Description
"There is no problem in science that can be solved by a man that cannot be solved by a woman" said North American astronomer, Vera Rubin. Yet the percentage of women, compared to men, solving problems in physics in Australia, is far from equitable. One of the factors cited by educators is the lack of representation of female physicists in the school science curricula. There are many obvious reasons why there were fewer women in physics historically, these include education, workplace law and social conditioning, yet with deep research it is clear that women, although small in numbers, were making significant contributions in the field.
This presentation examines a few women who have, in recent years, emerged as significant in the history of physics in Australia. I explore the questions researchers can ask to reveal Australia’s ‘hidden figures’ in the history of physics through case studies such as that of University of Sydney physicist, Edna Dorothy Sayce (1895-1983). How Sayce’s contribution to solar research was acknowledged illustrates a common issue with attribution.
| I am the presenting author | Yes |
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