Minerva Scientifica Birthday Celebration: Beatrix Potter
28th July 2024
Beatrix Potter
Mycologist
BORN 28th July 1866, London, England, UK
click the blue arrow above to listen
PODCAST SERIES Episode 20: A Famous Mycologist
“Women of Science & Music: 30 celebrations”
Beatrix Potter (1866 – 1943) Mycologist and Author
We all love Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin and others – but author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter, was also a scientist who made important discoveries. In her early years, she was passionately interested in mycology, studying fungi (mushrooms) and ferns with the help of a Scottish Postman!!! She was not treated well by some men scientists so she stopped her studies – a loss to mycology but a gain for children’s literature and conservation, as the money earned from her books allowed Beatrix Potter to leave a legacy for the protection of the countryside in the Lake District National Park!
SPEAKERS:
Catherine Booth – Science Historian and retired Science Curator, National Library of Scotland
Professor Lynne Boddy – Fungal Ecology Group, Cardiff University
MUSIC:
“Beatrix Potter and the Postman” (2018) by Frances M Lynch for unaccompanied voices and female and soloist; words by Frances M Lynch in collaboration with Catherine Booth; recorded at live performances by KILLIN, KENMORE and STROUD GREEN PRIMARY schools
“Without Fungi” (July 26th 2021) an acapella work in progress by Frances M Lynch in collaboration with Professor Lynne Boddy for female voices
One of Beatrix Potter’s Mycology drawings Source-Armitt Museum and Library
To find out more about Beatrix Potter please go to her page on the Minerva Scientifica Website https://minervascientifica.co.uk/beatrix-potter/
Click here to go back to the EVENTS calendar
Why not sign up to our newsletter for updates on what’s happening in 2021/22
Created by electric voice theatre, Minerva Scientifica is a project that brings together professional performers with community musicians and school children. Together, we raise awareness of the rich heritage and deep connections between music and science, and inspire the next generation of future scientists.
