Vignette 71: A PhD in Physics leading the way for women in science

Dr Barbara Kidman (1927–2022) and Dr Barbara Possingham (1931–2023) are legends in the field of physics at the University, paving the way for women to succeed in science. 

In 1949, Kidman made history when she became the first woman to graduate with Honours in Physics from the University. She would go on to become the University’s first woman lecturer in computing science.

In 1956, Possingham alongside her colleague Kidman were the first women to be awarded a PhD in Physics. Possingham received a prestigious 1851 Research Fellowship and undertook research in England. Throughout her life, Possingham advocated for women in science, mentoring and coordinating scholarships. 

Both women, instrumental in supporting gender equity in science, maintained lifelong connections with the University. Kidman’s ethos lives on through the Barbara Kidman Women’s Fellowship Scheme, which supports female academics, while the Possingham family honour their parents’ memory through the Possingham Postgraduate Supplementary Scholarship.

In an era when societal expectations for women in scientific roles were low, both defied the odds and are role models that uplift future women in science.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Leading for the future. p.101