Women in chemistry
Learn more about women working as chemists and the issues that affect them in science education
Women scientists
‘Structure and bonding really gets to the heart of chemistry’
Meet Niki Kaiser, a chemistry teacher inspiring others to embrace evidence-based teaching practices
‘To work with paintings is my dream job’
Meet Marta Melchiorre, a scientist who supports the conservation of paintings at the National Gallery in London
‘A material that could heal itself was the coolest thing I’d ever heard’
Meet Annela Seddon, a research scientist who designs materials able to self-fold on demand for biomedical applications
'Astronauts wanted, no experience required'
Helen Sharman talks science, space travel and advice for budding astronauts
Elizabeth Fulhame: the scientist the world forgot
Ida Emilie Steinmark investigates a forgotten figure who made fundamentally important discoveries in chemistry
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Ada Lovelace Day
In the spirit of Ada Lovelace Day (a celebration of women in science, technology engineering and maths), here are few of the fascinating chemists we’ve featured this year:
Pioneering British women chemists, Rayner-Canham
The women and events who have contributed to the evolution of the sciences
Women and STEM education
STEM is an attractive career prospect for young women and girls
The key is to use clever ways to get them engaged early
Making science teaching more inclusive
Let’s introduce more representative examples in our chemistry classrooms
Learning about women chemists is an entitlement
The contributions of women to chemistry should be written into the core chemistry curriculums, says Helen Harden
Equality, education and science
Easy-to-implement ways to link these topics to your lessons on energy sources, water resources, nanochemistry, health and climate change
Plastic conservation
Usually we want plastics to degrade, so what about when we don’t? How chemists are helping museums preserve plastics
Choosing to challenge
Women scientists hardly get a name check in science curriculums. It’s time to change that
Boy talk
Calling for a gender-balanced world
Call us scientists, not women scientists
Looking forward to an equal gender balance in science
Girls depict female scientists less as they get older
There’s still a need for diverse role models
Girls say they regret dropping STEM subjects
Parent pressure and a lack of confidence influence students’ decisions
Gender inequality problems remain in higher education
In 2015, only 9% of chemistry professors were women
Chemistry: it’s not for girls?
Are schools accidentally putting girls off science?
Parity reached in male/female ratio of chemistry students
The role of women in chemistry finally parallels that of men, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry's first ever female President.
Profiles
A culture of success
Sarah McLusky profiles a sixth form student on the hunt for protein biomarkers
Tara McKernan: Wastewater treatment scientific officer
Tara tells Katrina Krämer how her curiosity about chemistry helps her keep rivers clean
Abigail Storey: Scientific glassblower
Katrina Krämer talks to an art school graduate with the skills that make chemistry research possible
Neelum Munir: Chromatography sales specialist
Hayley Simon meets a chemist who built a successful career after some early setbacks
Amy Styring: Chemist and archaeologist
Archaeology is more than just digging. Emma Stoye meets Amy Styring to excavate the facts
Nicola Dinsdale: Flying the chemical flag
Daniel Johnson finds out about the chemistry behind aerospace engineering and life as a ‘test tube pilot’
Francesca Burgoyne: Education executive
Philip Robinson introduces you to RSC ChemNet’s new team member
Jess Ham: Winner of the Bill Bryson Prize 2012
Philip Robinson talks to the creator of comic chemistry cartoons
Judith Gregory: Procter & Gamble
Judith Gregory is a senior perfume chemist at Procter & Gamble. Josh Howgego finds out about her work, career and finely tuned nose
Nicola Gray: Assistant analyst
Nicola is a PhD student from the Drug Control Centre at King’s College London. She will play an important role during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this year
Emma Shiells: Picture editor at the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Emma works on magazines and books, sourcing scientific illustrations and photographs
Claire Wagman: Formulation scientist at Unilever
Clare works on improving the formulation of hair care products. She tells Josh Howgego what it’s like to work on products that are seen on supermarket shelves
A day in the life of an ink development manager: Josie Harries
Josie Harries has been working for Domino Printing Sciences for five years and has been an ink development manager there for the last year. She talks to Laura Howes about her typical day
A day in the life of STEM ambassadors coordinator: Clare Herd
Clare Herd has spent the last 3 months working as the local STEM ambassadors coordinator at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum. She talks to Laura Howes about her typical day
A day in the life of a trainee patent attorney: Jessica Kershaw
Jessica Kershaw has spent the past four months as a trainee patent attorney for Carpmaels & Ransford, London. She talks to Tom Westgate about her typical day
A day in the life of a committee specialist: Farrah Bhatti
Farrah Bhatti is a committee specialist on the House of Commons’ Energy and Climate Change select committee. She talks to Tom Westgate about her typical day
A day in the life of technical editor: Celia Gitterman
Celia Gitterman has spent the past four years working for the Royal Society of Chemistry as a technical editor. She talks to Tom Bond about her typical day
A day in the life of project manager: Donna Palmer
Donna has spent the past three years working as a project manager at Pera. She talks to Rachel Bolton-King about her typical day