A disparity born of oversight: recognising women in science
Dr Bernice Wright pays tribute to some of the most impactful women in the life sciences, and the vital role they continue to play …
Women have long shaped the course of life sciences; however, too often their names are missing from the history books. While the popular imagination gravitates toward a handful of celebrated figures such as Marie Curie, countless others have quietly transformed our understanding of biology, nutrition, and the natural world, without receiving the recognition they deserve.
Sadly, the gap between contribution and credit remains expansive. Consider the Nobel Prize, one of science’s most prestigious honours. Since its inception in 1901, only a fraction of its science awards have gone to women. The disparity is not a reflection of female absenteeism, rather oversight.
That said, modern initiatives such as RESILIENCE, the UK’s Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence, are working to change that narrative, not only by training the next generation of scientists, but by celebrating those whose legacies have been overlooked.
Balancing the scales
One of the first things to address is giving the recognition owed to many female pioneers, regardless of where or when they made their breakthroughs.
Scientists such as Marianne Grunberg-Manago, a molecular biologist whose work helped unlock one of life’s most fundamental processes. Her co-discovery of the enzyme polynucleotide phosphorylase proved pivotal in deciphering the genetic code, laying groundwork for later breakthroughs in how DNA is translated into proteins. Despite the importance of this foundational work for modern biology, her name rarely appears outside specialist circles.
Similarly, Lucie Randoin, a pioneer in nutritional science. Her research into vitamins and metabolism established important links between deficiencies and disease, connections that underpin modern dietary science. Yet, unlike many of her contemporaries, Randoin’s contributions have largely faded from mainstream scientific history.
In the United States, Rosa Smith Eigenmann broke barriers as one of the first female ichthyologists. Her extensive work cataloguing fish species contributed significantly to zoology, but recognition has essentially eluded her.
Working across zoology, genetics, and palaeontology in the early 20th century, Igerna Sollas pursued science at a time when women were largely excluded from formal academic careers. Her appointment as a lecturer at Newnham College, Cambridge, in 1903 marked a significant milestone, but her contributions remain largely absent from histories of the disciplines she helped shape.
Then there is Grace Oladunni Taylor, a trailblazer in African biochemistry. As the first African recipient of the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science and one of the first women in the Nigerian Academy of Science, her influence was profound, particularly within her region. Yet global recognition never fully matched the scale of her impact.
Of course, the textbook example is Rosalind Franklin, the British scientist who made crucial contributions to the discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. Franklin’s X-ray diffraction images provided the foundational evidence for the famous double helix model, but this vital contribution was overlooked, and she was excluded from the primary credit for years.
Inspiring future pioneers
The lack of recognition of these scientists – and many others - is not just a matter of historical fairness, it has real consequences for the present. When important contributions go unrecognised, role models disappear. For young women considering careers in life sciences, the absence of visible predecessors can subtly reinforce the idea that they do not belong.
There are signs, however, that the landscape is shifting. Programmes like Resilience are not only revisiting the past but actively shaping a more inclusive future. With more than half of its participating scientists being women, the initiative reflects a conscious effort to rebalance representation in medicines manufacturing and related fields.
Its impact is already tangible: thousands of trainees and students across the UK have engaged with the outreach programmes, many through innovative tools like virtual reality training – which make it possible to learn and train without the need to be in high-technology, high-cost real-world environments.
While there are countless women blazing a trail through myriad disciplines, it sadly remains a fact that their contributions are often overlooked by society. By celebrating all scientific pioneers, we can encourage those young women who are interested in life sciences to engage with, explore, and experience the many career options open to them.
Pic: TUV Rheinland
Dr Bernice Wright is lecturer in cell and gene therapy at UCL
Related Content
Implantable photonic device could improve delivery of bladder cancer therapy
Engineers and cancer researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed an implantable photonic device designed to improve the effectiveness …
Was Clarkson’s cow killed for nothing?
Did you watch Clarkson’s Farm the other evening? That poor cow Pepper was culled after routine tuberculosis tests. Clarkson was …
Raindrop supposes
Sometimes, writes Brian J Ford, well-intentioned efforts to bring science to the public can come to grief… Last week on …
