British physics pioneer honoured

A female physicist who campaigned for better opportunities for women scientists has been commemorated by her colleagues.

The Institute of Physics has erected a blue plaque in honour of Daphne Jackson, Britain's first female professor of physics, outside her former Guildford home.

According to Jennifer Woolley, administrator of the Daphne Jackson Memorial Fellowships Trust, Professor Jackson felt strongly about the great waste of talent and resources when female scientists and engineers laid aside careers because of family commitments and then found themselves unable to return.

With this in mind she devised a Women Returners Scheme, which after her death became the Daphne Jackson Memorial Fellowships Trust.