Colleen McCullough: 1st June

Colleen Margaretta McCullough (born in 1937) was an Australian neuroscientist and author known for her novels, her most well-known being The Thorn Birds and The Ladies of Missalonghi.

June Clark: 31st May

 Wikipedia says: Dame Margaret June Clark, DBE FRCN FAAN FLSW (born in 1941) is Professor Emeritus of Community Nursing, at Swansea University in Wales.

Jacqueline McGlade: 30th May

Jacqueline Myriam McGlade, born in  1955, is a marine biologist and environmental informatics professor. Her research concerns the spatial and nonlinear dynamics of ecosystems, climate change and scenario development. 

Hida Viloria: 29th May

 Hida Viloria, (born in 1968), is a prominent intersex activist, author, and environmental advocate known for their groundbreaking work in promoting intersex rights and raising awareness about intersex issues. Viloria's contributions extend beyond activism, encompassing a strong commitment to environmental campaigning and scientific discourse.

Stanley Prusiner: 28th May

 Stanley Prusiner (born 1942) is an American neurologist and biochemist. He is the director of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Prusiner discovered prions, considered a heretical idea but winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1997 for research on prion diseases developed by him and his team of experts.

Rachel Carson: 27th May

 Rachel Carson, (born 1907) was a pioneering marine biologist and conservationist and transformed the environmental movement with her groundbreaking book "Silent Spring." (1962) Carson developed a deep love for nature from an early age, which blossomed into a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.

Sally Ride: 26th May

 Sally Ride (born 1951) was an astronaut and physicist, and made history as the first American woman in space and the third woman. Ride's passion for science and exploration led her to pursue a career in physics. She earned degrees in both physics and English from Stanford University, followed by a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford in 1978.

Ludovic Orban: 25th May

Ludovic Orban is a Romanian engineer and politician who was the prime minister of Romania from November 2019 to December 2020.

Lillian Evelyn Gilbreth: 24th May

 Lillian Evelyn Gilbreth (Born in 1878, née Moller) was an American psychologist, industrial engineer, consultant, and educator who was an early pioneer in applying psychology to time-and-motion studies. She was described in the 1940s as "a genius in the art of living." Gilbreth, one of the first female engineers to earn a Ph.D.,

Cora Sadosky: 23rd May 1940

Cora Sadosky was an influential mathematician, renowned for her contributions to engineering and science, particularly in the field of mathematical analysis. Born in Argentina in 1940, she made significant advancements in harmonic analysis, functional analysis, and partial differential equations. 

Lyudmila Zhuravleva: 22nd May 1946

 Wkipedia says: Lyudmila Vasilyevna Zhuravleva is a Soviet, Russian and Ukrainian astronomer, who worked at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnij, where she discovered 213 minor planets. 

Mary Anning: 21st May 1799

 Mary Anning, an English fossil collector and self-taught paleontologist, played a pivotal role in the early development of paleontology and our understanding of prehistoric life. Born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, Dorset, Anning spent her life scouring the cliffs along the English Channel, where she made numerous significant fossil discoveries.

Anning's most famous find occurred in 1811 when she uncovered the first complete Ichthyosaurus skeleton at just 12 years old. Subsequent discoveries included the first complete Plesiosaurus skeleton in 1823 and the first British Pterosaur specimen in 1828. These finds provided crucial evidence for the existence of ancient marine reptiles and helped shape the emerging field of paleontology.

Despite facing financial struggles and discrimination as a woman in science during the 19th century, Anning's expertise and dedication earned her respect among leading scientists of her time. Her discoveries contributed to groundbreaking theories of extinction and evolution, paving the way for future paleontological research.

Today, Mary Anning is celebrated as one of the most significant figures in the history of paleontology, revered for her contributions to science and her pioneering spirit in a field dominated by men. Her legacy continues to inspire scientists and enthusiasts alike to explore the wonders of Earth's ancient past.

Reginald Mitchell: 20th May 1895

 Reginald Joseph Mitchell CBE FRAeS  (1895 – 1937) was a British aircraft designer who worked for the Southampton aviation company Supermarine from 1916 until 1936. He is best known for designing racing seaplanes such as the Supermarine S.6B, and for leading the team that designed the Supermarine Spitfire.

Ruth Ella Moore: 19th May 1903

 Ruth Ella Moore, Ph.D., (1903-1994), is widely acclaimed for her pioneering scientific achievements at a time when she faced the double bind of being a woman from an underrepresented racial/ethnic group in science. For much of her life, Moore was an invisible figure, hindered by glaring impacts of both racism and sexism, and prevented from doing all she could have accomplished. In spite of these obstacles, Moore was fearless, resilient, uncomplaining and triumphant in many ways. Now she remains a remarkable microbiology role model for Black scientists and for all women. This article aims to share Moore’s story and surface details of her journey not previously captured. 

Celia Hoyles: 18th May 1946

Celia Hoyles is a distinguished mathematician whose contributions have profoundly influenced mathematics education and the integration of technology into learning. With a career spanning several decades, she has been a prominent figure in both academia and policy-making, advocating for innovative approaches to teaching mathematics.

Hoyles is renowned for her research on mathematical cognition and the role of technology in enhancing mathematical understanding. She has led numerous projects exploring the use of digital tools to support mathematical thinking, particularly in areas like geometry and algebra. Her work has emphasized the importance of dynamic, interactive environments for learning mathematics effectively.

As an educator, Hoyles has played a pivotal role in shaping curriculum development and teacher training programs, championing strategies that foster mathematical creativity and problem-solving skills. She has also been instrumental in promoting diversity and inclusivity in mathematics education, advocating for equal opportunities for all students to excel in the subject.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Hoyles has held leadership positions in various organizations dedicated to advancing mathematics education worldwide. Her influence extends beyond the academic realm, as she continues to inspire future generations of mathematicians and educators through her research, advocacy, and mentorship.

Rosalind Picard: 17th May 1962

 Wikipedia says Rosalind Wright Picard is an American scholar and inventor who is Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT, founder and director of the Affective Computing Research Group at the MIT Media Lab, and co-founder of the startups Affectiva and Empatica.

She has received many recognitions for her research and inventions. In 2005, she was named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for contributions to image and video analysis and affective computing. In 2019 she received one of the highest professional honors accorded an engineer, election to the National Academy of Engineering for her contributions on affective computing and wearable computing. In 2021 she was recognized as a Fellow of the ACM for contributions to physiological signal sensing for individual health and wellbeing. In 2021 she was elected to the National Academy of Inventors, which recognizes outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society. In 2022 she was awarded the International Lombardy Prize for Computer Science Research, which carries a €1 million award, which she donated to support digital health and neurology research to help save the lives of people with epilepsy and children susceptible to sudden infant death syndrome.^[9][10][11]

Picard is credited with starting the branch of computer science known as affective computing with her 1997 book of the same name. This book described the importance of emotion in intelligence, the vital role human emotion communication has to relationships between people, and the possible effects of emotion recognition by robots and wearable computers. Her work in this field has led to an expansion into autism research and developing devices that could help humans recognize nuances in human emotions.

Georg Bednorz: 16th May 1950

Georg Bednorz, a German born physicist, earned worldwide recognition for his groundbreaking work in the field of superconductivity. Along with his colleague Alex Müller, Bednorz made one of the most significant discoveries in condensed matter physics in the 20th century.

In 1986, Bednorz and Müller discovered high-temperature superconductivity in a class of materials known as oxides. Prior to their discovery, superconductivity was only observed at extremely low temperatures, limiting its practical applications. Their breakthrough opened the door to the possibility of superconductivity at temperatures achievable with liquid nitrogen, rather than requiring expensive and cumbersome cooling methods.

This discovery earned Bednorz and Müller the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1987, just a year after their breakthrough. Their work paved the way for numerous advancements in technology, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, high-speed trains, and more efficient power grids.

Bednorz continues to contribute to the scientific community through his research and mentorship, inspiring future generations of physicists to explore the mysteries of condensed matter and pursue groundbreaking discoveries.

Athene Donald, 15th May 1953

Donald's research spans a wide range of topics, from the behaviour of polymers to the mechanical properties of biological materials. Her work often involves developing innovative experimental techniques to probe the fundamental properties of these systems, shedding light on phenomena that are essential for various applications, including drug delivery, materials science, and biomedical engineering.

In addition to her groundbreaking research, Donald is deeply committed to science communication and public engagement. She frequently writes about science-related issues, contributes to public debates, and advocates for evidence-based policymaking. Her efforts to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public have earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of the "100 most influential women in science" by the BBC.

Through her research, advocacy, and outreach activities, Athene Donald continues to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists, leaving a lasting impact on both the scientific community and society as a whole.