A magnificent woman that never gave up on her dreams. A mother not only for her family, but for an entire botanic society founded by her. Being the only Brazilian to collect certain titles, having tons of plants named after her and becoming an international reference – being too old is not a concept she understands. The story of Graziela Maciel Barroso: pioneering botanist and woman in science.

From the household life to the pioneering life.

Born in 1912, Brazil, Graziela Maciel Barroso became the reference point for botany, writing two books used for forming and specialising students in universities, inside and outside Brazil. Furthermore, she is the only person in Brazil who won the Millenium Botany Award in the USA.

“[The man] is not capable of looking at a flowery tree and feel respect for it.”

– Graziela Maciel Barroso

Graziela married at 16 years of age, before being able to finish school, and assumed the role in a traditional Brazilian family, raising her kids and doing house work. Her husband was an agronomist (translation- an expert in the science of soil management and crop production) and took the family to trips around the whole country, so she never had an opportunity to stay and study and even less of a chance to work. But this never restricted her curiosity and she got involved in her husband’s work which was something she was passionate about. 

Graziela Maciel Barroso: pioneering botanist and woman in science.

Graziela Maciel Barroso

When she was 30 years old, after her kids had grown up, she applied for a place to work in the Botanic Garden in Rio de Janeiro. They didn’t ask for a university degree at the time, so she didn’t have any trouble applying for the job. 

“[…] there were five man, and I was the only woman. There were five places. The man thought it was barbaric for a woman to take the exam. I did and did well, I went with the second higher score.”

– Graziela Maciel Barroso

The research and teaching path.

After her husband passed away in 1949, Graziela continued his work, guiding and teaching new interns. In 1959 she finally took the entrance exam for a university for biology course, (which she nailed) being placed 10 out of 140 people, at 47 years of age. All her colleagues were surprised that she chose to continue her education, since she already had enough knowledge in the area, but she did. And that too right up to the top, getting her doctorate in her 60s.

Graziela Maciel Barroso: pioneering botanist and woman in science.
Graziela Maciel Barroso

She taught for more than 50 years and educated all the botanic scientists at the time with an approach that couldn’t be contained in any book. That being said, she wrote not only the book “Systematics of angiosperms in Brazil”, now widely used in universities, but more than 60 articles, including ones for international scientific magazines. Her focus was to guide students in unexplored areas, so when she had too many students in one area, she moved on to the next. 

So well equipped with knowledge, her students helped her classify endemic species from the Atlantic Biome that cover the Brazilian littoral. (If you like how this is going, check out the story of Janaki Ammal, another badass botanist.)

Her fight.

In her last years she expressed her strong feeling against the threats towards nature in the country, criticising the low investment from the government in protective national institutions. She also fought ballooners and helped prevent fires in the Atlantic Biome. Since there was no environment law at the time, her only weapon was her dialog.

Grazielodendron riodocensis, a plant named after Graziela Maciel Barroso: pioneering botanist and woman in science.

Grazielodendron riodocensis, a plant named after Graziela Maciel Barroso.
 

“More consciousness. I think the key to save the little we have is education. […] The man is the most depriving being. It’s a shame. He doesn’t understand he belongs to the environment, not that he owns it.”

– Graziela Maciel Barroso

Unfortunately, the Brazilian government, at the time, and even now, doesn’t apply any kind of punishment for people that destroy the environment. Graziela Maciel Barroso passed away in 2013, but together with a lot of other women and men, she defended all she could with her might. Brazil still places many environmental atrocities that kills and extinguishes the five biomes it contains. As the incredible and hardworking botanic said, it’s really a shame.

Graziela’s work and purpose live on and stand as relevant as always, translating into a legacy we must uphold. The fight that Graziela put up throughout her life, to educate herself and others tells us of a fire inside of her that was truly untameable. Her life is proof that neither age nor gender is a restriction, definitely not for the mind. So, using her as an example, remove the idea that you can be limited from your mind.

The realest example of ‘boundaries are made to be broken’ and ‘ it’s never too late to do what you love’, Graziela’s story teaches us what it means to be unstoppable and fearless in your pursuits. So, although we never had the privilege of sitting in on her classes, let us take this lesson from her, girls. Be as fierce and unstoppable as you can. Be a force of nature. It’s a serpentining road, but we’re going to make it. You cannot be stopped and you most definitely won’t stand limited. Go ahead, show the world,

“Women in Science? Shocker, we exist!” 🙂

If you like this post, you might also like some of our work too!

Subscribe to help us keep you updated each time we post something new!

Reference: 1

Note: Hannah is a non traditional student who is a constant learner in the truest sense of the word. Also, we know you couldn’t tell but English is only her second language! (wow.) Her travels and experiences make her one of the most unique contributors to this blog and we are so excited to have her be a part of our cause. Broaden your horizons. Talk to people you wouldn’t normally. The amount you will learn is unfathomable. Support women in your field all across the world. It’s the only way to open up the table to louder female voices. Empowered women empower women. xTeamMilkshakeFromMars