ROSALIND FRANKLIN MAGGIE ADERIN-POCOCK British biophysicist and x-ray crystallographer. 1920-1958 British space scientist and science communicator. 1968 – present. Aderin-Pocock has worked on many projects including at Astrium* on Earth observation instruments to help understand climate change. She is also an important figure in science communication and runs her own company, Science Innovation Ltd. *a European Aeronautic Defence and space company Franklin is best known for her work producing x-ray diffraction images of DNA. Her images were critical in the determination of the structure of DNA in 1953 although her role in the discovery has often been overlooked.

Northern Irish Astrophysicist. JOCELYN BELL BURNELL HELEN SHARMAN Northern Irish Astrophysicist. 1943 – present. British chemist. 1963 – present. As a graduate student she helped build a large radio telescope and discovered pulsars - an important milestone in the history of astrophysics. Although she was not recognised when the work was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1974, she has received many other awards for her work. Sharman responded to a radio advert asking for applicants to become the first British astronaut. She was selected ahead of almost 13000 other applicants. In May 1991 she became the first Briton in space and the first woman to visit the Mir space station.

ADA LOVELACE MARY ANNING British mathematician and writer. 1815-1852. British fossil collector, dealer and palaeontologist. 1799-1847. Lovelace was the world’s first computer programmer. She worked with Charles Babbage, whose analytical engines were the precursors of the modern computer. Her notes were later recognised as the first real description of a computer and software. Anning’s fossil discoveries were some of the most significant geological finds of all time. They provided evidence central to the development of new ideas about the history of the Earth. Although she was well known in geological circles, as a woman she was not eligible to join the Geological Society of London and was not always credited for her scientific contributions.

SALLY RIDE DOROTHY HODGKIN American physicist and astronaut. “For whatever reason, I didn't succumb to the stereotype that science wasn't for girls.” “I was captured for life by chemistry and by crystals. “ American physicist and astronaut. 1951 – 2012. British biochemist and x-ray crystallographer. 1910 – 1994. In 1983 Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. After she left NASA she pursued her passion for helping motivate others, especially girls, to study science, technology, engineering and maths. Hodgkin used x-ray crystallography to determine the structure of important biomolecules including penicillin and insulin. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work on the structure of vitamin B12.

BARBARA McCLINTOCK JANE GOODALL American cytogeneticist. 1902 – 1992. British primatologist. 1934 – present. In the 1950’s McClintock developed a theory that genes could move around – on and between chromosomes (‘jumping genes’). Improved molecular techniques in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s confirmed her theory and she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1983. Goodall is famous for her detailed studies of chimpanzees. She discovered that they have the mental capacity to not only use simple tools but to actually make them as well, something that was previously thought to be uniquely human.

American marine biologist. STEPHANIE KWOLEK RACHEL CARSON “The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” American chemist. 1923 – present. American marine biologist. 1907 – 1964. Kwolek’s research led to the development of a synthetic material called Kevlar which is five times stronger than the same weight of steel. Many police officers owe their lives to Kwolek, as Kevlar is the material used in bullet proof vests. During the 1950s Carson conducted research into the effects of pesticides on the food chain. The research was published in her most influential work, Silent Spring (1962), which condemned the indiscriminate use of pesticides, especially DDT (later banned).

Austrian (later Swedish) physicist. CAROLINE HERSCHEL LISE MIETNER “Science makes people reach selflessly for truth and objectivity; it teaches people to accept reality, with wonder and admiration, not to mention the deep awe and joy that the natural order of things brings to the true scientist.” German astronomer. 1750 – 1848. Austrian (later Swedish) physicist. 1878 – 1968. Mietner was part of the team that discovered nuclear fission, an achievement for which her colleague Otto Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize. Meitner is often cited as one of the most glaring examples of women's scientific achievement overlooked by the Nobel committee. Herschel was introduced to astronomy by her brother William. She was the first woman to discover a comet, the first woman officially recognized in a scientific position, and the first woman to receive honorary membership into Britain's prestigious Royal Society.

MARIE CURIE FABIOLO GIANOTTI Polish physicist and chemist. “I believe that Science has great beauty. A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician; he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales." “Never abandon your dreams. You may regret it for the rest of your life.” Polish physicist and chemist. 1867 – 1934. Italian particle physicist. 1862 – present. Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only woman to win the award in two different fields (physics and chemistry). Curie's efforts, with her husband, Pierre, led to the discovery of polonium and radium and, after Pierre's death, the development of X-rays. Gianotti played an important role leading up to the discovery of the Higgs-like particle. She is a former spokesperson and coordinator for the ATLAS experiment and the Large Hadron Collider, CERN. She was elected to this position by 3000 of her peers, hailing from 38 countries.