Famous women scientists travel through time to stitch and bitch

Published On Thu 26 Mar 2015 by Grant Hill

Emma Darwin, Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie and other pioneering women of science are about to step out of a time machine at the University of Dundee tomorrow.

They – or at least actresses playing them – will be participating in ‘The Lady Scientist Stitch and Bitch’ at the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building, on Friday, 27th March. The event is taking place as part of the 2015 Women in Science Festival.

They will come together to share funny, heart-breaking and illuminating stories about what it meant to be a woman scientist at particular times in history. A communal knitting session is what has brought these time-travelling women together but this is no gentle sewing circle but rather one that shares hilarious, horrible and human stories.

Organiser Dr Jon Urch said, “This event is designed to explore the lives of leading women scientists from history who have thought-provoking stories to tell. I simply can’t wait to see the ‘Lady Scientists’ bring a slice of theatre to Dundee that will take the audience back in time to periods of history where women were treated less equally in science.

“These historical women are portrayed by female scientists and science communicators, who the audience will be able to discuss the differences between the ways women in science are treated then and now. ”

The full list of famous historical women being portrayed at the event is: Augusta Ada King (1815-1852), Emma Darwin (1808-1896), Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (1900-1979), Mary Somerville (1780-1872), Marie Sk?odowska-Curie (1867-1934), and Florence Nightingale (1820-1910). They will be joined by a Mad Lady Scientist born in 2064 who has travelled back in time to reveal what the future might hold for women working in the field.

Dundee is once again celebrating the achievements of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) with the Women in Science Festival. A total of 45 exhibitions, talks, film screenings, fun days and other events are taking place across the city in March, and the festival is supported by many of the internationally acclaimed female scientists and researchers working at institutions in Dundee.

The programme highlights the many opportunities there are for women to pursue a career in science and related subjects. It is the only festival in the world to focus on celebrating women in science and this year will present a range of film screenings, exhibitions, talks and family fun days.

‘The Lady Scientist Stitch and Bitch’ takes place at the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre from 7-9pm on Friday, 27th March. Admission is free and open to all.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277