Scotland has a rich history of women making significant contributions to science. Below are some remarkable women whose work has had a lasting impact in various scientific fields such as biology, mathematics, and astronomy.
1. June Almeida
June Almeida (1930 – 2007) was a pioneering virologist from Glasgow. In 1964, she discovered the human coronavirus. Despite having no formal qualifications, she started as a lab technician. Moving to Canada, she became skilled in electron microscopy, a technique that allowed her to identify viruses accurately.
One of her notable achievements was capturing detailed images of B814, a virus related to the common cold. Her work revealed spike proteins resembling a crown, leading to the name “coronavirus.” Initially doubted, her findings were published in 1967, and she later contributed to visualizing other viruses like hepatitis A. Even after retiring, Almeida returned to her field and captured early images of HIV.
2. Alice Blanche Balfour
Alice Blanche Balfour (1850 – 1936) was an entomologist known for her collection of nearly 10,000 moths, most from her estate in East Lothian. Despite her family duties, she excelled in genetics and was elected to the Royal Entomological Society in 1916. Some of her moths and a net she used are displayed at the National Museum of Scotland.
3. Williamina Fleming
Born in Dundee, Williamina Fleming (1857 – 1911) found herself in Boston after immigrating to the United States. She started working as a maid for Edward Pickering, the Director of Harvard College Observatory. Frustrated with his male assistants, Pickering hired Fleming to assist in cataloguing stars based on photographic data. Her contributions led to the discovery of white dwarf stars, establishing her reputation in the field.
4. Isabella Lovi
Isabella Lovi (d. 1826) was an innovative glassblower and chemical apparatus maker in 19th-century Scotland. After taking over her late husband’s business, she developed ‘aerometrical beads’ for measuring liquid densities, surpassing existing sets. Her work gained recognition, including a reward from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.
5. Flora and Jane Sang
Flora (1838 – 1925) and Jane Sang (1834 – 1878), daughters of Edward Sang, contributed significantly to mathematical tables before electronic computers. Their work encompassed complex logarithmic calculations across 47 volumes. While they initially worked without much public acknowledgment, their contributions were eventually recognized in the mathematical community.
6. Maria Short
Maria Short (d. 1868) opened an observatory on Calton Hill in Edinburgh in 1835. Known for its large camera obscura, this observatory made science accessible to the public. Although her establishment faced competition from the Royal Observatory, it continued to thrive, showcasing scientific instruments and astronomical phenomena until the 1890s.
7. Mary Somerville
Mary Somerville (1780 – 1872) was a gifted mathematician and author with expertise in astronomy and physical sciences. Born in Jedburgh, she garnered respect from the male-dominated scientific community and was the first woman elected as an Honorary Member of the Royal Astronomical Society. Her Scottish upbringing profoundly influenced her education and scientific insights.
8. Jessie May Sweet
Jessie May Sweet (1901 – 1979) was a renowned mineralogist and historian. She started her career in Edinburgh and later worked at the British Museum. Sweet specialized in identifying rocks and minerals and played a crucial role in preserving museum collections during the Second World War. Her contributions to mineralogy were commemorated by naming a mineral after her posthumously.
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