Diatoms of North AmericaA "Central Bureau of Feminine Algology:" Algae, mutualism, and gendered ecological perspectives
Description: Algologists provided distinct
contributions to the history of marine ecology, yet are rarely credited
in histories of ecology. During the period of 1890 to 1930, many women
algologists conducted research on the topics of marine algae and their
ecological requirements. This talk brings to light the hidden histories
of women algologists such as Anna Weber-van Bosse, Natalie Karsakoff,
Ethel Barton Gepp, and Anna Vickers. Through the lens of Weber-van
Bosse's archives, I uncover how these women formed a network of
algologists who studied and published on algae and supported each
others' careers. The network was transnational and included men
algolgists such as William A. Setchell, Marshall Howe, EĢdouard Bornet,
and Mikael Foslie. Weber-van Bosse, a central node of the network, was
particularly interested in symbiosis and studied algae in sloth fur, in
sponges, and in coral reefs (especially with her husband, Max W.C.
Weber). In the context of contemporary symbiosis studies and coral reef
work, I suggest that her algological contributions were key for
conceiving of reefs as living and drew from the social support networks
she created.
Audience: Anyone interested in the history of
science, the social and cultural context for the formation of ideas,
women in science, and histories of algology/phycology and/or ecology.
