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Rosalind Franklin never lived to see the full impact of her discoveries. She didn’t witness how her work on DNA would revolutionise biology, nor did she witness the impact she would have in encouraging women researchers in science. For International Women’s Day, Liz Sockett FRS, Chair of the Royal Society’s Rosalind Franklin Award committee, and Isabelle Moss, Royal Society Diversity and Inclusion Officer, reflect on Franklin’s enduring legacy. 

Simone Cuff shares Dr Lisa-Ann Gershwin’s career story, including challenges and successes, for Disability History Month.

For Disability History Month, Kip Heath delves into Florence Seibert’s lifelong fight against infectious diseases. 

Thomas Alva Edison is famous as one of the pioneering inventors of the incandescent light bulb. The ‘light-bulb moment’ is now shorthand for a bright idea, and another of Edison’s inventions, the phonograph, would jump start the record industry - not bad for a man who was himself almost completely deaf. Kip Heath explores Edison's legacy as part of Disability History Month.

Claudia Astorino (she/her, they/them) discusses how her intersex identity motivated her to explore intersex variation through the lens of evolutionary biology.

Professor Andrew Goodwin FRS reflects on his experiences as an LGBTQ+ scientist whilst advocating for allyship as a vital tool for creating a more inclusive research culture.

Dr Linda Cremonesi (she/her) discusses her international research career in particle physics and examines how global attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals impact STEM careers.   

September this year saw Professor Bernadine Idowu’s illustrious career rocket to new heights by her recognition as newly minted Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of West London. What’s special about her appointment is that this makes her only the 73rd black female professor in the UK. 

For Black History Month, Ankita Anirban shares how Earl Shaw combined his research in laser physics whilst advocating for the rights of Black researchers and inspiring future generations of scientists.

Gloria Charite and Marcela Alves Lopes are at different stages of their research careers at Oxford. As part of Black History Month, Morgan Mitchell explores their unique paths into academic research, barriers they've faced, and how their backgrounds have shaped their experiences.

To celebrate Black History Month, Dr Yemisi Bokinni takes us on a journey to uncover the scientific roots of plants in modern medicine through the work of Dr Damian Cohall, a researcher exploring how heritage informs nature’s potential to tackle our most pressing health challenges. 

In 2024, the Royal Society will be represented at Pride in London for the first time. This historic moment symbolises the Society’s ongoing commitment to embedding diversity, equality and inclusion in every aspect of our strategy and work.