UK public urged to recommend scientist for new 50-pound note

AP  |  London 

The of England on Friday asked the public to submit nominations of prominent British scientists to appear on a new 50 note.

said the figure can come from any field of science but "I have ruled out economists."

The current 50 note (worth USD 65) features steam-engine pioneers and

The UK's highest-denomination note is the last to be redesigned and switched from paper to more secure and durable polymer.

There's no shortage of individuals to nominate. From Stephen Hawking, who died in March, to Dorothy Hodgkin, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964.

Suggestions can be made on the bank's website until December 14.

A committee will create a shortlist from the recommendations, and Carney will make the final choice next year.

The says the individual must be dead, and real to avoid a repeat of the process that saw the public choose "Boaty McBoatface" for a new research ship.

The is converting its notes into plastic to make them harder to counterfeit.

A new 10-note with went into circulation last year, and a 20-pound note featuring JMW Turner will be produced in 2020.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, November 02 2018. 17:10 IST