Professor Sue Wray
This summer celebrations are underway to mark 100 years since women were formally admitted to The Physiological Society.
To highlight the occasion, the Society, which brings together over 3,500 scientists from over 60 countries, has launched a book detailing the achievements of women physiologists throughout their history.
Edited by the University of Liverpool’s Professor Susan Wray, it features a number of Liverpool researchers, including Professor Anne McArdle from the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease; Dr Rachel Floyd from the Institute of Translational Medicine; and Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki from the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease.
Extensive collection
Professor Wray said: “Women have, and will continue to, make significant contributions to science. This book offers an extensive collection of member portraits, past and present, and will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of women physiologists and other scientists.”
Although the Society, founded in 1876, had never explicitly excluded women, female members were not formally elected to the Society’s membership until 1915, due to reservations amongst some male members.
Dr Rachel Tribe, The Physiological Society Diversity Co-Lead and Reader in Women’s Health at the King’s College London, added: “Ensuring we develop greater diversity in the scientific workforce will enrich the pool of talent, which is essential for progressing our understanding of human and animal physiology.”
The book, called, Women physiologists: Centenary celebrations and beyond, is available to purchase from The Physiological Society by emailing: education@physoc.org