Patricia Fara is a historian of science at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

. She is a graduate of the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

and did her PhD at the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

. She is a former Fellow of Darwin College and is an Emeritus Fellow of

Clare College Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college was founded in 1326 as University Hall, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. It was refounded ...

where she was previously Director of Studies in the History and Philosophy and Science. Fara was also a College Teaching Officer in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science. From 2016 to 2018 Fara was President of the British Society for the History of Science. In 2016 she became President of the

Antiquarian Horological Society The Antiquarian Horological Society, abbreviated to AHS, is the UK-based learned society for scholars and enthusiasts of horology. Its administrative office is at 4 Lovat Lane, a listed building close to the Monument, in the City of London. In earl ...

. Fara is author of numerous popular books on the history of science and has been a guest on

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...

's science and history discussion series,

In Our Time In Our Time may refer to: * ''In Our Time'' (1944 film), a film starring Ida Lupino and Paul Henreid * ''In Our Time'' (1982 film), a Taiwanese anthology film featuring director Edward Yang; considered the beginning of the "New Taiwan Cinema" * ''In ...

Early life and education

Fara began her academic career as a physicist but returned to graduate studies as a mature student to specialise in History and Philosophy of Science, completing her

PhD PHD or PhD may refer to: * Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), an academic qualification Entertainment * '' PhD: Phantasy Degree'', a Korean comic series * ''Piled Higher and Deeper'', a web comic * Ph.D. (band), a 1980s British group ** Ph.D. (Ph.D. albu ...

thesis at

Imperial College Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a cu ...

, London in 1993.

Research and writing

Her areas of particular academic interest include the role of portraiture and art in the history of science, science in the 18th century England during the

Enlightenment Enlightenment or enlighten may refer to: Age of Enlightenment * Age of Enlightenment, period in Western intellectual history from the late 17th to late 18th century, centered in France but also encompassing (alphabetically by country or culture): ...

and the role of women in science. She has written about numerous women in science, mathematics, engineering, and medicine including: Hertha Ayrton, Lady Helen Gleichen,

Mona Chalmers Watson Alexandra Mary Chalmers Watson CBE, (née Geddes; 31 May 1872 – 7 August 1936), known as Mona Chalmers Watson, was a British physician and head of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. The first woman to receive an MD from the University of Edin ...

Helen Gwynne-Vaughan Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan, (née Fraser; 21 January 1879 – 26 August 1967) was a prominent English botanist and mycologist. During the First World War, she served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and then as Commandant ...

Isabel Emslie Hutton Isabel Galloway Emslie Hutton, Lady Hutton CBE (11 September 1887 – 11 January 1960), previously Isabel Galloway Emslie, was a Scottish physician who specialised in mental health and social work.McConnell, Anita (2004) "Hutton, Isabel Gallowa ...

, Flora Murray,

Ida Maclean Ida Smedley Maclean (born Ida Smedley 14 June 1877, died 2 March 1944) was an English biochemist and the first woman admitted to the London Chemical Society. Early life and education Ida was born in Birmingham to William Smedley, a businessma ...

Marie Stopes Marie Charlotte Carmichael Stopes (15 October 1880 – 2 October 1958) was a British author, palaeobotanist and campaigner for eugenics and women's rights. She made significant contributions to plant palaeontology and coal classification, ...

, and

Martha Annie Whiteley Martha Annie Whiteley, (11 November 1866 – 24 May 1956) was an English chemist and mathematician. She was instrumental in advocating for women's entry into the Chemical Society, and was best known for her dedication to advancing women's ...

. She has argued for expanded access to childcare as a means of increasing the retention of women in science. She has written and co-authored a number of books for children on science. Fara is also a reviewer of books on history of science. She has written the award-winning ''Science: A Four Thousand Year History'' (2009) Fara, Patricia (2009) ''Science: A Four Thousand Year History'' Oxford: Oxford University Press and ''Erasmus Darwin: Sex, Science, and Serendipity'' (2012). Her most recent book is ''A Lab of One's Own: Science and Suffrage in the First World War" (2017).'' In 2013, Fara published an article in the journal ''Nature'', stressing the fact that biographies of female scientists perpetuate stereotypes.'

Awards

*201
Dingle Prize
British Society for the History of Science for ''Science: A Four Thousand Year History'' (2009) *2022

Abraham Pais Prize for History of Physics The Abraham Pais Prize for History of Physics is an award given each year since 2005 jointly by the American Physical Society and the American Institute of Physics for "''outstanding scholarly achievements in the history of physics''". The prize ...

Bibliography

* * * Fara, Patricia (2002) ''An Entertainment for Angels: Electricity in the Enlightenment'' Icon Books * Fara, Patricia (2002) ''Newton: The Making of Genius'' Pan-MacMillan * Fara, Patricia (2002) ''Scientists Anonymous: Great Stories of Women in Science.'' Totem Books. * * Fara, Patricia (2004) ''Pandora's Breeches: Women, Science and Power in the Enlightenment'' Pimlico Books * Fara, Patricia (2005) ''Fatal Attraction: Magnetic Mysteries of the Enlightenment'' Icon Books * Fara, Patricia (2009) ''Science: A Four Thousand Year History'' Oxford University Press * * *Fara, Patricia (2021) ''Life After Gravity: Isacc Newton's London Career'' Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/life-after-gravity-9780198841029?facet_narrowbypubdate_facet=Next%203%20months&lang=en&cc=es#

Broadcasts

*BBC Radio 4 ''In Our Time''
Ada Lovelace
6 March 2008 *BBC Radio 4 ''In Our Time'
'Vitalism'
28 October 2008. *BBC Radio 4 ''In Our Time'
'Baconian Science'
2 April 2009. *BBC Radio 4 ''In Our Time''
Calculus
24 September 2009 *BBC Radio 4 ''In Our Time'
'Women and Enlightenment Science'
4 November 2010. *BBC Radio 4 ''In Our Time'
'Robert Hooke'
18 February 2016. *BBC Radio 4 ''The Forum''
Marie Curie - A Pioneering Life
19 August 2017 *BBC Radio 4 ''In Our Time''
Rosalind Franklin
22 February 2018 *BBC Radio 4 ''Science Stories''
Madame Lavoisier's Translation of Oxygen
21 August 2019.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fara, Patricia Academics of the University of Cambridge Living people Alumni of the University of Oxford Alumni of Imperial College London Historians of science British women historians Year of birth missing (living people) 20th-century British historians 20th-century British women writers 21st-century British historians 21st-century British women writers