It was my joy, once again to celebrate this day with a room opening.
Naming spaces on campus after women is crucial for several reasons:
- Recognition of Achievements: It honors the achievements of women in STEM and other fields, despite the challenges they faced.
- Historical Context: It provides a historical context to the University’s history, highlighting the contributions of women throughout history.
- Promotion of Diversity: It promotes diversity and inclusion on campus, reflecting the University’s commitment to diversity and representation.
- Inspiration: It serves as inspiration for future generations, encouraging them to pursue their passions and contribute to society.You can’t be what you can’t see.
- Public Awareness: It raises public awareness about the contributions of women and encourages a more inclusive society.
By naming spaces on campus after women, the University of Edinburgh and other institutions can contribute to a more equitable and inspiring environment for all.
The University of Edinburgh owns more than 550 buildings throughout the city of Edinburgh across five campuses
On extensive campuses the size of Edinburgh’s the space is often shifting. I am pleased that ISG and Estates are able to continue a rolling programme of upgrades to teaching spaces.
And it is when a room like this gets a significant upgrade, or change of use, to bring it into the teaching estate and the care of ISG, we have an opportunity to give it an inspirational name.
There are dozens of rooms across the university named after men, few, so very few, named after women.
And this is a running battle . As the estate changes and shifts we make some gains and we take some losses.
ISG moving out of Argyle House means we have lost 4 spaces named for women who worked as pioneering digital librarians and Bletchley Park code breakers. Hopefully we will manage to re-instate them in Forrest Hill.
It was lovely to be back at KB campus. I am pleased to say, we have already named
The Mary Somerville Data Centre
The Charlotte Murchison Lecture theatre in Murchison House.
And now this Molly Fergusson room, a woman we have heard so much about today.
In preparing for today, and learning about Molly’s work, I have been thinking a bit about bridges, and building bridges.
I had an auntie who was a radical feminist and she would say to me
‘may the bridges I burn , light your way.
Which I thought sounded very cool. But I think generally, it is probably better if we build the bridges, cross them and then leave them unburned for others who follow across.
Unless they are your enemies, in which case you definitely want to be burning them.
Bridges are landmarks that define the identity of towns and cities, and a source of civic pride for the people who live there. Bridges can do more for communities than improving connectivity and promoting active travel, people feel very strongly about them.
The Society of Civil Engineers say:
“Bridge projects that seek to be socially transformative will not necessarily cost more than those that focus purely on building the bridge.”
And that is how if see these room naming opportunities. The fit out and design of the room is not more expensive for having the opportunity to also be socially transformative in celebrating our community role models. By making and naming this place we can signal something about the university’s aspirational values for women and girls.