Bank of England Wants a Scientist’s Image on New 50-Pound Notes

(Bloomberg) -- The Bank of England wants a scientist to feature on the new 50-pound note.

The public can nominate any scientist from any field -- including biology, chemistry and physics -- to become the face of U.K.’s brand new bills, the BOE said in a statement on Friday. The nomination process will be open for six weeks and Governor Mark Carney will make the final choice.

The new notes, made out of plastic, will be introduced after new 20-pound bills come in to circulation in 2020, the BOE said. Nineteenth-century artist JMW Turner will appear on those polymer bills. All British currency features the queen on the front.

Four scientists will work with the BOE’s Banknote Advisory Panel to make a shortlist from the nominations, and Carney will announce the final decision next year. With a scientist on the 50-pound ($65) bill, U.K. banknotes would have a wide-ranging representation to join icons from literature, statecraft and the arts, Carney said.

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