British Science Week

In this week's library blog post we're looking at British Science Week with a Women's History Month twist. 

At St Andrew's Library, we've put together a display encouraging students to learn more about some of the many amazing, and often previously underappreciated, female scientists of modern history.

As part of this, we want to highlight the work of scientists like Rosalind Franklin. 

Franklin made significant breakthroughs in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA yet was unacknowledged in the 1960s when Francis Crick was awarded the Nobel Prize for discovering the structure (using Rosalind's findings). You can read more about her crucial contributions to modern science in Rosalind Franklin by Cath Senker [STA - 575.1].

We've also included some fictionalised versions of other scientists including I, Ada by Julia Gray and The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage [GN]. Both titles offer more creative accounts of the life of Ada Lovelace - the 19th century Countess regarded as the very first computer programmer. 

You can also browse a selection of short biographies of female scientists from the following titles which demonstrate the vast and vital contributions women (both in Britain and beyond) have made to science so far:

Brilliant Ideas from Wonderful Women by Aitziber Lopez [STA 609]

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky [STA 509.92]

A History of Britain in 21 Women by Jenni Murray [STA 920.72]

Girls Can Do Anything by Caitlin Doyle [STA 920.72]

Find all of these and more at St Andrew's Library!