The scientific community mourns the loss of Dr Nancy Lane Perham OBE, a trailblazing electron microscopist and cell biologist whose passionate advocacy for women in science left an indelible mark on generations of students. She died at the age of 89.
From Halifax to Cambridge: A Scientific Journey
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nancy was the daughter of Frances, a journalist, and Temple Lane, a civil servant. Her scientific ambition was challenged early on at Queen Elizabeth High School, where she was informed that women could only aspire to be lab technicians, not scientists. Undeterred, she pursued her passion, graduating in cell biology from Dalhousie University in 1958 before earning a master's degree.
Her academic excellence was recognised with the prestigious Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire scholarship and the Governor General’s Gold Medal. This enabled her to undertake doctoral studies at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where she completed her DPhil in 1963. A postdoctoral position at Yale University followed, where she met fellow scientist Richard Perham. They married in 1969.
A Cambridge Legacy: Research, Teaching, and Advocacy
After moving to Britain in 1970, Nancy joined the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge while her husband worked in biochemistry. She became a fellow of Girton College, helping to usher in a new era with her outspoken and flamboyant presence. Over her career, she authored more than 100 scientific papers, specialising in cell interactions.
Her impact extended far beyond her research. Perham was a dedicated teacher whose enthusiasm for biology and steadfast support for her students' careers, especially those of women, created a lifelong influence. She translated this commitment into systemic change, becoming the first director of the Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative in Cambridge.
She played a key role in establishing and running the UK-wide Athena Swan Project, a charter dedicated to advancing the careers of women in STEM. In recognition of her services to science, she was appointed OBE in 1994.
Art and Science: A Creative Fusion
Nancy Perham's talents were not confined to the laboratory. She was also an accomplished artist, working in oils and acrylics to create artistic interpretations of cellular structures and interactions. Her scientific art graced the covers of journals and was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art's summer exhibition in 1995.
Her husband, Richard, died in 2015. Nancy is survived by her two children, Quentin and the author of the original obituary, her two grandchildren, Isabella and Tristan, and her sisters, Elise and Susan.
