Patricia Fara - Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and women's roles in the history of science

There aren’t many women in the history of science. I think it's crucial to explore the past and examine how those prejudices and obstacles that women faced in the past are still affecting women today.

About Patricia Fara "I’m an Emeritus Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge.

I've got a degree in physics, but my real passion is the history of science, and I love writing books because I want to show everybody that the history of science is the history of absolutely everything."

Key Points

• Until the second half of the 19th century, women were barred from universities, restricting their opportunities to practise science. • As well as great discoveries, the history of science must take note of communication, translation and teaching, all of which involved influential women. • By understanding the origins of prejudices against women scientists, we can increase the number of women in science and improve their position and status.

Where are the women in science?

There aren’t many women in the history of science and I think it's important to understand why. After all, the past affects the present and the present affects the future.

And at the moment, there certainly aren't many women in the upper levels of science, even though we have equal gender legislation. So, for me as a historian, I think it's crucial to explore the past and examine how those prejudices and obstacles that women faced in the past are still affecting women today. The whole point of understanding how we've reached the present is to improve the future.

research explained, academic insights, expert voices, university knowledge, public scholarship, critical thinking, world events explained, humanities decoded, social issues explored, science for citizens, open access education, informed debates, big ideas, how the world works, deep dives, scholarly storytelling, learn something new, global challenges, trusted knowledge, EXPeditions platform