Page 21 - PERIODIC Magazine Issue 5

S upporting Women

and Parents in

Scientific Careers
Supporting Women and Parents in Scientific Careers

The Department of Chemistry and Somerville College joined forces this year with the aim of creating
Dorothy Hodgkin, alumna of Oxford Chemistry and
The Department of Chemistry and Somerville College
Somerville College, was a pioneer of x-ray crystallography
joined forces this year with the aim of creating a research
a research fellowship for an outstanding chemist to return to research after a career break, and to
whose discoveries fundamentally shaped our
fellowship for an outstanding chemist to return to research
help solve the perennial problem of the ‘leaky pipeline’. Although in recent years we have become
after a career break, and to help solve the perennial
understanding of living organisms and supported the
far more successful in encouraging girls and women to study science, there is a significant drop-off
growth of modern medicine. In 1964 she won the only
problem of the ‘leaky pipeline’. Although in recent years
Nobel Prize for chemistry ever awarded to a British
we have become far more successful in encouraging girls
of women in science academia as seniority increases. This means that whilst 44% of doctoral
woman. Hodgkin was not only an extraordinary scientist,
and women to study science, there is a significant drop-off
graduates in chemistry are female, only 24% of non-professorial academic staff and 8% of professors
of women in science academia as seniority increases. This but a teacher who led by example, an advocate for
in chemistry are female. Reports constantly cite a key problem: taking a career break. Opportunities
social equality and the first woman to receive a form of
means that whilst 44% of doctoral graduates in chemistry
maternity pay from the University of Oxford. She also
are female, only 24% of non-professorial academic staff
to return to science academia are rare and in huge demand.
and 8% of professors in chemistry are female. Reports donated some of her Nobel Prize money to set up the first
onsite nursery at Oxford. By naming the fellowship after
constantly cite a key problem: taking a career break.
The Dorothy Hodgkin Project was launched in May with an ambitious social media and crowdfunding
Opportunities to return to science academia are rare and in Dorothy Hodgkin, we hope to honour her legacy, create
campaign that to date has raised over £35000 of initial capital. Our ultimate aim is to create an
huge demand.
more opportunities for scientists to return to research,
and help encourage a shift in culture and policy. We are
endowed fellowship that will enable us to build a lasting stream of women returning to science.
The Dorothy Hodgkin Project was launched in May with
an ambitious social media and crowdfunding campaign enormously grateful to all those who donated, signed up
as social media ambassadors, and generally helped spread
Dorothy Hodgkin, alumna of Oxford Chemistry and Somerville College, was a pioneer of x-ray
that to date has raised over £350,000 in cash and pledges
the word!
representing over 70% of the overall target. Our ultimate
crystallography whose discoveries fundamentally shaped our understanding of living organisms and
aim is to create an endowed fellowship that will enable us If you would like to find out more about the project, please
supported the growth of modern medicine. In 1964 she won the only Nobel Prize for chemistry
contact susan.davis@chem.ox.ac.uk or
to build a lasting stream of women returning to science.
ever awarded to a British woman. Hodgkin was not only an extraordinary scientist, but a teacher
brett.degaynesford@some.ox.ac.uk
who led by example, an advocate for social equality and the first woman to receive a form of
maternity pay from the University of Oxford. She also donated some of her Nobel Prize money to
set up the first onsite nursery at Oxford. By naming the fellowship after Dorothy Hodgkin, we hope
to honour her legacy, create more opportunities for scientists to return to research, and help 21
Periodic
encourage a shift in culture and policy. We are enormously grateful to all those who donated,
The Magazine of the Department of Chemistry
signed up as social media ambassadors, and generally helped spread the word! If you would like to
find out more about the project, please visit https://dorothyhodgkinproject.com/