British Science Week 2026: If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be?
British Science Week is taking place on The Student Room from 6 March to 15 March, and everyone is welcome to take part. We have lots of threads running throughout the week, and this if you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? thread is one of them.
Be sure to check the British Science Week 2026: Hub Thread to see other threads for you to take part in.
And remember, if you post in at least 15 threads by 31 March, you will also receive a British Science Week Certificate.
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I'll go first...
I would like to dine with Indra Nooyi. She is an Indian born American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. I'd probably go for Indian cuisine. Shocking, I know!
I think I would ask her what it was like growing up with the expectations that often come with being part of an Indian family and whether that influenced the path she took in her career. 
Your turn...
If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? If you were choosing the restaurant, what cuisine would you go for? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
Be sure to check the British Science Week 2026: Hub Thread to see other threads for you to take part in.
And remember, if you post in at least 15 threads by 31 March, you will also receive a British Science Week Certificate.
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I'll go first...
I would like to dine with Indra Nooyi. She is an Indian born American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. I'd probably go for Indian cuisine. Shocking, I know!
I think I would ask her what it was like growing up with the expectations that often come with being part of an Indian family and whether that influenced the path she took in her career. Your turn...
If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? If you were choosing the restaurant, what cuisine would you go for? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
Scroll to see replies
Dining with Alan Turing would be very cool. Italian cuisine. Would just love to hear the stories of Bletchley Park during WW2 straight from one of its most important players.
Reply 2
Maria Orosa was a Filipino food scientist who developed cooking technology for those who cannot afford electricity! She also empowered female chefs, invented banana ketchup (the conventional tomato ketchup was too expensive to import), and made darak: rice-bran that contains important nutrients, which was really useful for those involved in WW2! Banana ketchup and darak, among Orosa’s other inventions, remain Filipino specialities to this day!
I’ve never really had Filipino cuisine before, but I’d like to try some! And I suppose my question would be how’d she come up with all of those ideas XD
I’ve never really had Filipino cuisine before, but I’d like to try some! And I suppose my question would be how’d she come up with all of those ideas XD
Reply 3
I'd love to sit down with Rosalind Franklin and chat to her. My understanding is that some male scientists took the glory for her DNA-related discoveries. I've always thought that sucked and wondered how that would have made her feel 
Original post
by The_Lonely_GoatherdI'd love to sit down with Rosalind Franklin and chat to her. My understanding is that some male scientists took the glory for her DNA-related discoveries. I've always thought that sucked and wondered how that would have made her feel
Yep, two Cambridge researchers by the name of Crick and Watson. They did also do a lot of work to identify the chemical structure of DNA, but it is true that they largely piggy-backed off from Rosalind Franklin's lab work. Without it, they'd have gotten nowhere.
Reply 5
Original post
by Scotland YardDining with Alan Turing would be very cool. Italian cuisine. Would just love to hear the stories of Bletchley Park during WW2 straight from one of its most important players.
Have you been to Bletchley Park? It's worth a visit.
One of my Maths lecturers worked there - there was a whole team working on code breaking, most of whom are rarely spoken about.
Reply 6
This is a tricky one. There are quite a few - Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday, Einstein and any women whose research work was stolen by men!
So perhaps a dinner party and serving a traditional roast chicken with all the trimmings.
So perhaps a dinner party and serving a traditional roast chicken with all the trimmings.
Original post
by Muttley79Have you been to Bletchley Park? It's worth a visit.
One of my Maths lecturers worked there - there was a whole team working on code breaking, most of whom are rarely spoken about.
One of my Maths lecturers worked there - there was a whole team working on code breaking, most of whom are rarely spoken about.
I visited it a long time ago. Been meaning to visit again though
Reply 8
Original post
by Scotland YardI visited it a long time ago. Been meaning to visit again though
The last time I went there was a whole area recreating Alan Turing's office and a display of a few possessions including his teddy bear!
Professor Douglas Chamberlain, the founder of paramedicine in Europe. Probably a roast dinner.
I would probably ask whether there was a specific moment that prompted you to start training ambulance staff in resuscitation.
I would probably ask whether there was a specific moment that prompted you to start training ambulance staff in resuscitation.
Reply 10
ooh I'm not sure. probably sally ride, if it's a stem figure from the past, or dame maggie aderin-pocock, if it's a stem figure from the present. I'm not sure what we would eat, nor do I really mind. if I were to ask sally ride something, it would probably be what space was like, and if I were to ask dame maggie aderin-pocock something, it would be something about what inspired her, or about her opinion on anything space-related. honestly it would just be nice to have a chat with them, not necessarily to find out something specific.
Reply 11
Original post
by 5hyl33nBritish Science Week is taking place on The Student Room from 6 March to 15 March, and everyone is welcome to take part. We have lots of threads running throughout the week, and this if you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? thread is one of them.
Be sure to check the British Science Week 2026: Hub Thread to see other threads for you to take part in.
And remember, if you post in at least 15 threads by 31 March, you will also receive a British Science Week Certificate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'll go first...
I would like to dine with Indra Nooyi. She is an Indian born American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. I'd probably go for Indian cuisine. Shocking, I know! I think I would ask her what it was like growing up with the expectations that often come with being part of an Indian family and whether that influenced the path she took in her career.
Your turn...
If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? If you were choosing the restaurant, what cuisine would you go for? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
Be sure to check the British Science Week 2026: Hub Thread to see other threads for you to take part in.
And remember, if you post in at least 15 threads by 31 March, you will also receive a British Science Week Certificate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'll go first...
I would like to dine with Indra Nooyi. She is an Indian born American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. I'd probably go for Indian cuisine. Shocking, I know!
I think I would ask her what it was like growing up with the expectations that often come with being part of an Indian family and whether that influenced the path she took in her career. Your turn...
If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? If you were choosing the restaurant, what cuisine would you go for? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
Honestly no matter who I was with I'd be too shy to ask any questions and there'd have been no point 😁
I also don't have a clue. Someone deeply excited about something I am interested in, like clouds or planets or space or rocks, and doesn't get too cocky about it. Sadly I can't think of any names because I don't really look at names when I look things up 😔
Reply 12
Original post
by 5hyl33nBritish Science Week is taking place on The Student Room from 6 March to 15 March, and everyone is welcome to take part. We have lots of threads running throughout the week, and this if you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? thread is one of them.
Be sure to check the British Science Week 2026: Hub Thread to see other threads for you to take part in.
And remember, if you post in at least 15 threads by 31 March, you will also receive a British Science Week Certificate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'll go first...
I would like to dine with Indra Nooyi. She is an Indian born American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. I'd probably go for Indian cuisine. Shocking, I know! I think I would ask her what it was like growing up with the expectations that often come with being part of an Indian family and whether that influenced the path she took in her career.
Your turn...
If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? If you were choosing the restaurant, what cuisine would you go for? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
Be sure to check the British Science Week 2026: Hub Thread to see other threads for you to take part in.
And remember, if you post in at least 15 threads by 31 March, you will also receive a British Science Week Certificate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'll go first...
I would like to dine with Indra Nooyi. She is an Indian born American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. I'd probably go for Indian cuisine. Shocking, I know!
I think I would ask her what it was like growing up with the expectations that often come with being part of an Indian family and whether that influenced the path she took in her career. Your turn...
If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? If you were choosing the restaurant, what cuisine would you go for? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
If I could dine with anyone it would likely be Elizebeth Smith Friedman, she was one of the first female cryptanalysts in America who supported in breaking ciphers in both wars, often called the mother of cryptology. Her work helped unmask Nazi spies, rumrunners, mobsters and her accomplishments were hidden for a while in history by Edgar Hoover sadly. She is an icon in the cyber world. I think I would take her to a greek restaurant as she knew many languages including Latin, Greek and German!
Aura, Uni of Staffs, Comp Sci Rep
Original post
by 5hyl33nBritish Science Week is taking place on The Student Room from 6 March to 15 March, and everyone is welcome to take part. We have lots of threads running throughout the week, and this if you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? thread is one of them.
Be sure to check the British Science Week 2026: Hub Thread to see other threads for you to take part in.
And remember, if you post in at least 15 threads by 31 March, you will also receive a British Science Week Certificate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'll go first...
I would like to dine with Indra Nooyi. She is an Indian born American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. I'd probably go for Indian cuisine. Shocking, I know! I think I would ask her what it was like growing up with the expectations that often come with being part of an Indian family and whether that influenced the path she took in her career.
Your turn...
If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? If you were choosing the restaurant, what cuisine would you go for? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
Be sure to check the British Science Week 2026: Hub Thread to see other threads for you to take part in.
And remember, if you post in at least 15 threads by 31 March, you will also receive a British Science Week Certificate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'll go first...
I would like to dine with Indra Nooyi. She is an Indian born American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. I'd probably go for Indian cuisine. Shocking, I know!
I think I would ask her what it was like growing up with the expectations that often come with being part of an Indian family and whether that influenced the path she took in her career. Your turn...
If you could dine with any STEM figure, who would it be? If you were choosing the restaurant, what cuisine would you go for? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
Otto Hahn, the pioneer of nuclear fission. He made atomic bombs like 'Fat Man' on Nagasaki and 'Little Boy' on Hiroshima possible. As far as I know he had thoughts about suicide. I really would like to know what he felt and think of about presence. Same goes for Robert Oppenheimer, the one who was responsible for 'Manhattan Project'. German and American cuisine are fine to me, as long as I really like the food.
Original post
by KierannosaurusHonestly no matter who I was with I'd be too shy to ask any questions and there'd have been no point 😁
I also don't have a clue. Someone deeply excited about something I am interested in, like clouds or planets or space or rocks, and doesn't get too cocky about it. Sadly I can't think of any names because I don't really look at names when I look things up 😔
I also don't have a clue. Someone deeply excited about something I am interested in, like clouds or planets or space or rocks, and doesn't get too cocky about it. Sadly I can't think of any names because I don't really look at names when I look things up 😔
I wonder if someone who reads this thread can suggest a few names for you based on those interests.
Lots of amazing people have been mentioned in this thread so far! Keep the answers coming!
Original post
by The_Lonely_GoatherdI'd love to sit down with Rosalind Franklin and chat to her. My understanding is that some male scientists took the glory for her DNA-related discoveries. I've always thought that sucked and wondered how that would have made her feel
It is said that her photo no. 51 was given to Francis and Crick without her agreement. The photo that gave them the idea for the molecular structure of DNA. Her name has never been mentioned in context with her discoveries. Not in her professional environment and not even at the nobel prize ceremony. Insofar I can confirm your understanding.
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 17
I'd like to meet Dorothy Vaughan (African American mathematician)
She became acting supervisor of the West Area Computers, the first African-American woman to receive a promotion and supervise a group of staff at the centre!
She later was promoted officially to the position of supervisor. During her 28-year career, Vaughan prepared for the introduction of computers in the early 1960s by teaching herself and her staff the Fortran programming language. She later headed the programming section of the Analysis and Computation Division (ACD) at Langley.
She became acting supervisor of the West Area Computers, the first African-American woman to receive a promotion and supervise a group of staff at the centre!
She later was promoted officially to the position of supervisor. During her 28-year career, Vaughan prepared for the introduction of computers in the early 1960s by teaching herself and her staff the Fortran programming language. She later headed the programming section of the Analysis and Computation Division (ACD) at Langley.
Reply 18
Labov (linguist. I kind-of consider linguistics to be STEM because it's treated so scientifically, ikywim?)
I looove Labov. His papers, his theories, they're just all so perfect. He's come up with the personal experience narrative model (which I used in my original writing!)- he's researched on regional variations in language a whole lot, which personally interests me because i speak a very strong regional dialect of english - he studied AAVE and argued that it should be respected as equal to other englishes, which is now (obviously) a normal belief, supporting the world englishes argument in linguistics. His research is very-well done and fascinating. I would reccomend anybody with a slight interest in linguistics or accents read some of his works. He only died in 2024!
I would have chosen chomsky before this but he's in the files! but guess who isn't... yes, labov
I looove Labov. His papers, his theories, they're just all so perfect. He's come up with the personal experience narrative model (which I used in my original writing!)- he's researched on regional variations in language a whole lot, which personally interests me because i speak a very strong regional dialect of english - he studied AAVE and argued that it should be respected as equal to other englishes, which is now (obviously) a normal belief, supporting the world englishes argument in linguistics. His research is very-well done and fascinating. I would reccomend anybody with a slight interest in linguistics or accents read some of his works. He only died in 2024!
I would have chosen chomsky before this but he's in the files! but guess who isn't... yes, labov
Reply 19
Marie Curie! I went to her museum in Paris and she seemed so interesting. I'd love to eat some traditional French food in a Parisian bistro in her local area and find out more about her life and how her work shaped her. Also, asking her what it was like to be the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (and first person to win a Nobel Prize twice!).
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