Earlier this month, over 500 students and staff got involved in naming our new science building by sharing their favourite name from a shortlist of four inspirational individuals.
Elizabeth Blackwell,
Rosalind Franklin,
Kathleen Lonsdale and
Beatrice Shilling were all in the running, with each suggested during an initial consultation in November 2017. Thank you for all of your entries last year; it was great to see so many suggestions, and the reasons for them too.
Our new
science building will be a high-quality, technology-led space available for all students and staff, as well as home to our new
Department of Electronic Engineering. We want a name that reflects Royal Holloway’s ambition; for the success of you, our students and the positive impact we can all have through the advancement of knowledge.
I’m delighted to confirm that the building will be called the Shilling Building in honour of
Beatrice Shilling, a British
aeronautical engineer and motor racer. Willow Wong, the Vice President of Welfare & Diversity at the Students’ Union, and I announced the name of the new building last Friday 2 March, live on social media. You can watch a recording of the announcement on our
Campus Life Facebook page.
This is the ideal time to announce the name of our new science building, not only is it
British Science Week, it is also
International Women’s day on Thursday 8 March. In support of International Women’s day, The Careers & Employability Service will be running the
Spring Careers Fair which will focus on employers who promote diversity and equality, I encourage you to go along. Then, on Saturday 10 March, it's our
Science Festival, which has a packed programme including Royal Institute lectures, a miniature steam train and an indoor planetarium. It looks to be a great day.
Paul
Professor Paul Layzell
Principal