Angeles Alvariño
Meet Angeles Alvariño, a Biologist born in 1916, was an imposing woman who discovered 22 new marine species. In the beginning, she wanted to be a doctor; however, her father kept on telling her not to, so she went
to college, where she studied natural sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, languages, world literature, history, geography, philosophy, psychology, logic, and art history. However, the university closed in 1936 and remained closed during the Spanish Civil War until it opened again in 1939. After that, Alvariño taught biology, zoology, botany, and geology at various colleges in El Ferrol. Then in 1940, Alvariño married Sir Eugenio Leira Manso, an officer in the Royal Navy of Spain and a Knight. After earning her degree, Alvariño taught biology, zoology, botany, and geology at various colleges in El Ferrol. Later on, She moved to Madrid to continue her studies at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography. Still, the institute banned women from going there, which was an ancient rule, mind you. However, she got into the institute's biological, physical, and chemical oceanography courses due to her meeting all the qualifications. She was allowed to begin her research there. That was where she earned her doctoral certificate in chemistry. Because the institute is a part of the Spanish navy, Alvariño received an honorary military captain. Later in her life, she became an expert on zooplankton and discovered more about carnivorous plankton; she even started designing plankton nets. In the end, 12 new Chaetognatha species, nine new Siphonophora species, and a new medusa. Alvariño's research at Scripps got her a doctor of sciences degree summa cum laude in 1967.
What I found even more fascinating is that She also established the worldwide three-dimensional distribution of various species of chaetognaths and siphonophores. She also coordinated marine research for Hispano-American countries. She held Antarctic research grants between 1979 and 1982. To top it all off, she has published more than 100 original scientific books, book chapters, and journal articles and received the Great Silver Medal of Galicia. She was indeed an impressive woman to who I now give much respect. Many things were holding her back, but she went through it. She survived. She dealt with sexism and a whole WAR holding her back for three years, but she dealt with it. She didn't let that hurt her. She did her work and still was highly successful. That shows how patient she was throughout all of that. She probably complained about it, but she still dealt with it calmly, something I know I wouldn't be able to do. She was indeed someone who impacted the maritime and biology community, which is why I chose to choose her for this project.
https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plankton/angeles-alvarino-woman-many-namesakes
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