Today’s Google Doodle recognized the works of Argentine marine biologist Irene Bernasconi as the first Argentine woman, Bernasconi led a marine biological expedition in Antarctica on this day in 1968.
The sculpted artwork shows Bernasconi examining and making notes on starfish on a beach.
Who was Irene Bernasconi?
Bernasconi was born in La Plata, Argentina on 29 September 1896. She became a teacher in 1918, specializing in natural studies, and began working at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences in the early 20s.
She later rose to prominence as Argentina’s first echinoderm expert. Although she published her first piece of original research on mollusks and other marine invertebrates in 1925, her career was mostly devoted to studying sea stars.
The taxonomy of several sea star families, including Pterasteridae, Luidiidae, Odontoceridae, Gonisasteridae, Ganeriidae, Asterinidae, and Echinasteridae, was also reviewed by Bernasconi during the course of her career.
When recruited to lead a scientific team to Antarctica in 1968, Bernasconi was 72 years old. Along with her on the excursion were three other female scientists: botanist Carmen Pujals, marine biologist Elena Martinez Fontes, and microbiology Maria Adela Caria.
More than 2,000 echinoderm specimens as well as plant life and other living samples were gathered by Bernasconi and her crew during the voyage. They made a brand-new echinoderm family discovery.
They gathered their samples by setting up nets and hooks in extremely chilly seas while wearing diving gear.
The team received a memorial medal in 1969 from the Embassy of Women in America.
