Inspirational "Women on Walls" at DCU

Commissioned portraits of five inspirational females from the world of science, technology, engineering

and mathematics (STEM) were unveiled at the virtual launch of Accenture’s Women on Walls at

DCU in celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8).

In collaboration with Accenture and Business to Arts, the portraits are in recognition of the ground-

breaking work of Beatrice Alice Hicks, Katherine Johnson, Dr Marie Maynard Daly, and Irish duo Kay

McNulty and Dame Kathleen Lonsdale.

All five are regarded as pioneers in STEM by making significant contributions through outstanding research work, scientific breakthroughs and facilitating cultural and social change.

• Beatrice Alice Hicks was the first president of the Society of Women Engineers (portrait by Blaise

Smith) 

• Katherine Johnson was the first African-American woman to work as a NASA scientist (portrait by

Jackie Hudson Lalor)

• Dr Marie Maynard Daly was the first African-American woman in the US to earn a PhD in Chemistry (portrait by Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide)

• Kay McNulty from Donegal was one of the world’s first Computer Programmers (portrait by Jim

Fitzpatrick)

• Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, who hailed from Newbridge, Co Kildare was the first female Professor of University College London (UCL) (portrait by Una Sealy)

The portraits were unveiled at a virtual event with DCU President Professor Dáire Keogh; Dr Michelle D. Cullen, Managing Director and Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Accenture in Ireland; and Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts.

The launch featured a specially commissioned documentary which followed each artist as they worked on their portrait in the midst of Covid-19. This provided viewers with an in-depth look behind the scenes along with unique insights, details and stories about each of the subjects.

A panel discussion, with all five artists, moderated by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald, was also part of the event.

This is the third chapter of Accenture’s Women on Walls, a campaign that seeks to make women leaders visible through portraits that will create a lasting cultural legacy for Ireland. The campaign commenced in 2016 with the Royal Irish Academy, and a second chapter with RCSI was unveiled in 2019.

DCU, renowned for its commitment to gender equality, is particularly pleased to support this initiative as part of its arts programming across the university, and support to the arts sector as it charts its way through this global pandemic.

The portraits will be temporarily installed in the Stokes Building at DCU before eventually moving to the Future-Tech building, under construction at the university’s Glasnevin Campus. This flagship

building will be at the forefront of DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science, computing and engineering disciplines.