Laura Hendriks’s work is chosen as an example for women in chemical science

On the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, Helvetica Chimica Acta magazine has published a special printed issue highlighting the work of female scientists across chemical sciences. Branco Weiss Fellow Laura Hendriks had been invited to contribute to this special issue with an article showcasing her work. In the paper, she and co-author Cyril Portmann discuss the potential of radiocarbon dating isolated natural organic dyes and pigments and explore new routes to date cultural heritage objects.

“Together with other disciplines involved in heritage science, the proposed methodology will offer a deeper insight to the technology of manufacturing, trade routes and commercial transactions that may have allowed the use of certain dyes far from their native locations,” the paper concludes. This will provide valuable data about the lifestyle and the technical knowledge of a given population in a defined period, “triggering discussions beyond the scientific contribution, generating interest with art experts, historians and the general public”.

Helvetica Chimica Acta, founded by the Swiss Chemical Society in 1917, is a monthly multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge in all disciplines of chemistry.

Read the paper on Helvetica Chimica Acta