Patricia Clarke Dies

British biochemist Patricia Clarke died last month, reports the Guardian. She was 90. Clarke studied microbial biochemistry at University College London and one of her major projects looked into toxins made by Clostridium oedomatiens. Clarke was part of a committee that recommended steps to encourage women to pursue science. "[For women,] children are not an impossible barrier to successful careers in science, but it does help to have flexibility in conditions of employment and good childcare and nursery provision," Clarke wrote in the Guardian after the recommendations came out in 1994. "High standard nursery education benefits the whole national economy by avoiding the loss of all qualified people.