Royal Society honours pioneering scientists who were first female members

A year-long series of events marks 80 years since admission of Marjory Stephenson and Kathleen Lonsdale in 1945

When Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein became fellows of the Royal Society, like other illustrious physicists, chemists and biologists over the centuries, they met the society's membership criteria in two essential ways: they were talented scientists - and they were men.

It wasn't until March 1945 that the prestigious scientific community finally began admitting women to its fellowship. Now, to mark the 80th anniversary of this milestone, the society is launching a year-long series of events to assert the rightful place in history of its first female fellows, Marjory Stephenson and Kathleen Lonsdale.