Scientist of the Week
Dr. Josephine Tilden (24 March 1869 to15 May 1957) was one of the most enthusiastic and dedicated phycologist; indefatigable as a teacher, researcher, and bibliographer. She was born on March 24, 1869, in Davenport, Iowa, US. Tilden believed strongly in the equality of women and despite many obstacles never let her gender impede her from pursuing her remarkable career. Prof. Conway MacMillan introduced her to the world of algae at the University of Minnesota.
In 1894 she prepared and distributed the first 'Century (100 species) of her American Algae, an exsiccate that eventually included 32,500 specimens of both freshwater and marine taxa. Tilden had an uncanny skill for finding superb collecting sites. Perhaps the most famous of her sites is Botanical Beach, an area located near Port Renfrew. Here she established the world-famous 'Minnesota Seaside Station' where she conducted Marine biology courses during summer, which were popular among students from the land-locked midwest. During those days since it was considered improper for women to travel alone, Tilden was almost always accompanied by her mother for all her collection trips.
She later made collection trips with her friend Caroline Crosby and became known as 'limu ladies'. In 1909 and 1910 she, her mother, and 7 students went on a 15-month collection excursion to New Zealand, which was repeated again during 1912 - 1913. During 1915 - 1937 Tilden began an exhaustive comprehensive bibliographic card file " Index Algarum Universalis" that was distributed by subscription. This work has helped her to increase her grasp on the literature and consequently, her publications became more varied. Her interest in the economic use of seaweeds continued and she wrote on vitamins in algae.
It is worthwhile to note that she wrote the first American taxonomic guide to Bluegreen algae: The Myxophyceae of North America and Adjacent Regions. Josephine Tilden was an amazingly energetic dedicated and productive phycologist. She wrote 50 scientific articles, 3 books, and 2 major exsiccatae, and a bibliographic card index. Six Ph.D. and numerous master's students completed their degrees under her able guidance. She was a remarkably imaginative person who utilized intellectual companionship and travel to inspire all those around her.
Data compiled by: Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri, Principal Scientist & Divisional Chair, CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India.
Source Credit: "Prominent Phycologists of the 20th Century" by David J Garbary and Michael J. Wynne (Eds)
Read about other prominent Phycologists here
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