Friday 9 December 2016

Ladies Who Lab Alphabet: B is for…

Botany!!


This post is all about Jeanne Baret. This remarkable ‘lady who labs’ is an 18th century scientist famous for her work in the field of Botany. Now I am not a biologist but I know enough to see how badass Jeanne was.

Jeanne Baret is possibly most known for being the first lady to circumnavigate the globe-a feat made even more notable due to her having to disguise herself as a man. In 1766 no females were allowed on French ships but that did not stop Jeanne’s thirst for knowledge. She is a total rockstar! Baret’s choice to lie in order to obtain permission to board the ship was a controversial move on her part and it seems that in her personal life the controversy continued.

During the expedition Jeanne worked as an assistant to Philibert Commerson-a famous naturalist. They both managed to collect over 6000 specimens and classify hundreds of plants. Definitely behind every famous man is an even better lady! Even though Commerson has over 70 species of plants named after him there is but only one names after Jeanna Baret, a nightshade called Solanum Baretiae.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/apr/08/jeanne-baret-tribute-solanum-baretiae                 
Some places Baret visited:
Rio de Janeiro 

Montevideo

Patagonia

Tahiti

I feel I can relate to Jeanne Baret in a way as I’m also very dedicated to learning more about my field. She definitely inspires us as she shows that women can do anything if they work hard at it.


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28 comments

  1. Wow Jean sounds like a really inspirational lady, such a shame that more is not known about her!

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    1. Oooh auto correct fail! Jeanne!

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    2. It saddens me that she isn't as famous as other people as she really had to go through so much

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  2. Love the comment about behind every successful man is a women (or something similar) because it's usually very true

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    1. It is! So many other famous and award winning male scientists had the help from females but no one seems to have heard of them

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  3. What an adventure Jeanne Baret must have had circumnavigating the globe on a ship full of men, having to keep her identity as a woman disguised!

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    1. I know! I don't think I would have had the courage to do that

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  4. Jeanne Baret is a name I have heard of but until this post, I wasnt sure why x

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  5. Gosh I can't even imagine disguising myself as a man for any length of time but fair play to her and what she achieved. Mich x

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    1. I know, I really couldn't have done it!Thankfully we live in different times

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  6. I love this series you are doing, it's so great you are highlighting such inspirational women! xo

    http://rachelnicole.co.uk/

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  7. I've never heard of Jeanne Baret before but love the fact that she shows us women can achieve pretty much anything we want x

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  8. Ooh what an interesting series, I hadn't heard of this lady before!

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  9. Jeanne sounds like a great character and brave, such an inspiration.

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  10. OMG she was a brave one disguising herself as a man, good for her. Sounds like an interesting person.

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  11. I can't believe she had to disguise herself as a man, that's dedication for something you love x

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  12. I have heard of so many women who had to disguise themselves as men so that they could pursue their dreams. even though its sad at one point, but the dedication is just super AMAZING!

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  13. Love the idea of this book - I'm going to have to get this for my daughter I think!

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  14. Really like the sound of this book. I think my neices would love it.

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  15. Glad to see this is one birthday pressie you are enjoying! ;) It's amazing how many female scientists are relatively unheard of, compared with all the successful male scientists we are familiar with - great post and series, keep it up! :)

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  16. Never heard of her before but sounds like she was amazing if they collected over 6000 specimens! What a feat!

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  17. She is so brave and definitely an early version of a feminist. I love that she disguised herself as a male to bush the boundaries of science.

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  18. Very inspirational! I'm actually a biologist myself and feel inspired by this post! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  19. What an amazing lady - I have never heard of her so thanks for sharing. Kaz x

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  21. I've never heard of her either but she sounds like a fascinating lady and a real badass! It makes me so angry how much women have been sidelined in science over the centuries.

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  22. She sounds like an amazing lady. What an inspirational story, one that makes me think anything is possible

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  23. I love this! We don't celebrate smart women enough. My boyfriend had a Christmas gift to buy for a 6 year-old and was trying to find a "sciency" gift instead of dolls or a hoover (yes I saw a mini hoover being sold as a gift for a 6-year-old, how infuriating). Was so proud of him :)
    Sandra x
    rustedbones.co.uk

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