The remarkable scientists represented in this experience include biochemists, X-ray crystallographers, pharmacologists, neuro-embryologists and nuclear physicists. They include Nobel Laureates from the early 1900s. They are the children of teachers, grocers, scientists and artists. Some rarely left their labs; some travelled the world to collaborate with other scientists or to advocate for a cause. Each is as unique as her contribution to scientific knowledge, but all possess common traits: creativity, vision, passion and – perhaps most importantly – persistence.

This web experience uses Microsoft Artificial Intelligence technology to bring visitors inside these women’s stories. By analysing and linking hundreds of photographs, videos, research papers, diagrams, quotations and audio recordings, AI enables visitors to appreciate both the laureates’ commonalities and the vast diversity of their experiences. It allows the user to read the laureates’ stories as well as to explore the entire collection of media by filtering and navigating across an interconnected web of knowledge that brings the groundbreaking scientific work of the 19 female laureates to life.

Women who changed science brings to life the unique contributions of each laureate while exploring the interconnecting lineage of women in the sciences. It aims to transform not only how we experience the odds-defying stories of grit and perseverance behind the Nobel Prize-awarded discoveries of these 19 laureates but also embolden the next generation of young women to change our world.

As Nobel Laureate Rosalyn Yalow has said: “The world cannot afford the loss of the talents of half of its people if we are to solve the many problems which beset us.”