Letters: April 2017

A decade ago, I produced a tea towel about British science pioneers. For each person selected, the space available meant that I could only include their dates of birth (and, if appropriate, death), six words and a simple diagram that somehow depicted their work.

Birth in Great Britain was the sole criterion for inclusion as the image was placed at the person’s birthplace, but I set myself additional rules. I wanted to include at least one woman, and at least one person for each of the home countries. Finally, I wished to avoid two people responsible for the same work.

Dorothy Hodgkin did not satisfy the birthplace condition, and the inclusion of Francis Crick prevented the inclusion of Rosalind Franklin. Which woman would you suggest should go on any future tea towels? And, while there are many science pioneers from England and Scotland, who would you suggest to represent Wales? Your ideas, please.