The achievements of women have long been excluded from history, either discussed very little or attributed to others. Information Services Group (ISG) at the University of Edinburgh has started the challenge of correcting this, by putting women back into history here at Edinburgh.

Many physical and digital spaces in the University have been named after pioneering women in STEM, in order to raise awareness of their many achievements, despite the challenges they faced on account of their gender. In fact, there are more statues of animals in Edinburgh than of women (BBC Scotland, 2021). Edinburgh has a rich history, and commemorates it through many monuments to both people and historical events. Of the 58 monuments to people, 51 commemorate men and their achievements (List of public art in Edinburgh – Wikipedia).

Yet there are so many women throughout history who discovered items of huge importance, and receive so little recognition. WiFi, bulletproof vests, caller ID, central heating, chemotherapy, computer algorithms and software, radium, the sci-fi genre, and, arguably, rock and roll (see Sister Rosetta Tharpe) are just some of the discoveries and inventions made by women who have long been overlooked (List of inventions and discoveries by women). By naming spaces in the University, we aim to put women back into history, spotlighting their achievements so they are not forgotten entirely.

Naming these spaces on campus focuses on the achievements of women in STEM who have been important to the University of Edinburgh community. These efforts are not taking away existing physical and digital spaces in the University of Edinburgh named after men, but aim to address the current imbalance by naming new spaces after women, to commemorate their many contributions.

To read more about the spaces and the women they were named after, please visit Naming Spaces After Inspirational Women.