Barbie creates doll to represent British COVID-19 vaccine developer

Sarah Gilbert is already a household name in many parts of the world as the co-developer of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

[Aug 4, 2021: The Brighter Side of News]

Sarah Gilbert, a 59-year-old professor at Oxford University, is already a household name in many parts of the world as the co-developer of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

She can now add one more accolade to her credit as she shares an exceedingly rare honor with Beyoncé, Marilyn Monroe and Eleanor Roosevelt: a Barbie doll in her likeness.

Toy maker Mattel Inc is recognizing six women in the Covid-19 fight with a line of Barbie "role model" dolls.

Gilbert's Barbie shares her long auburn hair and oversized black glasses, and she wears a sensible navy-blue pantsuit and white blouse.

"It's a very strange concept having a Barbie doll created in my likeness," Gilbert said in an interview for Mattel. "I hope it will be part of making it more normal for girls to think about careers in science."

Gilbert chose nonprofit organization WISE (Women in Science & Engineering), dedicated to inspiring girls to consider a career in STEM, to receive a financial donation from the toy maker.

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Joseph Shavit
Joseph ShavitSpace, Technology and Medical News Writer
Joseph Shavit is the head science news writer with a passion for communicating complex scientific discoveries to a broad audience. With a strong background in both science, business, product management, media leadership and entrepreneurship, Joseph possesses the unique ability to bridge the gap between business and technology, making intricate scientific concepts accessible and engaging to readers of all backgrounds.