IT took until 1940 for her to be appointed, but after Margaret Fairlie’s career as Scotland’s first female university professor, women have never looked back in our higher education institutions.
There are now 46 female professors at the University of Dundee alone, and the institution is this week celebrating Fairlie and other women in science from the Tayside city.
Fairlie became Scotland’s first female professor when she was given the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Dundee medical college of the University of St Andrews.
She was as much a pioneer as Mary Ann Baxter, the philanthropist who co-founded University College in Dundee, forerunner of today’s university, and there is little doubt that Fairlie suffered years of discrimination before she was finally able to join the ranks of professor. She remained Scotland’s only woman professor until her career ended in 1956.
Fairlie’s story features in HerStory of Science, an exhibition outside Dundee University’s Discovery Centre that runs until September.
The display tells the early history of women’s extraordinary contributions to science from a local perspective. It also illustrates the progress made by showing all the current female professors at the university.
Curator Dr Sarah Cook said: “The university was the first institution to appoint a woman professor in Scotland. In 2017 we have women scientists who are excelling in areas such as immunology, microbiology, developmental biology, gene regulation and plant sciences.
“It is important that their achievements and the stories of the trailblazing women before them are visible and inspire the next generation of scientists. Recent projects such as the Women’s Trail and the Discovery Walk have sought to uncover the stories of women and this project adds to that social history.”
Professor Inke Nathke, an expert in colorectal cancer and Associate Dean for Professional Culture at Dundee, said: “This institution was created by Mary Ann Baxter to promote education for both sexes. The University of Dundee is committed to gender equality for all, although much remains to be done.
“We believe that by celebrating these extraordinary women and highlighting these role models we can help encourage women to enter and stay in scientific careers.”
Other women featured in the display include 19th-century astronomer Williamina Fleming.
The exhibition is part of this year’s Women in Science Festival, which runs until Friday.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here