Gillian Gehring selected as first subject for Portrait of a Woman Prize

We’re delighted to tell you that Emeritus Professor Gillian Gehring has been selected to be the first subject for the University of Sheffield Portrait of a Woman Prize.

Rosie Valerio, who established the Portrait of a Woman Prize on her retirement in March 2011 as HR Director, announced the selection. She said: “A number of criteria were used, including impact on the University; inspiration; personal drive; commitment to the University, including in legacy, and what the subjects have done for women at the University. Given the vibrancy and strength of all the subjects, we were very spoilt for choice.”

In summer 2012, colleagues from across the University nominated women whom they admired, or who had inspired them, whether a past or present member of staff, and whose portrait they would like to see hung in Firth Hall.

Gillian was one of 28 shortlisted women and can now look forward to having her portrait painted.

Gillian is a distinguished international research leader in magnetism and orbital ordering, making great contributions to both theoretical and experimental projects, with her seminal work on the co-operative Jahn-Teller effect inspiring a generation of new physics experiments.

She was the first, and to date only, woman Professor of Physics at Sheffield, and only the second woman ever to hold a Professorship in a UK Physics Department.

Gillian has also led national and international efforts to increase the number of women studying physics, and campaigned tirelessly for gender equality in STEM subjects as a whole.