An Post Unveils Stamps Honouring Two Trinity Women in STEM

An Post has released a special set of postage stamps celebrating the contributions of Irish women in STEM, featuring two distinguished scientists with strong ties to Trinity College Dublin: Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Professor Aoife McLysaght. The stamps, designed by Detail Design Studio and illustrated by Steve Doogan, were unveiled on 5 March 2025 by Minister James Lawless T.D., Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Honouring Scientific Excellence

Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, an astrophysicist, is best known for her 1967 discovery of radio pulsars, a breakthrough in astronomy. Despite being overlooked for the 1974 Nobel Prize, her contributions have been widely recognised, including a €3 million Breakthrough Prize in 2018, which she donated to support underrepresented groups in physics.

Professor Aoife McLysaght, a geneticist and Chair of Evolutionary Genetics at Trinity, is one of the world’s leading researchers in genomics. She has been instrumental in evolutionary biology research, securing over €5.5 million in funding throughout her career. In 2024, she was appointed Government Science Advisor, further strengthening her influence on Ireland’s research landscape.

A Milestone for Women in STEM

The stamps were issued ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, highlighting the importance of gender representation in STEM fields. While progress has been made, women still account for only 25% of STEM jobs in Ireland, with even fewer holding senior positions.

Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle welcomed the recognition, stating:
"It is wonderful to see the contribution of women in STEM celebrated in such a visual way. I hope these stamps inspire many more women—especially young girls—to pursue careers in science."

Professor McLysaght expressed her gratitude, calling the recognition an honour and emphasising the role of visibility in encouraging future generations of women in STEM.

Available Nationwide

The stamps, featuring scientific imagery—a radio telescope for Bell Burnell and a DNA helix for McLysaght—are available for purchase in selected post offices nationwide and online at www.anpost.com/shop. A limited edition First Day Cover envelope is also available.

This initiative by An Post not only celebrates two of Ireland’s most accomplished scientists but also serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to support and amplify the contributions of women in STEM.