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December 22, 2012
Srinivasa Ramanujan's 125th Birthday
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Srinivasa Ramanujan was an Indian mathematician who lived during the British Rule in India. Though he had almost no formal training in pure mathematics, he made substantial contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions, including solutions to mathematical problems then considered unsolvable.
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Dec 28, 2012
Leonardo Torres Quevedo's 160th Birthday
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Leonardo Torres y Quevedo was a Spanish civil engineer and mathematician of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Quevedo was a pioneer in the development of the radio control and automated calculation machines, the inventor of a chess automaton, and a innovative designer of the three-lobed non-rigid Astra-Torres airship and the Whirlpool Aero Car located in Niagara Falls. With his Telekine, Torres-Quevedo created wireless remote-control operation principles. He was also a famous speaker of Esperanto.
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Jan 21, 2013
Emma Gad's 161th Birthday
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Emma Gad, born Emma Halkier, was a Danish writer and socialite who wrote plays and books that were often satirical. Although she was a prolific writer, many of her works fell into obscurity after her death. One work that remained popular was Takt og Tone, a book of etiquette she wrote in old age.
She received a gold Medal of Merit in 1905. Today her plays are preserved in Denmark's Royal Library.
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January 25, 2011
Robert Burns Day
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Robert Burns, also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is in a "light Scots dialect" of English, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these writings his political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest.
He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world. Celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature. In 2009 he was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public in a vote run by Scottish television channel STV.
As well as making original compositions, Burns also collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His poem [and song] "Auld Lang Syne" is often sung at Hogmanay [the last day of the year], and "Scots Wha Hae" served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well known across the world today include "A Red, Red Rose", "A Man's a Man for A' That", "To a Louse", "To a Mouse", "The Battle of Sherramuir", "Tam o' Shanter" and "Ae Fond Kiss".
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January 25, 2012
Vladmir Vysotsky's 74th Birthday
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ladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky, was a Soviet singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, had an immense and enduring effect on Soviet culture. He became widely known for his unique singing style and for his lyrics, which featured social and political commentary in often humorous street-jargon. He was also a prominent stage- and screen-actor. Though the official Soviet cultural establishment largely ignored his work, he achieved remarkable fame during his lifetime, and to this day exerts significant influence on many of Russia's popular musicians and actors years after his death.
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January 25, 2011
Tom Jobim's Birthday
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Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim [25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994], also known as Tom Jobim, was a Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger and singer. Considered one of the great exponents of Brazilian music, Jobim internationalized bossa nova and, with the help of important American artists, merged it with jazz in the 1960s to create a new sound with popular success. As such he is sometimes known as the "father of bossa nova".
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Mar 2, 2021
Wangdee Nima [Wang Tae]'s 96th Birthday
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Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Thai musician Wangdee Nima, a performer affectionately known by his stage name Wang Tae.
Born on this day in central Thailand in 1925, Wang Tae inherited a love for music from his parents, both of whom were performers of traditional Thai folk genres. As a child, he became a specialist in Lam Tad, a style of music that originated in his home region. This popular folk genre brings groups of men and women together to alternate singing improvised humorous lyrics to elicit laughs from the audience, all set against the background of instruments like the Klong Ramana, a traditional Thai hand drum.
Wang Tae soon established his own troupe, eponymously named “Lam Tad Wang Te,” which earned him national recognition and widespread appeal. Renowned for his clever lyrics with his cunning use of double entendres, Wang Tae was a true master of the Thai language whose witty performances brought smiles to the faces of audiences across Thailand for close to forty years.
In 1988, Wang Tae was named a National Artist of Thailand, an annual prize awarded by the National Culture Commission of Thailand to the country’s most prestigious performing artists.
Happy birthday, Wangdee Nima!
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Apr 7, 2022
Charlotte Maxeke's 151st Birthday
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Today’s Doodle, illustrated by South Africa-based artist Pola Maneli, celebrates the life and 151st birthday of Mama Charlotte Maxeke. Widely known as the mother of Black Freedom in South Africa, she was a scholar, an evangelist and a torchbearer for Black South African women’s rights.
Charlotte Manye Maxeke was born in 1871 in the small town of Fort Beaufort, situated in today’s Eastern Cape province. She eventually found herself following in her parents’ footsteps—her mother was a teacher, her father a preacher. By age 20, Maxeke was invited to sing and tour Britain with the African Jubilee Choir; during this experience she made connections that inspired her to travel to the United States.
She eventually earned a bachelor degree from the Wilberforce University in 1903 and is recognized as the first Black South African woman to graduate from the school, as well as the first with a university degree from America. While in school, Maxeke excelled in many fields of study and was lectured by renowned Pan-Africanist scholar, W.E.B. DuBois.
After returning to South Africa, Maxeke settled in Johannesburg and became involved in the country’s political and social rights movements. She attended the launch of the South African Native National Congress [SANCC] in Bloemfontein in 1912. As an avid opponent of the dompas, a pass which regulated and limited the freedom of Black South Africans [especially women], Maxeke helped organize the anti-dompas movement in 1913. She also founded the Bantu Women’s League of the SANCC in 1918.
Over the next 25 years, Charlotte Maxeke continued her efforts as a tireless leader and advocate for women’s rights. She worked with others across race and class, oftentimes remembered as “everyone’s friend and no one’s enemy.”
Happy birthday, Charlotte Maxeke!
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Mar 27, 2022
Mother's Day 2022 [March 27] [Nigeria, United Kingdom]
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March 21, 2016
Nowruz 2016
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A new day. A fresh start. The return of the sun. Nowruz or نوروز literally means "new day" in Persian, and is celebrated in countries around the world, including Iran, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Nowruz celebrates the Vernal Equinox when the day is evenly split between light and night.
Special pastries, nuts, fruit, and fresh flowers, are popular today with additional variations by region. In parts of Iran and Azerbaijan, colored eggs, bonfires, and red ribbons signal the coming of the sun and new birth.
We hope today's freshly-painted Doodle by Alyssa Winans helps start your Nowruz with the beauty of the season to come.
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Apr 30, 2022
Teachers' Day 2022 [April 30] [Paraguay]
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May 1, 2022
Labour Day 2022 [Brazil, Sweden, Germany, France]
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May 2, 2022
Celebrating Elijah McCoy
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Today’s Doodle celebrates the birthday of Elijah McCoy, a Black Canadian-American engineer and inventor who revolutionized train efficiency with his inventions. He held 57 patents in his lifetime, most of which were related to locomotives and railways.
In 1837, McCoy’s parents bravely escaped a life of enslavement in Kentucky through the Underground Railroad and sought freedom in Canada. Elijah was born in Colchester, Ontario and returned to the U.S. with his family at a young age. He grew up with a passion for problem-solving, mechanics, and trains. At age 15, he decided to further his education in the field and moved to Edinburgh, Scotland to become a mechanical engineer apprentice.
Upon his return, McCoy settled in Michigan as opportunities to find work in Canada were very limited. In 1866, Black Americans faced rampant racial discrimination, which made finding a job that aligned with his level of experience in mechanical engineering extremely difficult. He joined the Michigan Central Railroad as a fireman and oiler, and quickly identified how inefficient it was to have to stop trains every few miles in order to manually lubricate their engines.
Six years into his role, McCoy addressed this issue by inventing what was colloquially known as an “oil-drip cup.” The cup caused oil to steadily flow around the engine without needing to stop the train. Consequently, McCoy obtained his first patent, “Improvement in Lubricators for Steam Engines.” Future variations of his invention were later used to revolutionize oil-drilling and mining equipment along with construction and factory tools.
McCoy continued to design new inventions while working as a consultant to engineering companies, including patents for a lawn sprinkler and ironing board. He eventually founded the Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company in 1920, which produced lubrication devices displaying his name.
In 2001, Elijah McCoy was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio and has a dedicated exhibit in the Detroit Historical Museum. McCoy’s innovations and ingenuity kept trains chugging and have laid the tracks for the well-oiled machines of today.
Happy birthday, Elijah McCoy!
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May 2, 2016
Mario Miranda’s 90th birthday
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Mario Miranda was a beloved cartoonist best known for his works in the Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly of India. Based primarily on the bustling cityscape of Mumbai, Miranda’s works often feature complex, multi-layered scenes. Humanity floods the canvas and yet each character maintains their individuality.
Our guest Doodler today is Aaron Renier, another artist known for portraying large crowds. “I approached Mario’s work by pretending I was drawing with him,” says Renier. “I chose his most popular style, very flat with criss-crossing interactions.” In this homage to Miranda, we see a rich litany of people, each unique in their perspective. “That is what I liked most about his work,” Renier explains, “trying to pick out who knows who, who's watching who, who's annoyed by who, who's enamored by who. Hopefully people will see something of [Miranda’s] spirit in it.”
Mario Miranda’s works live on throughout India, and on what would have been his 90th birthday, we honor his legacy.
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May 1, 2016
Labour Day 2016
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Labour Day is a public holiday honoring the many achievements of labor unions since the 1800s — in particular, the 8 hour working day. Reasonable wages, breaks, and paid vacation are all important to a fair and healthy economy. In some places, people spend the day protesting current labor conditions, attending public demonstrations, and events. Others attend festivals, concerts, or get together with family and friends. Some just spend the day not working.
The day originated in the United States during the Labour Movement that started in the state of Illinois. Now, it's observed in over 90 countries worldwide.
Happy Labour Day, however you celebrate it.
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May 1, 2017
First of May - Maypole 2017
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Happy May Day! Revelers in various regions of Germany will raise a maypole today to celebrate the merry month of May. The maypole is usually a decorated tree trunk, traditionally placed in the village green or town square. As today's Doodle illustrates, there might also be a procession through the town, complete with a brass band and traditional costumes. Some regions have maypole climbing competitions, and in others, everyone joins in a maypole dance with ribbons that form a festive braid.
Guest Doodler Christoph Hoppenbrock combined various traditions and customs, like a May bug [Maikäfer] and a smaller birch tree with a heart and streamers for placing in a sweetheart's yard. The Doodle’s whimsical style reflects the lighthearted fun that May Day inspires. "Deer are often used in traditional German folk art,” Christoph notes. “I found it especially fun to draw a deer in lederhosen."
The maypole [Maibaum] symbolizes unity and togetherness, so gather your family, friends, and neighbors and celebrate the season!
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May 1, 2011
160th Anniversary of the first World's Fair
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An event that housed the latest and greatest inventions and cultural treasures of its time, the first World's Fair at the Crystal Palace in London was packed with thousands of wonders. This doodle is a sampling of what the visitors saw when they stepped into the glass building. Amongst the trove are the world's largest diamond, a steam engine, high fashion dresses, textiles, indoor trees, and a gigantic fountain. Users can roll over the doodle to zoom in on the scene and catch hidden animations.
posted by Jennifer Hom
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May 5, 2010
Patios Cordobeses
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The Cordovan patio is a characteristic element of the Andalusian city of Córdoba , Spain , and since 1921 it has been magnified with the famous Patios Cordobeses Festival , declared a World Heritage Site in 2012 , whose tourist visits make this fame grow in the Exterior.
Inside, you can't think of a house that doesn't have a patio; the rest are flats or chalets. The collection of courtyards, from the courtyard of the Mosque-Cathedral to tiny courtyards, is so extensive that it is difficult to catalog. The boundaries are marked by the designations of corral , "scooter" or patio de luz , orchard , park or garden .
The so-called Patios de Córdoba are found mainly in the neighborhood of San Basilio . We also find them in the neighborhoods of Santa Marina , San Lorenzo , la Magdalena and in the city's Jewish quarter . In addition, the Viana Palace houses twelve courtyards inside.
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May 3, 2022
US Teacher Appreciation Day 2022!
https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...7109401-2x.pngHappy U.S. Teacher Appreciation Day!
Today’s Doodle honors all the resilient teachers who have worked tirelessly to shape our future generations. Teachers today wear so many different hats—they are community builders, mentors, mediators, and even tech support for virtual and in-person learners.
Finding innovative ways to connect with, motivate, and inspire students in this ever-changing environment, educators are going above and beyond to empower every student.
To all educators everywhere: Thank you!
Doodler Erich Nagler created today’s Doodle artwork with inspiration from the 2022 State Teachers of the Year. Below, Erich shares more on his experience working with the teachers on today’s Doodle!
“I was excited to work on this Doodle as a way to express my gratitude and respect for the work that teachers do. Teachers have guided, challenged, and encouraged me all throughout my journey, and my art teachers especially.
It was a treat to meet with such a passionate and insightful group of teachers as part of the Doodle development process. The State Teachers of the Year shared overarching themes of their roles and specific examples from their classrooms to inform the Doodle illustration. They even took pencil to paper themselves to sketch their ideas for what the artwork could look like. One quote from our brainstorm that stuck with me was, 'Teachers empower students with tools to share their ideas.' So I tried to create a still-life of all these various tools of learning around the teacher’s desk and chalkboard.
I hope that teachers who see this Doodle feel recognized and appreciated, and I hope that the Doodle might encourage more people to take up teaching in their own communities.”
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May 3, 2018
Celebrating Georges Méliès
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEePFpC9qG8
Today’s first-ever Virtual Reality [VR] / 360° interactive Doodle—created in collaboration with the Google Spotlight Stories, Google Arts & Culture, and Cinémathèque Française teams—celebrates Georges Méliès, the trailblazing French illusionist and film director on the release date of what is considered to be one of his greatest masterpieces: À la conquête du pôle [The Conquest of the Pole, 1912]. Méliès pioneered numerous technical and narrative film techniques in the early days of cinema, primarily in the use of special effects and creation of some of the earliest films of the science fiction genre.
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May 3, 2021
US Teacher Appreciation Week 2021 Begins!
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[Interactive version]
Happy U.S. Teacher Appreciation Week 2021!
Today’s interactive, animated Doodle honors educators across the nation by inviting us all to listen to five real stories of their experiences and the lasting impact they have on their students every single day. Created in partnership with StoryCorps and US-based guest animators Lindsey Deschamps, Monique Wray, and Vrinda Zaveri, today’s Doodle features stories across a spectrum of backgrounds and eras—including the COVID-19 pandemic which has brought unprecedented challenges to the lives of educators and students everywhere.
As you listen to these touching stories, we encourage you to think of a time when a teacher changed your life for the better. Do they know the impact they had on your life? Visit StoryCorps to #ThankAnEducator by using self-directed recording tools to interview a special teacher in your life—or to have a conversation reflecting on their impact with a friend or fellow student. These moments of gratitude will be archived in the Library of Congress.
To educators everywhere: We appreciate you!
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March 5, 2019
Carnival 2019
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Happy Carnival 2019!
Marking the beginning of Lent, Carnival is a week-long celebration full of lively parades, vibrant attire, and elaborate music and dance routines. Although observed all over the world, Carnival is especially popular in Brazil. In fact, Rio de Janeiro is home to the largest such celebration in the world, with up to 2 million participants!
It’s also been 69 years since Adolfo Antônio Nascimento aka “Dodô” and Osmar Álvares de Macêdo wired an old Ford four-door with cone-shaped speakers powered by a car battery and rode through the streets of Bahia, Brazil blasting frevo music. The two friends called themselves Dupla Elétrica [Portuguese for “Electric Duo”] and literally electrified the crowds during Bahia’s Carnival celebration with sounds from their electric cavaquinhos [traditional Portuguese four-stringed guitars that they modified into electric instruments].
The following year, they added another cavaquinho player, becoming Trio Elétrico, a trailblazing band whose name would become synonymous with the massive sound trucks that now rumble through the streets of Brazil [and elsewhere] every Carnival season.
Today’s Doodle pays tribute to these musical pioneers, whose innovations set off a cultural revolution. Over the past 69 years, sound trucks have evolved dramatically in terms of design, musical style, and sheer power. In 1975 the popular Brazilian singer Moraes Moreira became the first to perform atop one of the booming vehicles. Modern sound trucks are now fitted with luxurious components, including swimming pools. But the fundamental concept remains the same: taking the music to the streets.
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March 5, 2012
Heitor Vila Lobos' 125th Birthday
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Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and classical guitarist described as "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music".[1] Villa-Lobos has become the best-known South American composer of all time.[2] A prolific composer, he wrote numerous orchestral, chamber, instrumental and vocal works, totaling over 2000 works by his death in 1959. His music was influenced by both Brazilian folk music and by stylistic elements from the European classical tradition, as exemplified by his Bachianas Brasileiras [Brazilian Bachian-pieces] and his Chôros. His Etudes for classical guitar [1929] were dedicated to Andrés Segovia, while his 5 Preludes [1940] were dedicated to his spouse Arminda Neves d'Almeida, a.k.a. "Mindinha". Both are important works in the classical guitar repertory.
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March 5, 2014
Giambattista Tiepolo's 318th Birthday [born 1696]
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Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.
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Mar 21, 2014
Ayrton Senna's 54th Birthday
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Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1988, 1990, and 1991. Senna is one of three Formula One drivers from Brazil to win the World Championship and won 41 Grands Prix and 65 pole positions, with the latter being the record until 2006. He died in an accident while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, driving for the Williams team.
Senna began his motorsport career in karting, moved up to open-wheel racing in 1981 and won the 1983 British Formula Three Championship. He made his Formula One debut with Toleman-Hart in 1984, before moving to Lotus-Renault the following year and winning six Grands Prix over the next three seasons. In 1988, he joined Frenchman Alain Prost at McLaren-Honda. Between them, they won all but one of the 16 Grands Prix that year, and Senna claimed his first World Championship. Prost claimed the championship in 1989, and Senna his second and third championships in 1990 and 1991. In 1992, the Williams-Renault combination began to dominate Formula One. Senna nonetheless managed to finish the 1993 season as runner-up, winning five races and negotiating a move to Williams in 1994.
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Mar 22, 2014
Agnes Martin 102nd Birthday
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Agnes Bernice Martin RCA, was a Canadian born American abstract painter. Her work has been defined as an "essay in discretion on inward-ness and silence". Although she is often considered or referred to as a minimalist, Martin considered herself an abstract expressionist. She was awarded a National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1998. She was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2004.
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March 22, 2018
Katsuko Saruhashi’s 98th Birthday
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“There are many women who have the ability to become great scientists. I would like to see the day when women can contribute to science & technology on an equal footing with men.”
-Katsuko Saruhashi
A young Katsuko Saruhashi sat in primary school watching raindrops slide down a window and wondered what made it rain. Her journey for answers led her to become the first woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Tokyo in 1957.
Saruhashi is renowned for her groundbreaking research as a geochemist. She was the first to accurately measure the concentration of carbonic acid in water based on temperature, pH Level, and chlorinity. Named ‘Saruhashi’s Table’ after her, this methodology has proved invaluable to oceanographers everywhere. She also developed a technique to trace the travel of radioactive fallout across the oceans that led to restricting oceanic nuclear experimentation in 1963.
During a career spanning 35 years, Saruhashi became the first woman elected to the Science Council of Japan in 1980, and the first woman honored with the Miyake Prize for geochemistry in 1985 - among many other awards. She was deeply committed to inspiring young women to study science, and established the Saruhashi Prize in 1981, recognizing female scientists for distinguished research in natural sciences.
Today on her 98th birthday, we pay tribute to Dr. Katsuko Saruhashi for her incredible contributions to science, and for inspiring young scientists everywhere to succeed.
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March 22, 2021
Elena Lacková's 100th Birthday
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Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Czech guest artist Filip Posivac, celebrates the centennial birthday of Slovakian-Romani writer and dramatist Elena Lacková, who is widely considered the first author in post-war Czechoslovakia to tell the story of the Romani people and the persecution they faced throughout World War II.
Born on this day in 1921 in Veľký Šariš, Czechoslovakia [modern-day Slovakia], Elena Lacková was raised in a settlement of Romani people—a historically oppressed European ethnic group of Indian origin. Although she was unable to pursue higher education due to anti-Romani laws, Lacková became a talented writer of her own accord, penning poems by moonlight as the only girl out of the 600 children in her settlement with the ability to read.
In 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia and persecuted its Romani settlements as part of the regime’s Roma Holocaust. Lacková survived these atrocities and became determined to reinvigorate Roma pride through theatre. Her first published work of literature—a play entitled “Horiaci cigánsky tabor” [“The Gypsy Camp Is Burning,” 1947]—depicted the collective hardships of the Romani people during the Holocaust, while providing a new perspective into their culture.
Lacková’s work continually uplifted the Romani community through literary mediums such as short stories, fairy tales, and radio plays. In 1970, she achieved yet another milestone as the first Romani woman in Czechoslovakia to graduate from university. A pioneer who received countless accolades, Lacková became the first Romani woman to receive one of Slovakia’s highest honors, the Order of Ľudovít Štúr III, awarded in 2001.
Happy birthday, Elena Lacková!
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Mar 27, 2021
Celebrating Tawhida Ben Cheikh
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Today’s Doodle celebrates the Tunisian physician, magazine editor, and social activist Tawhida Ben Cheikh, widely credited as the first female physician in Tunisia. A feminist pioneer both in and out of the medical field, Ben Cheikh helped transform Tunisian medicine by providing women better access to contemporary healthcare. On this day in 2020, the Tunisian government issued a new 10-dinar note emblazoned with Ben Cheikh’s portrait—the world’s first ever banknote to feature a female doctor.
Tawhida Ben Cheikh was born on January 2, 1909 in Tunis, the present-day capital of Tunisia, at the time a French protectorate. Supported by her mother, in 1928 she became the first Tunisian female to graduate secondary school, but she didn’t stop there. In a break from traditional expectations of women, she went on to earn her medical degree in Paris in 1936 at the age of 27.
Upon her return to Tunis that year, Ben Cheikh made history when she opened her own free medical practice. With primary specialties in gynecology and obstetrics, she went on to become the head of the maternity department of the city’s Charles-Nicolle hospital in 1955. Then in the ‘70s, she founded Tunisia’s first family planning clinic. Ben Cheikh also contributed to numerous women’s organizations and founded Leïla, the country’s first French-language women’s magazine.
Here’s to a medical trailblazer who made huge strides for gender equality in Tunisia and beyond.
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Apr 5, 2021
Sadri Alışık's 96th Birthday
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Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Istanbul, Turkey-based guest artist Sedat Girgin, celebrates the 96th birthday of prolific Turkish comedian and actor Sadri Alışık.
Born in Istanbul on this day 1925, Mehmet Sadrettin “Sadri” Alışık fell in love with the performing arts at 7 years old after attending a local play. To hide his dramatic ambitions from his father, who disapproved of acting as a career, Alışık enrolled in a university painting program post-high school to disguise the time he spent acting in various Istanbul theatres.
Alışık’s clandestine devotion soon paid off, debuting on the silver screen in the 1944 film “Günahsizlar” [“The Innocent Ones”]. His film success led to decades of serious performances in historical and crime dramas before he showcased his dynamic acting skills in comedy. In 1963, he brought Tourist Ömer to life. A comedic and relatable portrayal of an everyday Turkish gentleman, Tourist Ömer was a smash hit that starred in eight movies, an iconic run that came to a sci-fi end in 1974 with “Ömer the Tourist in Star Trek.”
Outside of his more than 200 film and television appearances, Alışık loved to paint, sing Turkish classical music, and write poetry. He bid farewell to entertainment with his role in “Yengeç Sepeti” [“Crab Basket”], his 1994 cinematic swan song for which the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival awarded him Best Actor. Today, his legacy lives on in acting studios founded in Istanbul and Ankara, both named in his honor.
Happy birthday, Sadri Alışık! Thank you for setting the stage for the future of Turkish performing arts.
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October 23, 2020
Gianni Rodari’s 100th Birthday
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Today’s Doodle celebrates the centennial birthday of Italian writer and journalist Gianni Rodari, widely acclaimed as one of the most influential Italian children’s authors of the 20th century. Rodari earned renown for accessible stories of fantasy that incorporated real-world social issues, including “Il romanzo di Cipollino” [“The Tale of The Little Onion,” 1951], which is represented in today’s Doodle. In 1970, he became the first–and to this date only–Italian to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award for writing, one of the highest international honors in children’s literature.
Gianni Rodari was born on this day in 1920 in the northern Italian town of Omegna. Interested early on in children’s education, he first taught at an elementary school before he transitioned to work as a newspaper reporter. Based on his previous experience, his editors asked him to write for the paper’s children’s section, beginning his iconic career in children’s literature. By 1960 he had written enough material to publish his first book, "Nursery Rhymes in the Sky and on Earth.“
Two years later he released his hit story collection “Telephone Tales,” considered by some to be his masterpiece. Rodari went on to craft a variety of beloved literature over the following decades, earning his place as a household name in Italy. He simultaneously contributed heavily to the country’s educational reform movement.
For his contributions to children’s literature, Rodari won many major awards throughout his life, and today his works have been translated into over 20 languages.
Happy birthday, Gianni Rodari, and thank you for bringing your imagination to life for generations to enjoy.
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October 23, 2018
Shamsur Rahman’s 89th Birthday
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In the final stanza of his poem, “Shadhinota Tumi” [“Ode to Freedom”], the Bengali poet Shamsur Rahman defined freedom as:
“A garden room, the koel-bird's song
The old banyan tree's gleaming leaves
My notebook of poems written just as I please."
Born in Dacca, British India, [now Dhaka, Bangladesh] on this day in 1929, Rahman was a poet, journalist, columnist, and advocate for human rights and democracy. While studying English literature at the University of Dhaka he joined a student group known as the Progressive Writers and Artists Association, reading his verse at Madhu’s Canteen and staunchly supporting the movement to retain Bengali as the official language of East Pakistan [now Bangladesh].
After graduating with honors in 1953, he went on to make his living working for Radio Pakistan and editing the daily newspaper Dainik Bangla, he is remembered as the “unofficial poet laureate of Bangladesh.” Rahman published more than sixty books of poetry, ranging from love sonnets to patriotic verse to whimsical lines about his cat. His well known 1971 poem, “Shadhinota Tumi” [“Ode to Freedom”], was written in the throes of Bangladesh’s battle for independence from Pakistan.
Rahman’s life and work earned him numerous accolades including the Bangla Academy Award, Ekushey Padak and the Shadhinota Award, the highest honor given by the government of his beloved homeland.
Happy Birthday Shamsur Rahman!
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August 23, 2021
Aimé Painé's 78th Birthday
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Today’s Doodle celebrates the 78th birthday of Argentinian activist and singer Aimé Painé, a member of the Mapuche nation who devoted her life to preserving the traditional music of her community.
On this day in 1943, Aimé Painé was born in Ingeniero Luis A. Huergo, Argentina as Olga Elisa, a name she had to adopt due to a law that barred the use of Indigenous names. After being separated from her family at the age of three, Painé’s adoptive parents recognized her unique vocal talent and enrolled her in music school. She joined the National Polyphonic Choir in Buenos Aires in her late 20s. During one of the group's international recitals, she learned that Argentina was among the only nations in attendance that didn’t perform Indigenous music. This denial of native heritage prompted Painé to embark on a journey to southern Argentina to reconnect with her Indigenous roots.
Her quest led to a reunion with her biological, Mapuche father who inspired Painé to carry on their ancestral heritage through music. She reinterpreted ancient Mapuche songs in the native language of Mapudungun while playing traditional instruments, such as the cultrun and the cascahuillas. As one of the first musicians to popularize Mapuche music, Painé traveled across Argentina dressed in traditional Mapuche garb through the 1980s, singing stories of her people and denouncing their marginalization.
In 1987, Painé represented the Mapuche people at a United Nations conference, where she brought global awareness to her community’s struggle for equal rights. Today, Painé's legacy is honored each year on September 10 as the “Day of Mapuche Culture” in Argentina.
Happy birthday, Aimé Painé and thank you for safeguarding Mapuche musical traditions!
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August 23, 2012
Alexander Grin's 132th Birthday
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Aleksandr Stepanovich Grinevsky [better known by his pen name, Aleksandr Green / Grin, spelling varies in non-Russian literature], was a Russian writer, notable for his romantic novels and short stories, mostly set in an unnamed fantasy land with a European or Latin American flavor [Grin's fans often refer to this land as Grinlandia]. Most of his writings deal with sea, adventures, and love.
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May 10, 2019
Minarni Soedarjanto’s 75th Birthday
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Today’s Doodle salutes international badminton champion Minarni Soedarjanto, hailed in her Indonesian homeland as "Queen of all badminton queens."
Born in Pasuruan, East Java, on this day in 1944, Soedarjanto began competing at the age of 13 and went on to win her first title at the 1959 National Championship in Malang at the age of 15. That same year, she was chosen for the Indonesian national team, competing in the world’s top badminton tournament for women, the Uber Cup.
Although Indonesia was defeated in 1960, Soedarjanto won singles and doubles titles for many years, including a historic win in the sport’s oldest tournament, the All-England. Teaming up with Retno Koestijah, Soedarjanto won Indonesia’s first All England title in 1968. She also went on to victory at the 1969 U.S. Open and Canada Open that same year.
Soedarjanto was part of Indonesian teams that competed for the Uber Cup trophy in 1963, 1966, and 1969—but unfortunately came up short every time. "It's hard to just leave, considering it's been 23 years playing badminton," she said in a 1972 interview. By 1975 she was a player-coach and mother of three, but refused to retire without fulfilling her goal. Finally, she beat perennial powerhouse Japan, winning Indonesia’s first Uber cup which was the last title of her illustrious career.
Thanks for paving the way, and happy 75th birthday, Minarni Soedarjanto!
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