Isabella Abbott
Encyclopedia
Isabella Aiona Abbott was an educator and ethnobotanist
from Hawaii
.
The first native Hawaiian woman to receive a PhD
in science
,
she became the leading expert on Pacific algae
.
, Territory of Hawaii
, on June 20, 1919. Her Hawaiian name means "white rain of Hana" and was known as "Izzy". Her father was ethnically Chinese while her mother's ancestry was predominantly Native Hawaiian. Her mother taught her about edible Hawaiian seaweeds.
She grew up in Honolulu, and graduated from Kamehameha Schools
in 1937. She received her undergraduate degree in botany
at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
in 1941, a master's degree in botany from the University of Michigan
in 1942, and a Ph.D from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1950.
She married zoologist
Donald Putnam Abbott (1920–1986), who had been a fellow student at the University of Hawaii as well as Berkeley.
The couple moved to Pacific Grove, California
where her husband taught at the Hopkins Marine Station
run by Stanford University
.
Since at that time women were rarely considered for academic posts, she spent time raising her daughter Annie Abbott Foerster, while studying the algae of the California coast. She adapted recipes to use the local Bull Kelp (Nereocystis
) in foods such as cakes and pickles.
, which later was expanded to include all of the California coast. In 1972 Stanford took the unusual step of promoting her directly to a full professor.
In 1982 both Abbotts retired and moved back to Hawaii, where she was hired by the University of Hawaii to study ethnobotany
, the interaction of humans and plants.
She authored eight books and over 150 publications.
She was considered the world's leading expert on Hawaiian seaweeds, known in the Hawaiian language
as limu
. She was credited with discovering over 200 species, with several named after her, including the Rhodomelaceae
family (red algae) genus of Abbottella. This has earned her the nickname "first lady of limu".
In 1997 she received the Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal
from the National Academy of Sciences
. In 2008 she received a lifetime achievement award from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources for her studies of coral reefs.
She was the G. P. Wilder Professor of Botany from 1980 until her retirement, and then was professor emerita of Botany at the University of Hawaii.
She served on the board of directors of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum.
In November 1997 she co-authored an essay in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
criticizing the trustees of Kamehameha Schools, which led to its reorganization.
In 2005, she was named a Living Treasure of Hawai'i.
Abbott died October 28, 2010 at the age of 91 at her home in Honolulu.
Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....
from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
The first native Hawaiian woman to receive a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
,
she became the leading expert on Pacific algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
.
Early life
Abbott was born Isabella Kauakea Yau Yung Aiona in Hana, MauiMaui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
, on June 20, 1919. Her Hawaiian name means "white rain of Hana" and was known as "Izzy". Her father was ethnically Chinese while her mother's ancestry was predominantly Native Hawaiian. Her mother taught her about edible Hawaiian seaweeds.
She grew up in Honolulu, and graduated from Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
in 1937. She received her undergraduate degree in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
in 1941, a master's degree in botany from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1942, and a Ph.D from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1950.
She married zoologist
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
Donald Putnam Abbott (1920–1986), who had been a fellow student at the University of Hawaii as well as Berkeley.
The couple moved to Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census...
where her husband taught at the Hopkins Marine Station
Hopkins Marine Station
Hopkins Marine Station is the marine laboratory of Stanford University. It is located ninety miles south of the university's main campus, in Pacific Grove, California on the Monterey Peninsula, adjacent to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is home to nine research laboratories and a fluctuating...
run by Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Since at that time women were rarely considered for academic posts, she spent time raising her daughter Annie Abbott Foerster, while studying the algae of the California coast. She adapted recipes to use the local Bull Kelp (Nereocystis
Nereocystis
Nereocystis is a genus of kelp. It forms thick beds on rocks, and is an important part of kelp forests. There is only one species, Nereocystis luetkeana. It can grow to a maximum of 74 meters...
) in foods such as cakes and pickles.
Career
In 1960 she started teaching summer classes as a lecturer at Hopkins. She compiled a book on Marine algae of the Monterey peninsulaMonterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula is located on the central California coast and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and unincorporated areas of Monterey County including the resort and community of Pebble Beach.-Monterey:...
, which later was expanded to include all of the California coast. In 1972 Stanford took the unusual step of promoting her directly to a full professor.
In 1982 both Abbotts retired and moved back to Hawaii, where she was hired by the University of Hawaii to study ethnobotany
Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....
, the interaction of humans and plants.
She authored eight books and over 150 publications.
She was considered the world's leading expert on Hawaiian seaweeds, known in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
as limu
Limu (algae)
Limu is the Hawaiian word for algae. There are approximately one hundred Hawaiian names for kinds of limu, sixty of which can be matched with scientific names. Limu played an important part in the ancient Hawaiian diet. It was used to add flavor to an otherwise particularly bland diet of kalo ,...
. She was credited with discovering over 200 species, with several named after her, including the Rhodomelaceae
Rhodomelaceae
Rhodomelaceae is estimated to be the largest red algae family, with about 125 genera and over 700 species....
family (red algae) genus of Abbottella. This has earned her the nickname "first lady of limu".
In 1997 she received the Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal
Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal
The Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "in recognition of excellence in published research on marine or freshwater algae." It has been awarded every three years since 1979....
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. In 2008 she received a lifetime achievement award from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources for her studies of coral reefs.
She was the G. P. Wilder Professor of Botany from 1980 until her retirement, and then was professor emerita of Botany at the University of Hawaii.
She served on the board of directors of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum.
In November 1997 she co-authored an essay in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
criticizing the trustees of Kamehameha Schools, which led to its reorganization.
In 2005, she was named a Living Treasure of Hawai'i.
Abbott died October 28, 2010 at the age of 91 at her home in Honolulu.