The Suffrage Science scheme celebrates women in science for their scientific achievements and for their ability to inspire others. It aspires to encourage more women to enter scientific subjects, and to stay. The scheme was imagined by Amanda Fisher and Vivienne Parry in 2011 and supported by the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

Professor Selina Wray (Professor of Molecular Neuroscience, Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) was one of 11 leading world scientists who received an ‘heirloom’ piece of jewellery, at the Suffrage Science awards ceremony 2024.  

The 11 awardees were chosen by a previous award holder for both their scientific achievements and ability to inspire others. The awards are passed on as heirlooms from one female scientist to the next.  Professor Wray was nominated for this award by Professor Veronique Miron who won the award in 2020.

The awards are jewellery created by art students from Central St Martins who worked with scientists to design pieces inspired by research and the suffragette movement, from which the award scheme takes its name.

“It is a privilege to receive this award, but even more so to be selected by Professor Miron, a scientist who I have always respected and admired. I am committed to driving forward research in Alzheimer’s disease, contributing to the development of new treatments that are so urgently needed, alongside using my position to make science more inclusive and improve access to opportunity for those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.” Professor Selina Wray
“I’ve always been impressed with both Selina’s science and how she uses her voice and visibility to highlight important issues in research” Professor Veronique Miron, MRC Senior Non-Clinical Fellow & Group Leader, UK Dementia Research Institute Center for Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh

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