Naming Spaces After Inspirational Women

The Information Services Group have named many University spaces, both digital and physical, after inspirational women who were part of our community.

By naming spaces in the University, we aim to ensure these pioneering women are preserved in our history, to inspire inclusivity and representation for all our staff and students who use these spaces every day. The endeavour began as part of our International Women's Day celebrations, with the opening of the Brenda Moon Training Room. Brenda Moon was a key figure in Information Services, as chief librarian to the University.

Please use the pages below to read more about her and the other inspirational women we have commemorated. Most of these women studied or worked at the University of Edinburgh, and many made significant contributions to the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). This is especially important to us in Information Services, as we run many of the technologies and digital services used across the University. These women and their contributions thus remain important parts of our history as a section, and as a University.

Brenda Moon (1931-2011)

Brenda Moon was chief librarian at the University of Edinburgh and had a clear vision of the transformative effects of digitisation. In 2019, the boardroom in Argyle House was named the Brenda Moon Boardroom, in recognition of her achievements.

Annie Hutton Numbers (1897–1988)

Annie Hutton Numbers was a chemist and teacher, obtaining a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and working as an Assistant Lecturer in the School of Chemistry. The Annie Hutton Numbers Training Room in Argyle House was named in her honour.

Marjorie Rackstraw OBE (1888–1981)

Marjorie Rackshaw was a warden and adviser to students at the University of Edinburgh, dedicating her life to serving her community. In recognition, the Marjorie Rackshaw Training Room in Argyle House was named after her.

Irene Young (1919-2017)

Irene Young was a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, and graduate of the University of Edinburgh. The Irene Young Training Room in Argyle House was named in honour of her achievements.

Mary Somerville (1780-1872)

Mary Somerville was a Scottish scientist, writer and polymath, and became known as the "Queen of Science". In honour of her many achievements, the Mary Somerville Data Centre in the James Clerk Maxwell Building was named after her.

Xia Peisu (1923-2014)

Xia Peisu was a computer scientist and graduate of the University, going on to become the "mother of computer science in China". The Xia Peisu Training Room in the James Clerk Maxwell Building was named in honour of her.

Charlotte Murchison (1788-1869)

Charlotte Murchison was a British geologist and pioneer of geological research and fossil hunting. The Charlotte Murchison Lecture Theatre in Murchison House, King's Buildings, was officially opened in 2022 on International Women's Day.

Grace Hopper (1906-1992)

Grace Hopper was an American computer scientist, mathematician and US Navy rear admiral. To commemorate her achievements in computer programming, the University's media asset management system, Media Hopper Create, was named in honour of her.

Eleanor Ormerod (1828-1901)

Eleanor Ormerod was a British entomologist and the first woman to be given an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh. To commemorate her achievements, the University named a new research cloud computing service "Eleanor".

Bessie Watson (1900-1992)

Bessie Watson was a Scottish child suffragette and piper, and graduate of the University of Edinburgh. On International Women's Day 2024, the Bessie Watson Lecture Theatre was officially opened in her honour.

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