Rosalind Franklin only woman scientist in GCSE specs

Rosalind Franklin is the only female scientist named in GCSE and National 5 science exam specifications across the United Kingdom, new research has found. A study by academics at the University of Cambridge, working with institutions in the United States and Australia, examined the content of science qualifications set by six UK exam boards.

The research, published in the British Educational Research Journal, analysed specifications for biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, geology, and astronomy. It identified a total of 86 scientists named in Key Stage 4 and equivalent exams, with Franklin, an English chemist whose work was instrumental in understanding DNA structure in the 1950s, being the only woman mentioned.

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Limited female representation at higher levels

The imbalance persisted at Key Stage 5, which includes A-levels and equivalent qualifications. In this tier, only three women were named among 181 scientists. These included Rosalind Franklin, alongside Marie Tharp, an American cartographer known for mapping the Atlantic Ocean floor, and Inge Lehmann, a Danish seismologist who discovered the Earth's inner core.

Franklin's contribution to DNA research, particularly her famous "Photograph 51", was used by Cambridge scientists Francis Crick and James Watson to determine DNA's double-helix structure. While Watson, Crick, and Franklin's colleague Maurice Wilkins received the 1962 Nobel Prize for this discovery, Franklin had died four years prior and was not included in the award.

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Calls for reform and greater inclusion

Academics involved in the study noted that while women made significant scientific breakthroughs, their contributions were often not explicitly acknowledged in exam specifications. They recommended that Franklin should be included in all specifications when teaching DNA structure. The researchers also suggested including figures like Marie Curie, who discovered radium and polonium, and nuclear physicist Lise Meitner, who discovered nuclear fission.

Stephanie Buttigieg, one of the study's authors, stated that relatable role models are important for encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers. A spokeswoman for the Joint Council for Qualifications, representing several major exam boards, acknowledged the need for greater representation and confirmed it would be a focus during qualification reforms. Qualifications Scotland indicated that the Curriculum Improvement Cycle would provide an opportunity to consider gender representation in future assessments.

The Department for Education in England expressed commitment to improving the school curriculum to ensure girls can see the contributions of women in STEM. The Scottish Government also stated its commitment to closing the gender gap in STEM and would consider the research findings carefully.