Dame Mary Archer DBE, Chair of the Science Museum Group, is set to give Imperial’s annual Athena lecture next week.

In her lecture Experiments in Chemistry and Life, Dame Mary will discuss how studying chemistry and researching solar energy conversion has shaped her career. The lecture will also include an element not usually found in the periodic table – music. 

An Imperial alumnus, Dame Mary is one of the country’s top solar energy experts. She is President of both the UK Solar Energy Society and National Energy Foundation, and was a lecturer at the University of Cambridge. She went on to serve as Chair of the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 2002 – 2012, after which she was made a Dame for her services to the NHS. She is now Chair of the Science Museum Group, one of Imperial’s neighbours. 

Dame Mary has maintained close links with the College as a visiting professor, and she was also awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science at Imperial’s graduation ceremonies earlier this month in recognition of her outstanding contribution in the field of photo-electrochemistry, and for her service to the NHS. 

Dame Mary will be the eighteenth speaker to deliver the Athena Lecture – an annual event which celebrates the achievements of women in science, technology and medicine, and delivered by a prominent female scientist who has made outstanding contributions in any of these fields. Ahead of the lecture, she shared her thoughts with us. 

What inspired you to study chemistry?

Science is a very collegiate world – a global world that knows no national barriers. Girls shouldn’t ever think that science isn’t made for them – it is. Dame Mary Archer DBE

I was always curious and interested in finding things out. In my primary school we didn’t have science lessons, but I remember there was a wonderful room called the ‘Discovery room.’ It had many objects in it, like an axolotl in a bottle and a gold-leaf electroscope, but also a magnificent crystal of sulphur. It was the sulphur which I fell in love with. When I went to secondary school, I discovered that sulphur was related to chemistry, and that was the beginning of my journey. 

Does the future look good for solar energy?

When I was working in the field, photovoltaic cells were only used on satellites and were very expensive to use on Earth. They have gone from being an exotic rarity to being a commodity that, in many parts of the world, is cheaper than connecting to an electrical grid. In this country, we now have many solar farms which has been a huge change, and solar thermal has also made steady progress alongside other forms of renewable energy, like wind. Solar energy remains a field full of promise, and renewables will certainly play an increasing part in the world’s fuel mix going forward.

Have you seen more women interested in studying chemistry over the course of your career?

When I studied chemistry as an undergraduate, it was quite male-dominated, but my PhD cohort here at Imperial was more evenly balanced. Chemistry is a lot better now in terms of gender balance, and gender balance in the sciences has generally improved in my professional lifetime. However, there is still more to be done, which is why at the Science Museum we are doing a lot of work to attract young people to consider careers in science, and I know Imperial has its own initiatives as well.

Do you have any advice for women studying STEM subjects?

Science is fun, and generally a very intellectually rewarding career. It’s a very collegiate world – a global world that knows no national barriers. Girls shouldn’t ever think that science isn’t made for them – it is. 

Athena SWAN Award winners 

Alongside the annual Athena lecture, the College participates in the Athena SWAN Awards, which aim to recognise and celebrate good practice on recruiting, retaining, and promoting women in higher education. The latest round of applications saw the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering win their first Bronze application, making them the 16^th department at the College to hold an Athena SWAN Award. The Department of Chemical Engineering were also successful in renewing their Silver award. 

• Dame Mary Archer’s lecture will take place on Wednesday 30 May, 12.30 – 13.30. Register for the event online.