I’m excited to invite you to join me at the Royal Institution on the July 4th for “Discourse: Celebrating 200 Years of Benzene, Whale Oil & Aromaticity.”
I’ll be presenting my sculpture—a proposed monument to Kathleen Lonsdale, the brilliant scientist who proved benzene’s flat, symmetrical structure in the 1920s. This piece captures both her groundbreaking crystallographic work and her remarkable life as a Quaker, pacifist, prison reformer, and mother of three.
When: Friday 4th July, 7:30pm (doors open 6:50pm)
Where: Royal Institution Theatre, London
Find me: From 5:45pm on the mezzanine near the bar, and after the discourse just outside the theatre
Tickets still available: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/discourse-celebrating-200-years-benzene-whale-oil-aromaticity
Or you can just come for a quick after-work drink in the bar to see the maquette
The sculpture uses the benzene molecule itself as its framework—six female figures representing carbon atoms, with children as hydrogen atoms, all supporting disks carved with Lonsdale’s multifaceted contributions to science and society. (More details about the sculpture and the event below.)
Come discover how this proposed monument celebrates a pioneer who opened doors for generations of women in science.
Hope to see you there!
Best wishes, Briony
Kathlene Lonsdale Benzene Monument
Kathleen Lonsdale transformed our understanding of molecular structure when she proved in the 1920s that benzene exists as a flat, symmetrical ring.
Yet her groundbreaking scientific achievements represent only one facet of a remarkable life that encompassed roles as Quaker, pacifist, prison reformer, diamond synthesiser, professor, and mother of three. As the Royal Society’s first female fellow and president of multiple scientific organisations, she opened doors for generations of women in science.
This proposed monument captures both Lonsdale’s scientific legacy and the intricate reality of women’s lives through the elegant structure of the benzene molecule itself.
Design Concept
The sculpture rises from a hexagonal base of rammed earth, its layered construction symbolising how each generation of women builds upon the achievements of those before. The earth formation echoes the classical representation of benzene—a hexagon enclosing a circle—grounding the monument in both scientific precision and natural materiality.
Above this foundation, six female figures arrange themselves in a hexagonal formation, each representing a carbon atom in the benzene ring. Around them, smaller figures of children embody the hydrogen atoms that complete the molecular structure. This human constellation captures the delicate equilibrium women navigate daily—supporting colleagues while nurturing families, balancing professional ambitions with personal responsibilities. The composition speaks to moments of tension when demands pull in multiple directions, as well as instances of graceful harmony when all elements align.
The women collectively support two vertical disks representing benzene’s delocalised electron cloud—the quantum phenomenon that gives the molecule its distinctive stability. These disks will bear relief carvings chronicling Lonsdale’s multifaceted contributions: her crystallographic discoveries, her diamond synthesis work, her prison reform advocacy, and her tireless mentorship of young scientists.
Project Status
This conceptual work seeks appropriate siting and financial backing to honour a scientist whose influence extends far beyond her laboratory achievements. The artist invites collaboration from institutions, foundations, and individuals committed to celebrating pioneers who expanded possibilities for women in science.
Scaled maquette in plaster, metal and rammed earth
Discourse: Celebrating 200 years of benzene
From whale oil to aromaticity
Event Information
Date: Fri 04 Jul 2025
Times: 7.20pm – 8.45pm BST/ GMT
Price: Theatre audience: £20/£15; Ri Members and Ri Patrons: Free; Livestream audience: ‘pay-what-you-can’ (£5 minimum); Eventbrite booking fee not included
Location: In-person in the Theatre and Livestream
Join us for this special Discourse as we Discover200, celebrating 200 years of Ri Discourses and the discovery of benzene.
Benzene has played a significant role in modern science and industry since it was first isolated by Michael Faraday in 1825 – originally from whale oil as a by-product of gas production – here at the Royal Institution.
In this Discourse, Judy Wu will explore the discoveries, challenges, and unexpected revelations encountered by chemists who devoted their work to unravelling the mysteries of benzene and its significance.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, various chemists presented different models to account for the structure and the extraordinary chemical stability of benzene.
The first part of this talk will cover a brief history of benzene, including key discoveries made at the Royal Institution, and tell how chemists came to understand the structure and reactivity of benzene. The second part will address the evolution of the definition of aromaticity.
The term aromaticity, originally linked to the distinctive smell and chemical structure of benzene, has evolved significantly to include many molecules that are not “benzene-like” at all. We will talk about discoveries that reshaped chemists’ understanding of the concept of aromaticity and how this concept is now applied in practical fields of chemistry and technology.
Book Tickets:
https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/discourse-celebrating-200-years-benzene-whale-oil-aromaticity
UPDATE
Following the event, I wanted to share with you some images of both my work there and some fascinating items they have on display at the RI:
History of RI and benzene:
On Display at the Royal Institution
In 1936, Kathleen Lonsdale published a book, composed entirely of her neat handwriting, entitled ‘Simplified structure factor and electron density formulae for the 230 space groups of mathematical crystallography‘ on behalf of the Royal Institution. A significant publication in the history of crystallography.
Published in photo-litho-printed form from the handwritten manuscript, the entire book was reproduced directly from Lonsdale’s written pages rather than being typeset, preserving her writing and notation throughout the publication.
This book was groundbreaking as it provided crystallographers worldwide with essential mathematical tools for determining crystal structures from X-ray diffraction data. The fact that it was published in Lonsdale’s own handwriting makes it a unique artifact in scientific publishing history – a testament both to her mathematical precision and to the pre-digital era of scientific computation.
(credit for text from RI signage)
Presentation at the Royal Institution
Briony with her Kathleen Lonsdale Benzene Monument Sculpture – on the mezzanine of the Royal Institution. Above is can be seen a spiralling sculpture hanging from the Mezzanine ceiling consists of 69 scientific objects from the Spottiswoode Collection, part of the Faraday Museum’s collection of scientific instruments.
Briony looking through her Kathleen Lonsdale Benzene Monument Sculpture, in front of the bar at the Royal Institution.
