Reception held at the UK Embassy in Ankara to honor women's achievements

The event, hosted by Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Wendy Wyver, British Council Country Director Gill Caldicott, and BIAA Director Dr. Lutgarde Vandeput MBE, brought together numerous guests in commemoration of International Women's Day.

During the panel held as part of the event, BIAA Deputy Director Dr. Peter Cherry spoke with Jo Willett, producer of the classic female-led BBC comedy series Birds of a Feather and author of the book 'The Pioneering Life of Mary Wortley Montagu: Scientist and Feminist', and award-winning Turkish-British structural biologist Prof. Zehra Sayers, who was recognized as one of the BBC's '100 Most Influential Women of 2019', about Montagu's legacy and how it serves as an example for both bilateral cooperation between Turkey and the UK and for amplifying women's voices in the fields of science, diplomacy, and culture. 

'SHE WAS AN INDEPENDENT THINKER'

Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Dr. Wendy Wyver stated, "Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was an independent thinker and a strong advocate for the rights of women to receive a good education and to participate fully in public life. Thanks to her intelligence, curiosity, and unique access to the lives and traditions of Ottoman women, she succeeded in introducing the concept of vaccination to England long before Edward Jenner.

However, Jenner received most of the credit. Today, the UK is working to support women in achieving excellence in science and receiving the recognition they deserve for their accomplishments," she said.

British Council Turkey Director Gill Caldicott said the following:

"This event, organized on the occasion of International Women's Day, provides a platform to celebrate women's contributions to science, culture, and diplomacy. As the British Council, we support the participation and empowerment of women in all our programs in education and the arts, including STEM scholarships for world-class postgraduate qualifications in the UK."

WHAT HAPPENED?

More than 300 years ago, in April 1721, a smallpox epidemic was ravaging England. While most of London stayed indoors for fear of catching the deadly virus, there was one woman who knew how to put an end to smallpox. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu had learned about inoculation from her conversations with women in the Ottoman Empire.

This procedure, which was widely practiced in Ottoman lands, involved taking pus from an infected person and transferring it to the body of a healthy person, thereby gaining immunity.

Although many in England mocked Montagu, viewing her as a 'dangerous woman', Montagu was proven right, and an Ottoman medical practice saved many lives in 18th-century England.

Beyond her groundbreaking medical achievements, Montagu's legacy extends to her letters, published after her death, which provide valuable insights into the lives of women and show that England had much to learn from the Ottoman Empire.

News Source: 12punto