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). The 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.
The schools have their own pages on our women in science website alongside Isabella’s, including special songs they have written about Isabella and her work on crustaceans. You can find them on these links:
Aberdeen Zoological Museum Visit
A crab and lobster wall created by P4, Keith Primary School
The project’s final footsteps in Keith took place on the 18th May 2026
Electric Voice Theatre published our first book for children
“Isabella’s Footsteps“
written by
Catherine Booth with illustrations by Alexa Rutherford
If you would like to support Isabella’s Footsteps please click here for details of the many ways (some without cost!) you can help.
Electric Voice Theatre and the team from Isabella’s Footsteps celebrated the 125th Birthday of marine biologist Isabella Gordon OBE (1901-1988) with the people of Keith in Northeast Scotland. The celebrations linked with the Japanese Sakura Tree Project through the Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire who invited the Japanese Consul General to join us.
The events included Songs, Speeches, Cherry Tree Ceremonies, Plaque Unveilings and the launch of a beautifully illustrated booklet distributed free to all primary schools, libraries, history societies and other public buildings in Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen. You will find more information about the book on this link where you will also find a wealth of music and science resources.
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.
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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.
