PROFESSOR DAME JOCELYN BELL BURNELL AND WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Early day motion 1293, tabled 28 April 2014 by Valerie Vaz (Labour). Signed by 23 members.

That this House commends the contribution to science by Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell; notes that she was born in Belfast in 1943; further notes that as a postgraduate student she discovered the first radio pulsars and was listed second on the paper announcing the discovery; further notes that her supervisor shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for this work; further notes that although she was not honoured by the Nobel Committee, numerous other organisations have honoured her for her discovery; further notes that Bell Burnell was the President of the Royal Astronomical Society from 2002 to 2004 and the first female President of the Institute of Physics from October 2008 to 2010; further notes that in February 2014 Bell Burnell was made President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the first woman to hold this position; and calls on the Government to ensure that young women are encouraged to pursue careers in science.

Signatures by party: Labour 14, Conservative 2, Independent 2, Liberal Democrat 2, Alliance 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.