The Edinburgh Science Festival takes place next month from 6-21 April. There are some events featuring women scientists in the programme.
Edinburgh Medal Address: Climate Change Where are We?
Friday 5 April 7.00pm / Upper Library, The Signet Library / £12/10
The Edinburgh Medal is a prestigious award given each year to men and women of science and technology who are judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding and wellbeing of humanity. The 2019 Edinburgh Medal is awarded to Christiana Figueres, for her work as a recognised world leader on global climate change and her efforts in bringing nations together to jointly deliver an unprecedented climate change agreement.
Celebrating Women in Science in Scotland
Saturday 6 — Sunday 21 April 9.00am–5.00pm / Drop-in / Mon–Fri only / Royal Society of Edinburgh / Free
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is proud to present Celebrating Women in Science in Scotland, a new multi-media exhibition for 2019, featuring some of the country’s leading scientists. These incredible women are changing the way we see and understand the world every day with their work and we want to celebrate them! Come along and find out more about what inspired them to follow this career path and the various challenges as well as achievements they have had along the way.
The Gendered Brain
Wednesday 10 April / 8.00pm / Auditorium , National Museum of Scotland / £8.50/£6.50/#SCIFIVE £5
Do you have a female or a male brain? Or is that the wrong question? Exploring centuries of sexism, neuroscientist Prof Gina Rippon shows how we arrived at the idea of an inferior, female brain and how cutting-edge breakthroughs in neuroscience can liberate us from this outdated understanding.
StrongWomen Science
Wednesday 10 April 2.00pm / Pleasance Theatre, Pleasance / £6 or £5 each for three or more tickets
StrongWomen circus scientists Aoife and Maria reveal the scientific secrets behind their astounding tricks. In a fun, lively and fast-paced performance, find out how jugglers, fire eaters, acrobats and hula hoop artists use science to create their amazing acts. Then have a go at some of the circus science experiments yourself in hands-on post-show activities (limited availability).
The Edinburgh Seven
Wednesday 10 April 5.30pm / Auditorium , National Museum of Scotland / Free
The Edinburgh Seven were an inspiring group of women who broke through barriers to become the first to study medicine in the UK. For the first annual Dr Elsie Inglis lecture by Edinburgh and the Lothians Health Foundation, we welcome inspirational women who are smashing through barriers. Hear tales of doctoring in the Antarctic, front-line medical treatment and surgical adventures from women pushing to the front of science history.
The Untold Stories of Women in Engineering
Thursday 11 April 5.30pm / Lomond Room, Pleasance / £8.50/£6.50/#SCIFIVE £5
During World War I over 800,000 women worked in engineering, however the women were expected to return to domestic duties at the end of the war. Female pioneers campaigned to retain their engineering status and in 1919 set up the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). Hear engineer historian Nina Baker and former WES president Dr Carol Marsh tell the stories of these fascinating women, describing their achievements and the influence they have had on our modern world.
Being a Woman in Science: Changed Times?
Tuesday 16 April / 6.00pm / Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Royal Society of Edinburgh / Free
When so many female scientists have changed our understanding of the world and yet around half the UK population struggles to name a woman in science, questions need to be asked! What attracts women to science, what are their experiences and why are they not more visible? Join us for a fascinating discussion with current and former Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Presidents, Prof Dame Anne Glover and Prof Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and RSE Young Academy of Scotland member Dr Silvia Paracchini as they discuss their personal experiences of being women in science.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
