Hello, dolly! Vaccine prof Sarah set to inspire young scientists

PROFESSOR Sarah Gilbert has received recognition, praise and even been honoured by the Queen since the Oxford scientist created the most widely distributed Covid vaccine.

But this week she has received an honour of a different kind – toy maker Mattel has turned her into a Barbie doll.

It’s part of a series marking women involved in science, technology, engineering and maths from around the world that the toy company has chosen to highlight to inspire young girls to consider science as a career.

Professor Gilbert, pictured, said she found the gesture ‘very strange’ but hoped it would help more girls to consider studying science. The whole point of playing with dolls is to stimulate the imagination – if girls are role playing scientists at primary school age, hopefully they can imagine themselves growing up to invent things or cure diseases.