring the shores for seaweed. Marshall in 1933 aged 34, after of Glasgow as Assistant Curator of committed to ensuring that all the women featured in this and her colleague, Andrew Picken identifi ed a strand being dismissed from the Hunterian Museum, focusing on exhibition have up-to-date Wikipedia pages. of seaweed, ‘False Irish Moss’ as the best local source her teaching posts for Palaeontology as her specialism. In 1945, of agar. Prior to the war, Britain used to import agar being Jewish. She fl ed to Edinburgh and gained Currie was the fi rst woman to be awarded There is still work to be done to enable all our young people to from Japan and Marshall was able to identify sources her PhD in 1935; she researched the eff ects of the Neill prize by the RSE and in 1952, achieve their potential and for Scotland to achieve its national of agar from many British beaches thanks to this mustard gas, fi nding that it caused often lethal she became the fi rst female President of ambitions, but there are positive signs of progress and the RSE common seaweed. mutations in fruit fl ies. the Geographical Society of Glasgow. is hopeful that we are heading in the right direction.

4 5 Women in the The RSE Today In 2014, the RSE elected its ﬁ rst female Royal Society of Edinburgh President, Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

4 5 Professor Professor Mandy MacLean Mercedes MBE, FMedSci, FRSE Maroto -Valer Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy FIChemE, FRSA, FRSC, FRSE and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde Assistant Deputy Principal (Research and Innovation); Director of the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS); Buchan Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering, Heriot-Watt University

I am a Pharmacologist and studied Pharmacology at I have a natural curiosity for knowledge, so research and university are Edinburgh University both for my BSc and PhD. I was natural fi ts for me. I came to Scotland in 1992 as an Erasmus student always interested in biology at school and I found reading to Strathclyde University and stayed on to do my PhD on developing about pharmacology, and how many drugs were derived novel methods for understanding coal plasticity for steel-making from plants and animals, fascinating. applications. After completing my PhD, I took academic positions in the USA and UK and then returned to Scotland and joined My studies took me to the USA and Cambridge. Survival is very poor in pulmonary arterial Heriot-Watt University in 2012. I fi nd myself privileged to work in I now carry out research into pulmonary arterial hypertension and I am most inspired and hypertension, which is a disease of the lungs motivated by the needs of these patients. I am an area that I truly enjoy and also that will help future generations. caused by the arteries of the lungs closing down. also motivated to progress the careers of the It is a fatal disease for which there is no cure and young researchers who work with me wherever My research focuses on addressing global processes in the subsurface that control it mainly affects women. We are currently looking I can. The discipline of Pharmacology, and how challenges to ensure the sustainability of resources global sustainability. at how oestrogens and serotonin play a role in the Pharmacology alters with disease, fascinates and energy. I lead an international centre with the development of this disease to see how a and inspires me. My roles in the RSE, AMS, MRC over 50 researchers working at the interface I am passionate about nurturing talent, and new drug might intervene to treat patients. and in public engagement refl ect my wish to between science and engineering for the wider particularly helping under-represented groups to engage in, and contribute to, science and the deployment of carbon solutions. realise their full potential. I enjoy instilling curiosity I am currently Vice-President (Life Sciences) of scientifi c community at all levels. driven behaviour into my students and colleagues, the RSE; the Scottish Regional Champion for Working with a large number of industrial and the continuous infl ux of challenges and the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS); and sit Mandy is holding Gaddum’s Pharmacology, and academic partners around the world, our radical ideas they present. I aspire to leave a on a MRC grant panel. In my ‘spare’ time I am the fi rst textbook that she bought in research has applications in several sectors legacy of future leaders who will continue working mum, wife, friend, carer, artist and hold public 1978 whilst studying Pharmacology at related to electricity production, as well as heat/ on ensuring sustainability of coming generations. engagement in science events. Edinburgh University. cold and transport. My team has developed

several technologies that are placed to become Mercedes is holding carbon dioxide (CO2) genuine game changers. Some examples include locked up inside rocks. The block she is

conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into aviation holding contains 5.5 litres of CO2. Her ﬁ rst

fuels or construction feedstocks, nature-inspired CO2 project focused on converting CO2 into

materials for capturing CO2 from industrial building materials, that are similar to the sources, reduction by 50% energy consumption replica she is holding. from data centres and understanding microscopic

6 7 Professor Professor Mandy MacLean Mercedes MBE, FMedSci, FRSE Maroto -Valer Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy FIChemE, FRSA, FRSC, FRSE and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde Assistant Deputy Principal (Research and Innovation); Director of the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS); Buchan Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering, Heriot-Watt University

several technologies that are placed to become Mercedes is holding carbon dioxide (CO2) genuine game changers. Some examples include locked up inside rocks. The block she is

conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into aviation holding contains 5.5 litres of CO2. Her ﬁ rst

fuels or construction feedstocks, nature-inspired CO2 project focused on converting CO2 into

6 7 Professor Professor Muﬀ y Calder Niamh Nic Daéid OBE, FREng, FRSE CChem, FCSFC, FHEA, FRSC, FRSE

Professor of Computing Science, Professor of Forensic Science, Vice-Principal and Head of the University of Dundee, and Director College of Science and Engineering, of the Leverhulme Research Centre University of Glasgow for Forensic Science

I wanted to be a scientist for as long as I can remember, and I was born in Dundee and grew up in Ireland in a family of scientists. I went to university to study Mathematics and Physics. I didn’t My parents were scientists involved in the investigation of fi res. From know about computing then and indeed a teacher at school an early age I knew that women could be successful scientists and that science could be used as a real world, practical, problem-solving tool from had told me that I wouldn’t like computing but I took a course which you could earn a living. Indeed, my brother and I used to earn our in programming at university and just loved it! I found pocket money by sticking our parents’ fi re scene photographs into reports it was my calling. – this was long before digital photography! Now, I am an academic and a Forensic Scientist undertaking casework in fi re investigations, terrorist Computing science is science, with fundamental systems that blend computer, human and physical events and the illegal manufacture of drugs. laws and principles, and engineering, because we behaviours. apply those laws to test out ideas and construct new software. I construct computational models and use them Forensic Scientists are obligated to deliver common ground, empowering our practitioner to test how the system behaves under different scientifi cally valid, unbiased and impartial evidence community of scientists, law enforcement and A beautiful thing about computing is that you circumstances. The questions that drives me are, in a way that is communicated and understood the judiciary to work with us and help us build can do it anywhere; you don’t always need a ‘does your system do what you think it does; what by the jury, but Forensic Science is at a crossroads, scientifi cally robust solutions for current and computer. You can think about a program – how you want it to do; and can the data be trusted, as with little valid science underpinning much of the future challenges. We have been awarded a to encode an algorithm or the data you want sensors get damaged, moved, hacked or have a evidence commonly appearing in our courts. further £15 million to establish the fi rst Institute to collect – out on the hills, in the bathtub, or software upgrade? of Innovation for Forensic Science to further walking to work. As Director of the Leverhulme Research Centre develop our emergent research and ensure safe Muffy is holding a copy of the front page of for Forensic Science, a £10 million, ten-year convictions through the provision of justice for My research focuses on modelling and reasoning the book, The Laws of Thought, on which are interdisciplinary research centre established in victims, survivors and their loved ones. about complex, interactive sensor-based systems, founded the mathematical theories of logic 2016 at the University of Dundee, our mission for example, systems that are used to monitor and probabilities, written by George Boole in is to identify and address the scientifi c and Niamh is holding the heating element of and manage environmental conditions; smart 1854. Boole is the inventor of Boolean Logic, communication challenges that face a kettle which shows arc melt damage as water networks where valves and pumps are one of the foundations of computing science. Forensic Science. a result of overheating which caused the switched on and off remotely; and mixed-reality Boolean algebra is Muffy’s favourite algebra! kettle to ignite. We challenge the status quo, break down silos and barriers across disciplines to fi nd that elusive

8 9 Professor Professor Muﬀ y Calder Niamh Nic Daéid OBE, FREng, FRSE CChem, FCSFC, FHEA, FRSC, FRSE

8 9 Professor Professor Nicola Stanley-Wall Polly Arnold FRSB, FRSE OBE, FRS, FRSC, FRSE

Professor of Microbiology, Crum Brown Chair of Chemistry, University of Dundee University of Edinburgh

I’ve always been interested in biology. I was that child who I make unusual molecules from the metals at the bottom of got the frog spawn out of the pond and watched the tadpoles the periodic table. We don’t know enough about their bonding, develop into frogs; and I was the child who worked at the local and the more unusual the molecule, the better we are able country park looking at how trees broke down through the action to challenge preconceptions, and improve our understanding of fungi. I went to the University of East Anglia thinking that of their behaviours. This is important as many of the metals I wanted to study Ecology but during my time there I realised are technology-critical elements that ﬁ nd use in wind-turbine that I preferred the more intricate details of how biology worked; magnets, while others are present as unwanted radioactive I ended up becoming a specialist in the ﬁ eld of microbiology. isotopes in spent nuclear fuel.

My work involves studying bacteria. Bacteria are that help break down sewage in processing plants I have always wanted to do something different. predict the future of hard-to-handle systems everywhere, but you often need a microscope to or that form on plant roots and help growth. When I was younger, I was frustrated that there such as nuclear waste. see them. Bacteria are typically single cells which My lab looks at how bacteria makes the sticky were so many things about chemistry that I had form social communities called biofi lms. When biofi lm matrix. We want to understand how we to memorise, rather than be able to explain from I do a lot of my thinking when I’m completely they are living in a biofi lm, they make a sticky might be able to stabilise the matrix in situations a general understanding of chemical periodicity. alone, ideally on a Scottish hillside, in the cold, matrix and it is this that allows the cells to live where the bacteria could be helpful or how to As I grew up, I realised that it was because no one low-angled, winter sunshine, when I have the together and gives protection from the outside destroy the powerful matrix where the bacteria could explain these behaviours. I fi nd enormous luxury of time to sift through everything that’s world. Sometimes biofi lms can be detrimental: are not wanted. satisfaction in making molecules that are not cramming my brain. This works best when the plaque that builds up on your teeth is an meant to exist, that do not obey the rules. These my brain has been pre-fi lled with a numerous example of a biofi lm that can cause harm, and Nicola is holding her sixth-year studies are the ones that teach us about nature, and disparate concepts and reagents from research the reason we need to brush our teeth regularly. biology project report which she wrote prompt interesting collaborations. Some of these articles from different scientifi c disciplines. Some biofi lms though are benefi cial, such as those in her fi nal year of secondary school. will be with spectroscopists who are trying to analyse complicated real-world systems. Others Polly is holding an f orbital, one of the atomic will be with computational chemists who are orbitals that hold the outermost electrons in trying to make their models clever enough to compounds made from f-block elements.

10 11 Professor Professor Nicola Stanley-Wall Polly Arnold FRSB, FRSE OBE, FRS, FRSC, FRSE

Professor of Microbiology, Crum Brown Chair of Chemistry, University of Dundee University of Edinburgh

10 11 Professor Professor Raﬀ aella Ocone Rona MacKie OBE, FREng, FRSE CBE, FMedSci, FRCP, FRCPath, Professor of Chemical Engineering, FRCPSG, FRSE School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University

I am an Engineer who works in academia. I was the fi rst I was Professor of Dermatology at the University female Professor of Chemical Engineering in Scotland; the of Glasgow 1978 –2000, the fi rst time in its second in the UK. My research deals with the design and 500-year history that a woman was appointed operation of industrial processes, such as oil refi ning. to an established Chair.

I work with research students to fi nd solutions As a child growing up in the south of Italy, I My major area of research was the epidemiology We established a large patient base with a to optimise these processes and to develop new greatly enjoyed chemistry, maths and physics at and molecular genetics of malignant melanoma. pioneering patient-support group, and one of technologies, such as how to utilise plastic waste school. I was interested in seeing them ‘in action’ In the 22 years I held the Chair, it grew from a the most touching events around my ‘retiral’ was in a sustainable and environmentally friendly and using them in a creative way. My dad was small department to a healthy unit comprising a dinner hosted for me by the patient group. manner. I’m currently working on modelling not trained as an engineer, but he represented an established Chair, three non-clinical senior pyroclastic fl ow to gain information into the the quintessential engineer to me, always fi nding lecturers, one clinical senior lecturer, a clinical Looking back, I would do it again instantly if management of people safety and environmental a solution to fi x or re-invent things around the lecturer and supporting staff. We had excellent invited to do so. My family background was protection following a volcano eruption. house, including our toys (latterly he substituted links with our colleagues in the NHS, particularly biological science rather than medicine. My father toys with my beloved shoes!) I soon understood, pathology and medical mycology. We raised was a Biochemist, and a former President of the I love what I do. I’ve always been interested in through his skills, that as an engineer I could funding to allow us to occupy two well-equipped RSE, and my mother was a PhD Microbiologist. understanding how things work. I enjoy fi nding make a difference to people’s lives and make fl oors in the newly-built Robertson Building in I chose to study Medicine, I think because of an practical solutions that can change the way we them happy! the molecular corner of the University adjacent interest in people. I was stimulated to specialise live, such as clean water and clean energy. My to colleagues in Genetics and Virology. in dermatology by brisk encouragement that this work allows me the opportunity to travel and Raffaella is holding a small-scale model was a speciality in which I could combine patient meet people from different backgrounds and of a conical hopper, which is used to We published high-impact papers in journals, care and research. The move to specialising in cultures and I really hope I can inspire our analyse the fl owability of powders. such as The Lancet, in these fi elds, making major melanoma came from contact with a patient in younger generation – especially young contributions to the epidemiology of melanoma my fi rst year after graduation and I will be for women – to study engineering. in the UK, and collaborating as part of ‘Genomel’, ever grateful to him for giving me the the EU-funded melanoma research group. motivation to work in this area.

12 13 Professor Professor Raﬀ aella Ocone Rona MacKie OBE, FREng, FRSE CBE, FMedSci, FRCP, FRCPath, Professor of Chemical Engineering, FRCPSG, FRSE School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University

12 13 Professor Professor Sharon Ashbrook Sheila Rowan FRSC, FRSE MBE, HonFInstP, FRAS, FRS, FRSE

Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award Professor of Experimental Physics, Holder; Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Glasgow; School of Chemistry and Centre of Magnetic Director of the Institute for Resonance, University of St Andrews Gravitational Research; Chief Scientiﬁ c Adviser (CSA) for Scotland

Although I was always interested in science at school back I’m an Experimental Physicist. I carry out research designing in Liverpool, my fi rst aim in life was to be a primary school and building instrumentation for observatories that have teacher. I applied to do this after my fi rst degree in Oxford, detected the fi rst gravitational signals from colliding ‘black but I found that I really enjoyed the research project I carried holes’ far out in our cosmos. These ‘gravitational waves’ carry out in my fi nal year as an undergraduate, so I stayed to do with them unique information about what objects produced my DPhil at Oxford. them, allowing us to study dark processes in the universe.

As I found I continued to enjoy research, I chose The aim of this research is to gain a better I wanted to be a scientist, indeed a physicist and This research pushes the state-of-the-art in to take a postdoctoral research position, and then understanding of how the position of the atoms in more specifi cally to study the cosmos, since I was technology across optical and mechanical systems was awarded a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin these materials affects their properties. Ultimately, quite young – about ten years old. I was hooked needed for our observatories that have application Research Fellowship, which I held initially in this will help in the design of new materials in by the simple questions that come up when we not only in gravitational astrophysics, but also Cambridge before coming to St Andrews in the future and improve their performance. Our look up at the night sky and wonder what is out spin-offs in healthcare, satellite control, energy, 2005. I was promoted to Reader in 2009 work has many areas of application; from helping there? How far could you go if you and geo-science. By chasing the discoveries and Professor in 2013. geologists understand the inside of our planet, to set off in a spaceship and what would you fi nd? of tomorrow, we can help people today. helping petrochemical companies understand the I found those questions so interesting that I simply I lead a research group which is interested in catalysts they use to improve chemical reactions or couldn’t think of anything more exciting to do Sheila is holding a sheet showing the understanding the atomic-level structure of how porous materials can be used to capture and with my time than to work on helping to try and properties of what produced the very fi rst solid materials. We use NMR spectroscopy (the store potentially harmful greenhouse gases. answer them. I have been so lucky to be able to gravitational wave signal – ‘GW150914’ – study of the interaction between matter and fi nd a way to do that. My research, and that of picked up by the LIGO observatories in 2015. radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation) to Sharon is holding a zeolite – a porous solid my Institute, is targeted at detecting and studying Two black holes each tens of times the mass do this. We study the structure and atoms of with industrial applications for gas storage, the ‘ripples in space-time’ predicted to exist by of our sun, collided 1.3 billion years ago molecules in different types of materials, including catalysis and drug delivery. Einstein more than 100 years ago. To do this, and caused the universe to vibrate by just the minerals found many hundreds of kilometres we work together with scientists in more than a tiny amount; these vibrations give us a below our feet and ceramic materials that store 20 countries around the globe. completely new tool to study the universe. radioactive waste.

14 15 Professor Professor Sharon Ashbrook Sheila Rowan FRSC, FRSE MBE, HonFInstP, FRAS, FRS, FRSE

14 15 Dr Professor Silvia Paracchini Catherine Heymans FRSE FRSE

Royal Society University Research Fellow, Professor of Astrophysics at the Royal School of Medicine, Observatory, University of Edinburgh University of St Andrews

I’m a Human Geneticist but there’s nothing in my past that Working as a teenage Mary Poppins on a summer ‘dude ranch’ suggests that that’s what I would become. My journey to in Texas, I found myself fearing that my brain may turn into mush. where I am now is really a combination of different events; I headed to the local bookstore in search of their most challenging some choices and some chance. book which happened to be Relativity: The Special and the General Theory by Albert Einstein. Evenings were spent on the ranch When the time came to choose what to study The main focus of my research is the genetic re-deriving the equations, trying to work it all out for myself, at university, I was so undecided that one day basis of dyslexia. We know there is a strong unknowingly laying the foundations for my future life I simply asked myself what was the single one genetic component to this condition which thing that I enjoyed learning about. The answer affects up to 10% of children but we still can’t surveying the universe. was Gregor Mendel’s experiments, considered pinpoint the speciﬁ c genes. In the shorter term, the foundation of genetics science; and so that’s my research is contributing to understanding A Masters in Astrophysics from Edinburgh was of different theories about the mysterious and how I ended up enrolling to study Biology at the how the brain develops. In the longer term, this closely followed by a Doctor of Philosophy from poorly-understood dark matter and dark energy University of Pavia. During my studies, I went to knowledge will help to develop better tools to Oxford and postdoctoral Fellowships in Germany, which make up 95% of our universe. It’s widely Denmark on the Erasmus programme and got manage dyslexia and other neurodevelopmental Canada and France, returning to Edinburgh to join believed that the nature of the dark side may only a glimpse of research outside Italy. conditions. The more we study the human the Faculty as a European Research Council fellow. be explained by bringing about a revolution in genome and the human brain the more we physics that will forever change our cosmic view. I then moved to Oxford for a PhD in Human appreciate the underlying complexity. I specialise in observing the dark side of our It could be that we need to go beyond what I Genetics where I discovered that science can universe, the stuff that we can’t see or touch learnt all those years ago from Einstein’s book, be creative and that I wanted to have my own Silvia is holding a single-channel pipette, but that we know is there because of the effects extending his theory of gravity in order to research group. It took me two years and a which she likens to an extension of her arm it has on the stars and the galaxies that we can understand the true nature of the universe. few rejections before getting my Royal Society as her work consists of mixing tiny and very see. This year we’ll be opening the domes of Fellowship. During that time, I applied for jobs precise volumes of different reagents. a brand-new telescope called the Large Survey Catherine is holding her well-thumbed around the world and got a job offer from St Synoptic Telescope (LSST). Set upon a remote childhood copy of Relativity: The Special Andrews and the Fellowship more-or-less at mountain top in Chile, LSST will image the entire and the General Theory by Albert Einstein, the same time. I moved to Scotland with my Southern sky to unprecedented depths. With which formed the foundations of her husband and two young daughters in 2011. this exquisite dataset, we will confront a range future life surveying the universe.

16 17 Dr Professor Silvia Paracchini Catherine Heymans FRSE FRSE

Royal Society University Research Fellow, Professor of Astrophysics at the Royal School of Medicine, Observatory, University of Edinburgh University of St Andrews

16 17 Professor Professor Dame Anne Glover Eva Hevia FRS, FRSE FRSC, FRSE

President, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Department of Pure and Applied Special Adviser to the Principal Chemistry, University of Strathclyde at University of Strathclyde

As a child, I used to sit down every week and watch Star Trek, I am a Synthetic Chemist who, in general terms, can be with all its iPads, body scanners, needleless injections, hands- described as a molecular architect. Our research focuses on free communication, virtual reality and teleporters; and it ﬁ nding new tools that enable the construction of useful seemed like a world of wonder and possibility. It’s astonishing molecules, of relevance to the pharmaceutical industry and, to think that all of this is now a reality, even the teleporter! therefore, having a direct impact on society.

We’ve not yet managed to teleport a person, might be doing, to how the cells that make up We place special emphasis on the structures Every day at work is different. Sometimes we have but we have managed to transport a photon our bodies respond to stress. What’s important of reagents required to access these important amazing moments, for example, when we make from here to the Gobi Desert and that’s a start. to me now is taking the knowledge that we molecules, in order to get a better mechanistic a breakthrough in a project or when some of generate from science research and making understanding that will allow the rational design our work is accepted for publication. Of course, It’s one of the things that made me want to sure it can make a difference, by, for example; of future synthetic strategies. The quest for sometimes we also have to face frustrating be a scientist. It seemed unbelievable that you infl uencing government policies; using the sustainability underpins our research, and some challenging times, but being part of a team often could spend your whole life just imagining knowledge generated by research to invent new of our most exciting recent work has been geared helps in fi nding solutions for those challenges. the impossible then making it real – and that’s technologies; looking at how we might protect towards replacing toxic organic solvents by more A special privilege of working in academia is to what scientists do. They’re the most creative, our environment; and have better healthcare environmentally benign alternatives, made of witness the spectacular progression that younger imaginative people you can meet, which makes for all. That keeps me busy! biorenewable components. Along with leading a researchers make while working on their PhD or them fantastic fun to be around. As science is vibrant research group, I enjoy teaching inorganic postdoctoral projects, as well as being able to global, I’ve been lucky enough to travel all around Anne is holding a lego model of a female chemistry to undergraduate students. I am also a share with them my enthusiasm for research the world and meet people and make friends, scientist in a lab, selected to symbolise strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity and and discovery. who tell me about the country they work in Anne’s role in mentoring young women in so regularly participate in outreach activities that and their work. STEM. It was a present from a colleague promote and celebrate women in STEM. Eva is holding the model of a molecule when she was the Chief Scientifi c Adviser which the team she leads has prepared. It I’ve done lots of different types of research in my to the President of the European Since my primary school days, I have always been shows for the first time that we can use iron career, from looking at why there are so many Commission (2012–2015). fascinated with science. I did my undergraduate as an earth abundant and sustainable microbes in the environment and what they and PhD studies at the University of Oviedo in alternative to metallate organic molecules. Spain, and in 2003 I joined the University of Strathclyde as a postdoctoral researcher, where I have remained.

18 19 Professor Professor Dame Anne Glover Eva Hevia FRS, FRSE FRSC, FRSE

President, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Department of Pure and Applied Special Adviser to the Principal Chemistry, University of Strathclyde at University of Strathclyde

18 19 Professor Professor Hilary Critchley Ineke DeMoortel FMedSci, FRSE FRSE

Professor of Reproductive Medicine Deputy Head of School, School at the University of Edinburgh; of Mathematics and Statistics, Consultant Gynaecologist University of St. Andrews

I am a Clinical Academic and have the privilege of working I’ve always liked mathematics, even as a small child. with patients. This offers me the opportunity to understand I liked its rigour and simplicity, but I came to realise that the physiology and pathology that underpin complaints that what I really wanted to do was apply mathematics to affect, as many as, one in four women. understand things in nature.

I work in the taboo area of menstrual disorders and continue to participate in our studies. I studied Applied Mathematics and Astronomy at television and telephone signals. During a and these are conditions that have a massive In doing so, they are making a difference to the KU Leuven in Belgium and during my fi nal magnetic storm, huge electric currents are impact on quality of life, particularly to the how we approach this area of women’s health year, I did an Erasmus exchange to St Andrews generated, which can disrupt power distribution individual, her family, the workplace and wider and widening their choices. where I got interested in Solar Physics. I returned on earth and cause blackouts, and oil and gas society. We still don’t know why women have to St Andrews to do my PhD and still work there, pipes to corrode faster due to the large currents periods and why menstrual bleeding problems I always wanted to be a Doctor. My older brother, as a Solar Physicist. travelling along them, induced by solar storms. occur. It’s an increasingly prevalent issue because Julian, introduced me to the sphere of not just A large solar storm (or ‘coronal mass ejection’) of the number of women in the workplace who being a Doctor but also a researcher. He joins It is important that we understand the atmosphere will bombard satellites with tons of particles, are delaying starting families and need to preserve other role models, men and women, who have of the sun because it has a direct impact on which can cause severe damage, or even disable their wombs. My research team’s studies ‘at the infl uenced me, provided terrifi c mentorship the earth and its near-space environment. them altogether. I use equations that describe bench’ aim to understand the biology of the and offered unstinting support throughout my Large parts of our society’s core infrastructure fl uids and magnetic fi elds and I construct models, womb lining (endometrium). We ask questions professional career. (telecommunication networks, power distribution which I then compare to observations of the about what regulates normal menstruation and navigation systems) are extremely vulnerable sun, to try to understand more about the and what is perturbed when women have It’s over thirty-fi ve years since I qualifi ed and to space-weather events; magnetic storms solar atmosphere. problem periods. I’ve seen the balance of men and women in interfere with all kinds of signals, such as satellite the profession change. We see increasing signals. Our society depends heavily on satellites, Ineke is holding a pottery plate I have the privilege of working with colleagues numbers of women training as Doctors and for example, to provide navigation information depicting the sun. across a range of disciplines, and we hope to see we need to ensure that we see more women for airplanes and ships and to transmit radio, our studies at the bench translated to the clinic. joining clinical academia. I am very grateful to the many women who have,

20 21 Professor Professor Hilary Critchley Ineke DeMoortel FMedSci, FRSE FRSE

Professor of Reproductive Medicine Deputy Head of School, School at the University of Edinburgh; of Mathematics and Statistics, Consultant Gynaecologist University of St. Andrews

20 21 Professor Professor Karen Faulds Lesley Yellowlees FHEA, FRSC, FSAS, FRSE CBE, HonFRSC, FRSE

Head of Bioanotechnology and Analytical Professor Emerita in Inorganic Research Section, Department of Pure and Electrochemistry, Applied Chemistry, Technology Innovation University of Edinburgh Centre, University of Strathclyde

My research involves developing the technique I loved science from an early age. I loved doing experiments, of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) loved mathematical challenges, loved problem solving. I was for multiplexed bioanalytical applications. fortunate to have inspiring science and maths teachers and supportive parents who all encouraged me to study chemistry, Raman involves directing laser light onto a molecule, I think I was always going to be a scientist or which results in the light being scattered with a an engineer; always wanting to understand physics and maths. I enjoyed science, found it came naturally change in wavelength that is related to the structure how things work. I was one of those annoying to me and never hesitated to pursue a career in chemistry. of the molecules, providing a molecular fi ngerprint children that asked “why?” constantly at nursery that can be used for defi nitive identifi cation. and I carried out experiments and made terrible However, Raman is a weak process that can be concoctions, usually involving my Mum’s perfume My whole academic career has been at the important component of our renewable energy greatly enhanced by adsorbing the analyse into and fl ower petals! I enjoyed all the sciences University of Edinburgh. After graduating I worked portfolio – witness the increasing number of the surface of metal (gold or silver) nanoparticles. at school but my true passion was always for in Australia, which is where I fi rst got interested in solar panels on roofs. chemistry. I need to carry out work where what I solar energy. I then returned to the University to This technique allows us to develop am doing has a purpose; where my research could study for a PhD on how to convert the energy that There’s still plenty of research to be done, not only bionanosensors for the specifi c detection of have an impact on improving people’s lives or comes from the sun into electricity, and this has in turning sunlight into electricity and making it biomarkers related to disease. We are using this environment. My ambition is to be able to develop remained the focus of my research to date. I led a an effi cient process using cheap readily available approach to detect bacterial pathogens related approaches that will allow earlier detection of successful research group for many years engaging chemicals, but also in being able to store this to meningitis; the onset of sepsis; indicators disease, which will enable; faster and more with fantastic students and wonderful colleagues energy so that we can use it during the night of cardiovascular disease; the detection and patient-specifi c medical intervention and have before taking up senior management roles at when the sun isn’t shining. understanding of cancer and drug treatments; an impact on patient care as well as reduce Edinburgh. One of the highlights of my academic and to detect bacteria in both the healthcare the cost of healthcare. career was when I became the President of the Lesley is holding a dye sensitised solar cell setting and the food industry. We are also Royal Society of Chemistry – their fi rst woman as prepared in Professor Neil Robertson’s developing approaches with a view to measuring Karen is holding a handheld Raman President in 170 years.’ research lab. The dark circle contains changes at depth inside the body, for example, spectrometer than can be used for point an organic dye to absorb the sunlight related to cancer and bacteria biofi lm formation. of use detection Many people are surprised that solar energy has a sandwiched between conducting glass part to play in Scotland but, in fact, we get more to transfer the generated electrons. than enough sunlight for solar energy to be an

22 23 Professor Professor Karen Faulds Lesley Yellowlees FHEA, FRSC, FSAS, FRSE CBE, HonFRSC, FRSE

22 23 Professor Professor Louise Heathwaite Becky Lunn CBE, FRSE MBE, FICE, FREng, FRSE

Professor of Land and Water Science, Royal Academy of Engineering and BAM Nuttall The Lancaster Environment Centre, Research Chair in Biomineral Technologies for Lancaster University Ground Engineering; Head of the Centre for Ground Engineering and Energy Geosciences, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde

I am an Environmental Hydrologist with a BSc in Environmental I currently lead a major project sponsored by the Sciences. I did a PhD in Wetland Hydrochemistry that led to my Royal Academy of Engineering and the Civil Engineering long-term research on environmental pollution, in particular, Contractor, BAM Nuttall, to take research technologies understanding the pathways of nitrogen and phosphorus I have been developing at the University of Strathclyde loss from agricultural land to water, and the impact on into the ground-engineering industry. freshwater quality. Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) students that enables this to happen. They have is a technique that uses a harmless bacterium skills that far exceed my own, in a wide range of I’m truly interested in how things work, and I like Scottish Government, looking at the scientifi c found in soils to produce the mineral, calcium disciplines, including microbiology, chemistry and to work independently, so there was no career for evidence underpinning a lot of the decisions carbonate. This mineral binds the soil particles physics, so there is always something new for me other than being a researcher. I like science we make around the environment. together, turning loose soil into rock, and thereby me to learn. to be useful, and when I started my PhD it was greatly improving its strength. I aim to treat in the Somerset Levels, where pump drainage of I guess my inspiration to become a scientist was soils without disturbing them so that we can Winning the Aberconway Medal from the a wetland, (part of which had just been declared actually not liking to be told what to do! I like use MICP to create engineered structures from Geological Society made a huge difference to me. a Site of Special Scientifi c Interest (SSSI)), was a working independently and science just offered the soil already present at the site, for example, Based on a nomination process in which names problem, as it was polluting river water causing that opportunity to start from scratch. I often tell strengthening beach sands to make coastal are proposed in strict confi dence by Fellows of fi sh to die. It was a good problem to work out my post-docs and early lecturers that the time defences or strengthening soils to make building the Society, I had no idea that my name had been and understand and to think about the pragmatic when you’re a PhD student is when you have foundations. The use of MICP in industry could put forward. I was the fi rst woman and the fi rst application of the science. three years ahead of you to ‘do your own thing’ signifi cantly reduce global cement/concrete use, engineer to receive the award, and as a young and discover something new, which is so exciting. which currently accounts for around 8% of researcher it gave me the belief that I could I’ve taken this further in recent years by, fi rst of global man-made carbon dioxide emissions. perform at a national and international level. all, working with one of the research councils, the Louise is holding a Munsell Soil Colour Book Natural Environment Research Council, building – Professor Albert H Munsell was the fi rst I love that as a research engineer, I have the Becky is holding the Aberconway Medal, strategic research programmes around sustainable person to illustrate colour systematically freedom to think – developing occasionally which she was awarded by the Geological use of natural resources, covering everything from in three-dimensional space, based on ‘off-the-wall’ solutions to engineering challenges. Society in 2011 for her work with industry. energy use through to conservation strategies. experimental science and it’s been the I have built a team of multidisciplinary staff and More recently, I worked as Chief Scientifi c Advisor offi cial colour system for soils research for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment for the since the 1930s.

24 25 Professor Professor Louise Heathwaite Becky Lunn CBE, FRSE MBE, FICE, FREng, FRSE

24 25 Professor Ruth King FLSW, FRSE

Thomas Bayes’ Chair of Statistics, University of Edinburgh

I am an Applied Statistician. I develop new methods and techniques for analysing different types of data, particularly in the areas of ecology, epidemiology and, most recently, within medical applications.

My work involves a combination of different sometimes succeeding, to work out ‘whodunnit?’. aspects: constructing models to describe the To me, applied statistics is a natural extension processes that generated the data; applying of this: evidence collected in order to determine different computational techniques to fi t the who the culprit was, translates into the observed models to the data; and ultimately interpreting the data which we can interrogate in order to answer results obtained in light of the given application. questions of interest. It is often intricate, non- obvious, details that we wish to extract from the Some of the particular challenges that I have data, and this needs to be done in a rigorous addressed include, for example, dealing with mathematical framework. Statistics provides an incomplete data; combining different forms evidence-based approach to problems which can of data; developing effi cient computational change/improve our understanding of systems – techniques; and dealing with different types and hence can have a real impact, for example, of heterogeneity within the observed data. with regard to medical intervention/treatments, As an applied statistician, a signifi cant (and government policies, conservation management, particularly interesting) part of my work involves etc. Wherever we look, data is making a close collaboration with other scientists to fully difference to how we understand understand the data and application area. the world.

I enjoy problem solving and, growing up I was an Ruth is holding one of her beloved avid Agatha Christie reader – always trying, and Agatha Christie books!

26 27 Professor Ruth King FLSW, FRSE

Thomas Bayes’ Chair of Statistics, University of Edinburgh

I enjoy problem solving and, growing up I was an Ruth is holding one of her beloved avid Agatha Christie reader – always trying, and Agatha Christie books!

26 27 An exhibition celebrating some of Scotland’s finest female scientists

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470 28 29