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List of female fellows of the Royal Society facts for kids

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Female fellows of the Royal Society
FFRS 2014 to 2018.png
Female fellows of the Royal Society elected from 2014 to 2018
Date 1945 (1945)
Location London
Country United Kingdom
Currently held by Since Kathleen Lonsdale and Marjory Stephenson in 1945, around 9% of fellows of the Royal Society are women

Fellowship of the Royal Society is open to scientists, engineers and technologists from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations, on the basis of having made "a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science and medical science". Election to the Fellowship is highly regarded and sought after, bringing prestige to both the individual academically and the institution the Fellow is associated with. For scientists in the United Kingdom, the recognition is considered second only to being awarded the Nobel Prize.

While there was no explicit prohibition of women as Fellow of the Royal Society in its original charters and statutes, election to the fellowships was for much of the Society's history de facto closed to women. As a result of the dissolution of nunneries in connection with the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII, and female exclusion from schools and universities, the formal education of British girls and women was effectively non-existent throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Women slowly gained admittance to learned societies in the UK starting in the 19th century, with the founding of the Zoological Society of London in 1829 and the Royal Entomological Society in 1833, both of which admitted women fellows from their inception.

The first recorded question of women being admitted to the Royal Society occurred in 1900, when Marian Farquharson, the first female fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society, sent a letter to the Council of the Royal Society petitioning that "duly qualified women should have the advantage of full fellowship". In its reply, the Council stated that the question of women fellows "must depend on the interpretation to be placed upon the Royal Charters under which the Society has been governed for more than three hundred years". When Hertha Ayrton was nominated for fellowship in 1902, her candidature was turned down on the basis that as a married woman she had no standing in law. The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 made it illegal for an incorporated society to refuse admission on the grounds of an individual's sex or marital status. While the Society acknowledged the provision of section 1 of the Act in 1925, in reply to a question originally put to them by the Women's Engineering Society three years prior, it was not until 1943 that another woman was nominated for fellowship. Kathleen Lonsdale and Marjory Stephenson were duly elected in 1945, after a postal vote amending the Society's statutes to explicitly allow women fellows.

As of 2020, a total of 198 women have been elected fellows. Two women have been elected under the Society's former Statute 12 regulation and two Honorary Fellows for their service to the cause of science. Another four women, from the British Royal Family, have been either Royal Fellow or Patron of the Society. Thirty six more women have been elected as Foreign Members. Of the approximately 1,600 living fellows and foreign members in 2018, 8.5 per cent are women compared to 0.4% in 1945, according to a historical research project conducted by Aileen Fyfe and Camilla Mørk Røstvik.

Fellows

List of female fellows
Year of election Image Fellow Field(s) Notes Ref.
1945 Kathleen Lonsdale in 1968 Lonsdale, KathleenKathleen Lonsdale Crystallography Awarded the Davy Medal in 1957
Stephenson, MarjoryMarjory Stephenson Biochemistry, microbiology
1946 Arber, AgnesAgnes Arber Botany
1947 Mary Cartwright Cartwright, MaryMary Cartwright Mathematics Awarded the Sylvester Medal in 1964
Portrait of Dorothy Hodgkin Hodgkin, DorothyDorothy Hodgkin Biochemistry Awarded the Royal Medal in 1956, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964, and the Copley Medal in 1976; delivered the Tercentenary Lecture in 1960 and the Bakerian Lecture in 1972
Robertson, MurielMuriel Robertson Protozoology, bacteriology
1948 Manton, SidnieSidnie Manton Entomology Her sister Irene Manton was elected FRS in 1961.
Needham, DorothyDorothy Needham Biochemistry
1952 Honor Fell at her microscope in the 1950s Fell, HonorHonor Fell Zoology
Vogt, MartheMarthe Vogt Neurology Awarded the Royal Medal in 1981
1954 Pitt-Rivers, RosalindRosalind Pitt-Rivers Biochemistry
1956 Porter, HelenHelen Porter Plant physiology
1957 Auerbach, CharlotteCharlotte Auerbach Zoology, genetics Awarded the Darwin Medal in 1976
1958 Bülbring, EdithEdith Bülbring Pharmacology
1959 Bishop, AnnAnn Bishop Protozoology, parasitology
Tait, SylviaSylvia Tait Endocrinology
1961 Portrait of Irene Manton Manton, IreneIrene Manton Botany Sister of Sidnie Manton (elected FRS 1948)
1963 Marshall, SheinaSheina Marshall Marine biology
1964 Burbidge, Eleanor MargaretEleanor Margaret Burbidge Astrophysics
1965 Hill, DorothyDorothy Hill Geology
1966 Mary Pickford 1990.jpg Pickford, Lillian MaryLillian Mary Pickford Endocrinology
1967 Hanson, Emmeline JeanEmmeline Jean Hanson Biophysics
1969 Watkins, WinifredWinifred Watkins Biochemistry Awarded the Royal Medal in 1988
1971 Rees, Florence GwendolenFlorence Gwendolen Rees Zoology, parasitology
1972 Parke, MaryMary Parke Phycology
Ruth Sanger c1950.jpg Sanger, RuthRuth Sanger Hematology, serology
1973 Askonas, BrigitteBrigitte Askonas Immunology
Mary Lyon in 2010 Lyon, MaryMary Lyon Genetics Awarded the Royal Medal in 1984
1975 McLaren, AnneAnne McLaren Developmental biology, genetics Foreign Secretary and vice-president of the Royal Society 1991–96, and awarded the Royal Medal in 1990
1976 Clarke, PatriciaPatricia Clarke Biochemistry Delivered the Leeuwenhoek Lecture in 1979
Widdowson, ElsieElsie Widdowson Nutrition
1977 Helen Muir.jpg Muir, HelenHelen Muir Rheumatology
1979 Brenda Milner at TEDxMcGill, 2011 Milner, BrendaBrenda Milner Neuropsychology Delivered the Humphry Davy Lecture in 1989
Tutin, WinifredWinifred Tutin Botany

Janet Vaughan

Vaughan, JanetJanet Vaughan Physiology
Watson, JanetJanet Watson Geology
1982

Noreen Murray

Murray, NoreenNoreen Murray Molecular genetics Vice-president of the Royal Society 2002–04, and awarded the Gabor Medal in 1989
1985 Datta, NaomiNaomi Datta Genetics
Rothschild, MiriamMiriam Rothschild Entomology, botany
Warner, AnneAnne Warner Developmental biology
1986 Thomas, JeanJean Thomas Biochemistry Biological Secretary and vice-president of the Royal Society 2008–present
Warrington, ElizabethElizabeth Warrington Neuropsychology
1987 Kennard, OlgaOlga Kennard Crystallography
1988 Pearse, BarbaraBarbara Pearse Molecular biology
1989 Treisman, AnneAnne Treisman Psychology
1990 Johnson, LouiseLouise Johnson Biochemistry, crystallography
Jordan, CaroleCarole Jordan Astronomy
1991 MacRobbie, EnidEnid MacRobbie Biophysics
1992 Elizabeth Blackburn in 2009 Blackburn, ElizabethElizabeth Blackburn Molecular biology Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009
Cory, SuzanneSuzanne Cory Genetics Awarded the Royal Medal in 2002
1993 Jacobs, PatriciaPatricia Jacobs Genetics
1994 Dusa McDuff in 2009 McDuff, DusaDusa McDuff Mathematics
1995 Higgins, JuliaJulia Higgins Polymer science Foreign Secretary and vice-president of the Royal Society 2001–06, delivered the Blackett and Jagdish Chandra Bose Memorial Lecture in 2005 and the Humphry Davy and Claude Bernard Lecture in 2007
Shirley Tilghman in 2006 Tilghman, ShirleyShirley Tilghman Molecular biology
1996 Anderson, JanJan Anderson Biology
Edwards, DianneDianne Edwards Paleobotany
Linda Partridge 01.JPG Partridge, LindaLinda Partridge Genetics, biogerontology Delivered the Croonian Lecture in 2009
1997

Philippa Marrack in 1992

Marrack, PhilippaPhilippa Marrack Immunology Awarded the Wellcome Foundation Prize in 1990
1998 Beggs, JeanJean Beggs Genetics Awarded the Gabor Medal in 2003
Tickle, CheryllCheryll Tickle Developmental biology
1999 Ashcroft, FrancesFrances Ashcroft Physiology
Beddington, RosaRosa Beddington Developmental biology
Lorna Casselton in 2010 Casselton, LornaLorna Casselton Genetics Foreign Secretary and vice-president of the Royal Society 2006–11, delivered the Rutherford Memorial Lecture in 2008 and the Blackett and Jagdish Chandra Bose Memorial Lecture in 2009
Athene Donald at the NIMR Wikipedia edit-a-thon on 25 July 2013 Donald, AtheneAthene Donald Physics Delivered the Bakerian Lecture in 2006
Portrait of Janet Thornton Thornton, JanetJanet Thornton Bioinformatics
2000 Janet Rossant.jpg Rossant, JanetJanet Rossant Developmental biology
Simpson, PatriciaPatricia Simpson Developmental biology
2001 Hogan, BrigidBrigid Hogan Developmental biology
Frances Kirwan in 2009 Kirwan, FrancesFrances Kirwan Mathematics
Sherlock, SheilaSheila Sherlock Medicine
2002 Dell, AnneAnne Dell Biochemistry
Howard, JudithJudith Howard Chemistry, crystallography
Mace, GeorginaGeorgina Mace Conservation biology, ecology
Rees, MaryMary Rees Mathematics
2003 Portrait of Jocelyn Bell Burnell Bell Burnell, JocelynJocelyn Bell Burnell Astrophysics Awarded the Michael Faraday Prize in 2010
Bienz, MariannMariann Bienz Molecular biology
Kay Davies portrait 2008.jpg Davies, KayKay Davies Genetics
Dodson, EleanorEleanor Dodson Biochemistry
Ann Dowling in 2011 Dowling, AnnAnn Dowling Mechanical engineering
Bridget Ogilvy in 1987 Ogilvie, BridgetBridget Ogilvie Parasitology
Robertson, ElizabethElizabeth Robertson Cell biology
Vousden, KarenKaren Vousden Molecular biology
Fiona Watt.jpg Watt, FionaFiona Watt Molecular biology
2004 Caroline Dean journal pgen 1003593 g001.png Dean, CarolineCaroline Dean Botany
Gladden, LynnLynn Gladden Chemical engineering Awarded the Bakerian Lecture for 2014
Robinson, CarolCarol Robinson Chemistry Awarded the Rosalind Franklin Award in 2004, and the Davy Medal in 2010
Nancy Rothwell P1030027 (23707820741) (cropped).jpg Rothwell, NancyNancy Rothwell Biology
2005 Charlesworth, DeborahDeborah Charlesworth Evolutionary biology
Uta Frith in 2012 Frith, UtaUta Frith Developmental psychology
2006 Beral, ValerieValerie Beral Epidemiology
Lynden-Bell, RuthRuth Lynden-Bell Computational chemistry
Mackay, TrudyTrudy Mackay Genetics
Saibil, HelenHelen Saibil Molecular biology
2007 Bates, GillianGillian Bates Biology Delivered the GlaxoSmithKline Prize and Lecture in 1998

Rosemary Grant with hummingbird

Grant, Barbara RosemaryBarbara Rosemary Grant Evolutionary biology Awarded the Darwin Medal in 2002

Ottoline Leyser

Leyser, OttolineOttoline Leyser Botany Awarded the Rosalind Franklin Award in 2007
Daniela Rhodes MRC.png Rhodes, DanielaDaniela Rhodes Molecular biology
van Heyningen, VeronicaVeronica van Heyningen Genetics
2008 Anne O'Garra at the NIMR Wikipedia edit-a-thon on 25 July 2013 O'Garra, AnneAnne O'Garra Immunology
Ulrike Tillmann in 2018 (cropped).jpg Tillmann, UlrikeUlrike Tillmann Mathematics
2009 Clack, JenniferJennifer Clack Palaeontology, evolutionary biology
Wendy Hall in 2011 Hall, WendyWendy Hall Computer science
Holt, ChristineChristine Holt Developmental neuroscience
Angela McLean McLean, AngelaAngela McLean Mathematical biology Awarded the Gabor Medal in 2011
Steel, KarenKaren Steel Biology
2010 Brand, AndreaAndrea Brand Molecular biology Awarded the Rosalind Franklin Award in 2006
Eleanor Campbell Campbell, EleanorEleanor Campbell Physical chemistry
Nicky Clayton Clayton, NicolaNicola Clayton Comparative cognition
Victoria M Kaspi Kaspi, VictoriaVictoria Kaspi Astrophysics Delivered the UK-Canada Rutherford Lecture in 2010
Simpson, ElizabethElizabeth Simpson Biology
2011 Cantrell, DoreenDoreen Cantrell Immunology
Clare Grey Grey, ClareClare Grey Chemistry Kavli Medal and Lecture in 2011
Janet Hemingway 2014.jpg Hemingway, JanetJanet Hemingway Tropical medicine
Professor Fiona Powrie.jpg Powrie, FionaFiona Powrie Gastroenterology
Vincent, AngelaAngela Vincent Biology
2012 Micheledougherty ras 10apr2015.jpg Dougherty, MicheleMichele Dougherty Astrophysics
Robinson, MargaretMargaret Robinson Molecular biology, cell biology
2013 Armitage, JudithJudith Armitage Biochemistry
Griffiths, GillianGillian Griffiths Cell biology, immunology

Joanna Haigh

Haigh, JoannaJoanna Haigh Atmospheric physics
Heard, EdithEdith Heard Epigenetics
Mills, AnneAnne Mills Health economics
Spillantini, Maria GraziaMaria Grazia Spillantini Neurology
Stockinger, BrigittaBrigitta Stockinger Immunology
Sophie Wilson in 2009 Wilson, SophieSophie Wilson Computer architecture

Julia Yeomans in 2018

Yeomans, JuliaJulia Yeomans Physics
2014 Professor Dorothy Bishop FBA FMedSci FRS.jpg Bishop, DorothyDorothy Bishop Psychology
Sally Davies Davies, SallySally Davies Medicine
Professor Marian Dawkins CBE FRS.jpg Dawkins, MarianMarian Dawkins Zoology
Professor Amanda Fisher FMedSci FRS.jpg Fisher, AmandaAmanda Fisher Biology
Professor Jenny Nelson FRS.jpg Nelson, JennyJenny Nelson Physics
Dr Karalyn Patterson FBA FMedSci FRS.jpg Patterson, KaralynKaralyn Patterson Neuroscience
Radford, SheenaSheena Radford Biophysics
2015 Professor Jane Clarke FMedSci FRS.jpg Clarke, JaneJane Clarke Biophysics
Anne-Cutler-FRS.jpg Cutler, AnneAnne Cutler Psycholinguistics
Annette-Catherine-Dolphin-FRS.jpg Dolphin, AnnetteAnnette Dolphin Pharmacology
Elsworth, YvonneYvonne Elsworth Helioseismology
Alison-Mary-Etheridge-FRS.jpg Etheridge, AlisonAlison Etheridge Probability
Professor Jane Alison Langdale FRS.jpg Langdale, Jane A.Jane A. Langdale Plant development
Professor Dame Julia Mary Slingo DBE FRS.jpg Slingo, JuliaJulia Slingo Meteorology
Professor Natalie C. J. Strynadka FRS.jpg Strynadka, NatalieNatalie Strynadka Biochemistry
2016 Professor Polina Bayvel FREng FRS.jpg Bayvel, PolinaPolina Bayvel Optical communication
Professor Katharine Cashman FRS.jpg Cashman, KatharineKatharine Cashman Volcanology
Professor Sarah Cleaveland OBE FRS.jpg Cleaveland, SarahSarah Cleaveland Epidemiology
Professor Christl Donnelly FMedSci FRS.jpg Donnelly, ChristlChristl Donnelly Epidemiology
Professor Maria Fitzgerald FMedSci FRS.jpg Fitzgerald, MariaMaria Fitzgerald Neuroscience
Gai, PratibhaPratibha Gai Microscopy
Professor Dame Anne Glover DBE FRS.jpg Glover, AnneAnne Glover Biology
Dame Sue Ion DBE FREng FRS.jpg Ion, SueSue Ion Nuclear power
Professor Eugenia Kumacheva FRS.jpg Kumacheva, EugeniaEugenia Kumacheva Chemistry
Professor Corinne Le Quere FRS.jpg Le Quéré, CorinneCorinne Le Quéré Climate change
Professor Eleanor Maguire FMedSci FRS.jpg Maguire, EleanorEleanor Maguire Neuroscience
Professor Caroline Series FRS.jpg Series, CarolineCaroline Series Mathematics
Professor Alison M. Smith OBE FRS.jpg Smith, AlisonAlison Smith Plant biochemistry
2017 Wendy Bickmore Royal Society.jpg Bickmore, WendyWendy Bickmore Genome biology
Anne Ferguson-Smith Royal Society.jpg Ferguson-Smith, AnneAnne Ferguson-Smith Genetics
Gabriele Hegerl Royal Society.jpg Hegerl, Gabriele C.Gabriele C. Hegerl Climate change
Yvonne Jones Royal Society.jpg Jones, YvonneYvonne Jones Molecular biology
Professor the Baroness Brown of Cambridge Royal Society.jpg King, JuliaJulia King Engineering
Anne Neville Royal Society.jpg Neville, AnneAnne Neville Engineering
Alison Noble Royal Society.jpg Noble, AlisonAlison Noble Biomedical engineering
Josephine Pemberton, 2017 (cropped).jpg Pemberton, JosephineJosephine Pemberton Evolutionary biology
Sarah (Sally) Price Royal Society.jpg Price, Sarah (Sally)Sarah (Sally) Price Chemistry
Anne Ridley Royal Society.jpg Ridley, AnneAnne Ridley Cell biology
Nicola Spaldin Royal Society.jpg Spaldin, NicolaNicola Spaldin Materials science
Thomas, JenniferJennifer Thomas Physicist
Susanne von Caemmerer Royal Society.jpg von Caemmerer, SusanneSusanne von Caemmerer Plant physiology
2018 Polly Arnold Royal Society.jpg Arnold, PollyPolly Arnold Chemistry
Jillian Banfield Royal Society.jpg Banfield, JillianJillian Banfield Microbial ecology
Margaret Brimble Royal Society.jpg Brimble, MargaretMargaret Brimble Chemistry
Hirst, JudyJudy Hirst Mitochondrial biology
Cathie Martin Royal Society.jpg Martin, CathieCathie Martin Plant biotechnology
Tracy Palmer Royal Society.jpg Palmer, TracyTracy Palmer Microbiology
Lalita Ramakrishnan Royal Society.jpg Ramakrishnan, LalitaLalita Ramakrishnan Microbiology
Nancy Reid Royal Society.jpg Reid, NancyNancy Reid Statistics
Sheila Rowan Royal Society.jpg Rowan, SheilaSheila Rowan Physics
Ingrid Scheffer Royal Society.jpg Scheffer, IngridIngrid Scheffer Neurology
Michele Simmons Royal Society.jpg Simmons, MicheleMichele Simmons Quantum physics
Angela Strank Royal Society.jpg Strank, AngelaAngela Strank Geology
2019 Carpenter, LucyLucy Carpenter Atmospheric chemistry
Darby, Sarah C.Sarah C. Darby Epidemiology
Gouverneur, VéroniqueVéronique Gouverneur Chemistry
Kang, GagandeepGagandeep Kang Microbiology
Marta Kwiatkowska Kwiatkowska, MartaMarta Kwiatkowska Artificial Intelligence
108-ISMBECCB15-AGM (20849977588).jpg Orengo, ChristineChristine Orengo Computational biology
Anne Osbourn - Mechanisms of chemical diversification in plants.jpg Osbourn, AnneAnne Osbourn Microbiology
Sherwood Lollar, BarbaraBarbara Sherwood Lollar Geology
Shoichet, MollyMolly Shoichet Biomedical engineering Ontario's first chief scientist
Sockett, LizLiz Sockett Bacteriology
2020 Holness, MarianMarian Holness Geology
Lu, XinXin Lu Biology, Cancer research
Price, CatherineCatherine Price Cognitive neuroscience
Prives, CarolCarol Prives Biology, Cancer research
Nazar, LindaLinda Nazar Chemistry
Molly Stevens Stevens, MollyMolly Stevens Biomedical engineering

Donna Strickland

Strickland, DonnaDonna Strickland Physics Nobel Prize winner

Sarah Teichmann

Teichmann, SarahSarah Teichmann Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Genomics, Immunology
Visvader, JaneJane Visvader Cell and Molecular Biology
2021 Julie Ahringer Ahringer, JulieJulie Ahringer Molecular genetics
Eaves, ConnieConnie Eaves Medical genetics
Sadaf farooqi.jpg
Farooqi, SadafSadaf Farooqi Medicine, Genetics of obesity
Feizi, TenTen Feizi Molecular biology
Julie Forman-Kay Forman-Kay, JulieJulie Forman-Kay Biochemistry, Cell and molecular biology, Molecular medicine
Jane Francis Francis, JaneJane Francis Paleoclimatology
Franklin-Tong, VernonicaVernonica Franklin-Tong Cell biology (Plant)
Goswami, UshaUsha Goswami Cognitive neuroscience
Karen Heywood at sea (cropped).jpg Heywood, KarenKaren Heywood Oceanography
04 Prof R Kilner.jpg Kilner, RebeccaRebecca Kilner Evolutionary biology
Fiona Marshall at NIH’s 2017 Daly lecture.jpg Marshall, FionaFiona Marshall Pharmacology
Platt, FrancesFrances Platt Biochemistry, Pharmacology
Renfree, MarilynMarilyn Renfree Zoology
Sellen, AbigailAbigail Sellen HCI
Karen Vogtmann 2006 MFO.jpg Vogtmann, KarenKaren Vogtmann Mathematics
Williams, CharlotteCharlotte Williams Chemistry
2022 Eileen Furlong 2017.jpg Furlong, EileenEileen Furlong Molecular biology
JaneHillston220221.jpg Hillston, JaneJane Hillston Computer science
Sandy Knapp collecting Solanum sinuatiexcisum - TS 2012.jpg Knapp, SandraSandra Knapp Botany
Lea, Susan M.Susan M. Lea Structural biology
Irene Miguel-Aliaga on The Company of Biologists.jpg Miguel-Aliaga, IreneIrene Miguel-Aliaga Physiology
O'Reilly, RachelRachel O'Reilly Chemistry
Rickaby, RosalindRosalind Rickaby Biogeochemistry (Marine)
Rogers, YvonneYvonne Rogers Cognitive science, HCI, IxD
Storey, KateKate Storey Developmental biology
Garcia de Vinuesa, CarolaCarola Garcia de Vinuesa Immunology
Ward, E. SallyE. Sally Ward Immunology
Wood, RachelRachel Wood Geology, Paleobiology
2023 Allen, JudithJudith Allen Immunology
ProfSueBlack2017.jpg Black, SueSue Black Anatomy, Forensic anthropology, Forensic science
Clarke, CathieCathie Clarke Astrophysics
Wendy Freedman (4617812603).jpg Freedman, WendyWendy Freedman Astronomy
Dr.Sarah Gilbert.jpg Gilbert, SarahSarah Gilbert Vaccinology
Heathwaite, LouiseLouise Heathwaite Environmental science
Laura Heyderman.jpg Heyderman, LauraLaura Heyderman Physics, Materials science
Kruuk, LoeskeLoeske Kruuk Evolutionary biology
Memmott, JaneJane Memmott Ecology, Entomology
Mizrahi, ValerieValerie Mizrahi Molecular biology
Nyokong, TebelloTebello Nyokong Chemistry
O'Connor, SarahSarah O'Connor Molecular biology
Parker, JaneJane Parker Botany
LoriPassmore.jpg Passmore, LoriLori Passmore Structural biology, CryoEM, RNA processing
Sleiman, HanadiHanadi Sleiman Chemistry
Thompson, ElizabethElizabeth Thompson Mathematical statistics, Population genetics
Oxford Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey (cropped).jpg Tracey, IreneIrene Tracey Neuroscience, Pain, Neuroimaging

Foreign members

List of female Foreign Members
Year of election Image Member Field(s) Notes Ref.
1955 Lise Meitner in 1946 Meitner, LiseLise Meitner Nuclear physics
1969 Inge Lehman.jpg Lehmann, IngeInge Lehmann Seismology
1989 Nicole Marthe Le Douarin, 2013 (cropped).jpg Le Douarin, NicoleNicole Le Douarin Developmental biology Delivered the Claude Bernard Lecture in 1987
Barbara McClintock at work in her laboratory McClintock, BarbaraBarbara McClintock Cytogenetics Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983
1990 Christiane Nusslein-Volhard in 2007 Nusslein-Volhard, ChristianeChristiane Nusslein-Volhard Genetics, embryology Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1995
1995 Gertrude Elion.jpg Elion, GertrudeGertrude Elion Biochemistry, pharmacology Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988
Gluecksohn-Waelsch, SalomeSalome Gluecksohn-Waelsch Genetics
Rita Levi-Montalcini in 2009 Levi-Montalcini, RitaRita Levi-Montalcini Neurology Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986
2001 Franzini-Armstrong, ClaraClara Franzini-Armstrong Developmental biology
2004 Jane Lubchenco in 2009 Lubchenco, JaneJane Lubchenco Marine biology Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere of the United States 2010–present
2005 Catherine Cesarsky.jpg Cesarsky, CatherineCatherine Cesarsky Astronomy
2008 Hohn, BarbaraBarbara Hohn Molecular biology
Susan Solomon in 2004 Solomon, SusanSusan Solomon Atmospheric chemistry
2010 Pascale Cossart in 2011 Cossart, PascalePascale Cossart Bacteriology
2011 Joanne Chory 2017 (cropped).jpg Chory, JoanneJoanne Chory Molecular biology, Cell biology
Carla shatz.jpg Shatz, CarlaCarla Shatz Neuroscience
2012 Bassler, BonnieBonnie Bassler Molecular biology
2013 Buckingham, MargaretMargaret Buckingham Developmental biology
2014 Joan A. Steitz in her office with models.jpg Steitz, JoanJoan Steitz Molecular biology
2015 Dr Linda Buck ForMemRS.jpg Buck, LindaLinda Buck Olfactory system
Professor Susan Lindquist ForMemRS.jpg Lindquist, SusanSusan Lindquist Molecular biology
Gail Roberta Martin ForMemRS.jpg Martin, GailGail Martin Developmental Biology
2016 Professor Jennifer Doudna ForMemRS.jpg Doudna , JenniferJennifer Doudna Biochemistry
Professor Ellen Williams ForMemRS.jpg Williams, EllenEllen Williams Nanotechnology
2017 Marcia McNutt Royal Society.jpg McNutt, MarciaMarcia McNutt Geophysics
Susan Wessler Royal Society.jpg Wessler, Susan R.Susan R. Wessler Plant molecular biology
2018 Carolyn Bertozzi IMG 9384.jpg Bertozzi, Carolyn R.Carolyn R. Bertozzi Systems biology
Fabiola Gianotti Royal Society.jpg Gianotti, FabiolaFabiola Gianotti Particle physics
2019 Sandra Díaz.-foto-ipbes.1-1 CONICET (cropped).jpg Diaz, SandraSandra Diaz Ecology
Pr Elaine Fuchs.png Fuchs, ElaineElaine Fuchs Cell biology
Inez Fung.jpg Fung, InezInez Fung Climatology
2020 Frances Arnold EM1B5928 (32361895088).jpg Arnold, FrancesFrances Arnold Bioengineering
Friis, Else MarieElse Marie Friis Palaeobiology
Kahmann, RegineRegine Kahmann Microbiology
Margaret Galland Kivelson.png Kivelson, MargaretMargaret Kivelson Geophysics
Ada E. Yonath.jpg Yonath, AdaAda Yonath Microbiology
2021 Cazenave, AnnyAnny Cazenave Earth sciences
Conti, ElenaElena Conti Biochemistry
Forman-Kay, JulieJulie Forman-Kay Biochemistry
Narry Kim.jpg Kim, V. NarryV. Narry Kim Biochemistry
ClaireVoisinBMC2014.JPG Voisin, ClaireClaire Voisin Mathematics
2022 Titia de Lange 2011.jpg Lange, Titia deTitia de Lange Biochemistry
MariaLeptin2017-06-22-19-35-23.jpg Leptin, MariaMaria Leptin Immunology
2023 Aro, Eva-MariEva-Mari Aro Biology
Eisenstein, OdileOdile Eisenstein Chemistry
Goldwasser, ShafiShafi Goldwasser Artificial intelligence
Moser, May-BrittMay-Britt Moser Neuroscience
Uhlenbeck, KarenKaren Uhlenbeck Mathematics

Honorary and Statute 12 fellows

Between 1903 and 1996, Statute 12 of the Society permitted the council to elect someone who would not otherwise qualify for election under the normal criteria for "conspicuous service to the cause of science, or are such that their election would be of signal benefit to the Society". Statute 12 Fellows were replaced by the introduction of Honorary Fellows in 1997.

List of female honorary and Statute 12 fellows
Year of election Image Fellow Field(s) Notes Ref.
1983 Margaret Thatcher in mid-1990s Thatcher, MargaretMargaret Thatcher Politics Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979–1990)
1988 Margaret Gowing Gowing, MargaretMargaret Gowing History of science Delivered the Wilkins Lecture in 1976
2007 Onora O'Neill in the House of Lords O'Neill, OnoraOnora O'Neill Philosophy, politics
2015 Professor Lisa Jardine CBE FRS.jpg Jardine, LisaLisa Jardine History
2023 Kate Bingham
Fiona Fox

Royal fellows and patrons

Throughout its history, the Royal Society has elected a number of individuals to its Fellowship by virtue of their being a member of the nobility. Such elections were restricted first in 1874 to princes and members of the Privy Council, and subsequently in 1903 to princes of the British Royal Family only. This has since been relaxed to allow the election of any member of the British Royal Family. Those elected by virtue of their royal blood or marriage are known as Royal Fellows. From the beginning of the practice of British royal patronage in the 18th century, the reigning monarch of Great Britain (and since 1801 that of the United Kingdom), starting with King George I, has always served as patron of the Society.

List of female Royal Fellows and Patrons
Year of election Image Fellow / Patron Notes Ref.
1838 Queen Victoria in 1882 Queen Victoria Never elected as a Royal Fellow, instead served as Patron of the Society after her reign began as Queen of the United Kingdom and later Empress of India
1947 Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 Queen Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, and patron from 1952
1956 Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1986 Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Queen consort of King George VI
1987 Anne, Princess Royal in 2007 Princess Anne Princess Royal

See also

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