Women on Walls at Dublin City University
By Mary Hendriksen
September 9th, 2024
Women on Walls at Dublin City University: “You cannot be what you cannot see.
How many times have we been in a building, a classroom, or a conference space and experience the discomfort of being surrounded by aging, historic portraits of men from generations ago?
It is a common scenario—one that, with various partners, Accenture was inspired to remedy.
“The contribution of women in society is too often invisible,” says Dr. Michelle Cullen, Managing Director and Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture in Ireland. “Who we see on the walls tells us about what we as a society value, about who is welcome, about who fits in. We set out on the journey of Women on Walls with the ambition of making women leaders visible to inspire future generations.”
Accenture’s Women on Walls at Dublin City University initiative celebrates the lives of female pioneers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) through a series of commissioned portraits.
The five women represented all made significant contributions in their specific discipline, through outstanding research work, scientific breakthroughs, and lasting cultural and social change for future generations. They are:
Beatrice Alice Hicks:(1919-1979) Leading Engineer. First President of the Society of Women Engineers, developed a gas density switch used in the USA’s Space Program, including Apollo 11’s moon landing mission.
Katherine Johnson:(1918-2020) Leading Mathematician, specializing in orbital mechanics. One of the first African American women to work as a NASA scientist. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, 2017.
Dr Marie Maynard Daly: (1921-2003) First African American woman in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. Disclosed the relationship between high cholesterol and clogged arteries. Committed to developing programs to increase the enrolment of minority students in medical school and graduate science programs.
Dame Kathleen Lonsdale:(1903-1971) Leading X-ray Crystallographer. First female professor of University College London (UCL). Elected as one of the first women Fellows of the Royal Society (FRS), 1945. First woman president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Kathleen (Kay) McNulty: (1921-2006) Leading Mathematician and Computer Programmer. One of the world’s first computer programmers. One of only three female mathematics graduates in a class of 92 when she graduated in 1942. Responsible for inventing the subroutine. Inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame in 1997.
The five women are citizens of Ireland, of the United Kingdom, and of the United States—an intentional choice explains Marcella Bannon, Cultural Arts Officer at DCU.
“We wanted to not only feature top women in STEM on DCU's walls but also to ensure that these women reflect the rich diversity present among students at DCU and across Ireland,” Bannon explains. “Ireland is no longer a homogenous society; it is a vibrant and diverse country that embraces a multitude of backgrounds and experiences."
The genius of the Women on Walls initiative is its pairing of scientists and artists. Nearly 60 artists applied to portray the scientists, with the following five selected: Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide, Jackie Hudson Lalor, Una Sealy, Jim Fitzpatrick, and Blaise Smith.
The DCU Women on Walls installation is the third iteration of Accenture’s project. The first was at Ireland’s Royal Irish Academy and represents women academics. The second was at the Royal College of Surgeons, representing medical doctors.
“The portraits have been incredibly well-received,” says Bannon. “We host orientation activities in the space and hold events for International Women’s Day here. We are proud that the portraits and their installation reflect the progressive direction in which Ireland is moving.”
To find out more about DCU’s Women on Walls initiative, and the scientists and artists represented, please follow this LINK.
