The Barbara Kidman Women’s Fellowship

The University of Adelaide has a strong tradition of innovation. From its early beginnings there have been many firsts.

Dr Barbara Kidman and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Professor Mike Brooks

Two key areas in which the University was a pioneer were the teaching of science and gender equality – being the first in Australia to develop a science degree and the first to grant degrees to women. Dr Barbara Kidman, a graduate of the University, benefitted from both of these firsts as one of our early female science students. Today we recognise her courage and commitment with the launch of the Barbara Kidman Women’s Fellowship Scheme which is named in her honour.

Studying science in the 1940s was no easy feat for Dr Kidman. She defied society’s expectations of women in scientific roles, and was the only female student studying physics in her second, third and Honours years. However, her passion and determination certainly paid off when she was awarded a First Class Honours degree. This enabled her to study at Oxford University where she dedicated up to three years to full-time research.

Dr Kidman later returned to the University of Adelaide, completing her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 1956 – she was one of the first two women to earn such an honour. Following a nine year break from the University, Dr Kidman returned to work in 1966 in what was then the new field of computing. She completed 20 years of work in this industry before retiring in 1987.

The University of Adelaide remains committed to gender equality, and the advancement of new knowledge. To help support our female academics, provide them with an opportunity to enhance their careers, and to address the proportional under-representation of female academics at higher levels, the University is offering up to eight fellowships under the Barbara Kidman Women’s Fellowship Scheme in 2013. Each will be funded to a maximum of $30,000.

Dr Kidman hopes that our brightest female academics will take advantage of this opportunity and continue to build their research careers at the University of Adelaide.

“The University has been part of my life since 1945. It’s a wonderful place to work and I am delighted that these fellowships will enable some of our brightest female academics to maintain or recover research momentum and progress their careers,” she says.

For more information on the Barbara Kidman Women’s Fellowship Scheme, including guidelines and closing dates visit Internal Funding Schemes