Women in Science: Display

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100 years ago, the first group of women won the right to vote in the UK. In this centenary year, there is widespread recognition of the political role women have played in society. But what about the vital contributions women have made to science? During 2018, we are celebrating a number of women connected with the University and the Museum’s collections. Check back regularly for updates about our activities.

Is there a scientific woman you think should feature in our year of celebrations? We would love to hear about them. Drop us an email at publicengagement@hsm.ox.ac.uk.

Basement display

A small display of rarely seen archive material highlights the work of four women:

  • Anna Atkins was one of the first people to illustrate a book with photography in 1843;
  • Sarah Angelina Acland was a pioneer of colour photography in the early 1900s;
  • Ada Lovelace has been described as the world’s first computer programmer; and
  • Elizabeth Hippisley was a chemist and geologist in the late 1700s.

This display of archive material is joined by a banner display featuring eight women from a number of scientific fields. You can read more about their work in the accompanying leaflet, which is also available to download as a PDF.

Family trail

Follow our Women and Science trail to discover more links to the collections and find out more about Ada Lovelace and the astronomer Caroline Herschel.
Drop-in, ages 7+

Shout Out For Women trail

A trail across the collections of Oxford University’s Gardens, Libraries and Museums celebrating some of the women who are represented within our collections and buildings, including artists, scientists and curators.
Pick up a copy from our front desk.