A Science-Arts Project celebrating marine biologist Isabella Gordon (1901-1988)
“Isabella’s Footsteps” is a blended arts and science project celebrating Marine Biologist Isabella Gordon O.B.E. (1901-1988). An illegitimate daughter of poor parents, she rose to become an internationally renowned carcinologist (crustacean expert), consulted by eminent scientists, receiving an invitation for a high-profile meeting with the Japanese Emperor, Hirohito, a fellow marine biologist.
She was born in Keith, studied at Aberdeen University and worked as a principal Scientific Officer at the Natural History Museum, London which still holds her substantial archive. Her material legacy includes an extraordinary collection of crustacea, beautiful water colours of specimens, iconic photographs from her long career and invaluable scientific papers which are still proving useful today for scientists fighting to save our oceans’ eco-systems.
Made in Keith!
Isabella Gordon’s marine illustrations, love of limericks and proud use of the Scots language were rooted in the cultural heritage of her hometown, Keith, which was made the First Scots Toun in acknowledgement of their preservation of the language. The project continues the Scottish tradition of storytelling in song through songwriting and performing traditional tunes and the music of her contemporaries eg. Marie Dare, Isobel Dunlop, Helen Hopekirk and Shena Fraser.
The project took its first footsteps in September 2025 in Keith; delivering a public event with talks and music about Gordon, and a workshop series at Keith and Newmill Primary Schools; and in Aberdeen where our science historian, Catherine Booth visited the Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society as part of a day of research and collaboration including cross-departmental meetings at the university and an event at Midstocket Men’s Group.
Work on the project is ongoing and very soon the schools will have their own pages on our women in science website alongside Isabella’s (https://minervascientifica.co.uk/isabella-gordon/), including special songs they have written about Isabella and her work on crustaceans.
Aberdeen Zoological Museum Visit
A crab and lobster wall created by P4, Keith Primary School
“Isabella’s Footsteps” Book for Children is being written by
Catherine Booth with illustrations by Alexa Rutherford
Isabella’s Footsteps is an Electric Voice Theatre initiative in collaboration with Miranda Lowe C.B.E., Principal Crustacea Curator at the Natural History Museum and Gordon’s successor there.
Save the Date: 18th May 2026
We are planning a celebration of Isabella’s birthday in Keith which will involve music, limericks, readings, a little science and a presentation of a new book about her life and work to the children who’ve contributed so much already to the project. Look out for booking details which will be available on our events page shortly.
In addition, the beautifully illustrated book, which is well under way, will also be given free to all primary schools and libraries in the Moray and Aberdeen districts.
Want to know more?
It’s important that Isabella Gordon’s story is widely accessible – we are currently updating online information about her on our own sites as well as on public and scientific sites. If you would like to know more about Isabella’s life and work you can visit her page on our sister site https://minervascientifica.co.uk/isabella-gordon/ where you will find a podcast, music and more links and details about her work and life. To receive updates about the project and all the resources as they become available please subscribe to our newsletter.
To receive updates about the project and all the resources as they become available please subscribe to our newsletter.
If you would like to support Isabella’s Footsteps please click here for details of the many ways (some without cost!) you can help.
