Monash University Publishing

Taking to the Field, a groundbreaking history of women in Australian science by University of Wollongong historian and Monash University Publishing author Jane Carey, has been awarded the 2025 Ernest Scott Prize for History.

Presented annually by the University of Melbourne, the prize recognises the most distinguished contribution to the history of Australia or New Zealand, or the history of colonisation. Dr Carey’s book challenges long-held assumptions about women’s place in scientific history and reshapes our understanding of the foundations of Australian science itself.

“I am deeply honoured that Taking to the Field has been awarded the 2025 Ernest Scott Prize,” said Dr Carey. “At a time when the humanities in general and history in particular seem to be under siege, having awards such as this that support historical scholarship on Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and histories of colonialism, has never been more vital.”

In a meticulously researched and wide-ranging account, Carey traces the long and often obscured history of Australian women’s involvement in science, dating back to the 1830s. From amateur botanists and natural historians to participants in scientific reform movements such as eugenics, and later, to professional scientists, Carey uncovers a rich and complex legacy. Her interviews and surveys with more than 300 women science graduates reveal both the depth of women’s contributions and the enduring structural barriers they faced — including limited employment opportunities and systemic discrimination, particularly after World War II.

When molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn became the first Australian woman to win a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009, she was celebrated as a trailblazer. Yet, as Taking to the Field reveals, Blackburn was part of a much longer lineage of women whose contributions were essential to the development of Australian science — even if they were largely overlooked in mainstream histories.

“This book is not simply a celebratory recovery of forgotten pioneers,” said Carey. “The impact of Western science has not been uniformly positive and women were certainly associated with some of its darker episodes. Holding these two things in productive tension provides, I hope, greater understanding and a firmer foundation for more women in science into the future.”

Dr Carey also acknowledged the support of Monash University Publishing and the women who shared their stories. “Many thanks to my publisher, Monash University Publishing, for all their support and the outstanding work they do in supporting scholarly publishing generally. To the more than 300 women who shared their experiences of studying and working in science with me, most of whom are no longer with us, I am profoundly grateful.”

Taking to the Field is a significant contribution not only to the history of science and women’s history, but also to broader understandings of colonialism and social change in Australia. It affirms the vital role of historical scholarship in shaping a more inclusive and accurate national story.