Google doodles

[9A]

Apr 27, 2023

King's Day 2023




Today's Doodle celebrates King's Day, a Dutch holiday that honors the Netherlands’s rich cultural heritage.

Cafes remain open throughout the night the evening before, as crowds gather in the streets to take part in Koningsnacht [King’s Night] festivities.

Once day breaks, the scent of Dutch treats like special orange tompouce pastries [like the ones in today’s Doodle artwork!] fill the air.

King’s Day may sound like one big Dutch party. But the holiday is ultimately about honoring joy and community. Friends and families reconnect as they attend street parties, listen to live music, and peruse giant flea markets called vrijmarkt throughout the day.

Although festivities take place across the country, the most popular ones occur in Amsterdam — where orange boats float through the city’s famous waterways, causing historical canals to burst into color.

Happy King’s Day to the Dutch!

[9A]

Mar 03, 2022

Girls' Day 2022


As winter blossoms into spring, today’s Doodle—illustrated by guest artist Kaya Doi—celebrates Japan’s Girls’ Day or Hinamatsuri [雛祭り], also called the Doll’s Festival. On this day, families wish for the health, growth, and happiness of Japan’s young girls, traditionally by displaying sets of costumed Hiina dolls that represent members of the imperial court dating back to Japan’s Heian period [A.D. 794 to 1185].

So what connection does the display of ornate dolls have with the happiness of Japan’s youth? During the Heian era, noble children played with Hiina [paper dolls], developing a tradition known as Hiina-Asobi [doll play]. Members of the Imperial court believed the dolls would absorb the children’s bad luck, thus protecting them from evil spirits. In some regions of Japan, these dolls were released to float down a river. Now, people display porcelain dolls with brightly colored clothing—a tradition dating back to the Edo period—to celebrate and to wish girls health and prosperity with traditional foods such as Chirashi-Sushi.

Happy Girls’ Day, Japan!

[9A]

Apr 14, 2021

Pohela Boishakh


Today’s Doodle commemorates the festival of Pohela Boishakh, which falls on the first day of the Bengali calendar. Whether at home or abroad, Bengalis worldwide warmly greet each other with, Shubho Noboborsho, the customary way to wish each other a prosperous and happy New Year.

One of the most traditional Pohela Boishakh celebrations commences after dawn underneath an ancient Banyan tree at Dhaka’s Ramna Park. Mangal Shobhajatra is a radiant carnival procession that begins at the Institute of Fine Arts at Dhaka University. The festive spirit blends young and old, as they wear colorful masks and parade with massive cutouts of animals as a way to symbolize Bengali cultural diversity, heritage, and identity of the people.

The nation celebrates with street parades, fairs, and grand concerts as a way to unify the Bengalis to welcome another year to come.

Shubho Nobobarsho!

[9A]

Jun 03, 2022

Celebrating Rosane Kaingang




Today’s Doodle celebrates the unshakeable spirit of Rosane Mattos Kaingang, an Indigenous Brazilian activist who worked tirelessly to fight for Native rights. She brought representation to the Indigenous community and played a critical role in helping the Council of Human Rights [CNDH] investigate rights violations against Native Brazilians. On this day in 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development hosted in Rio de Janeiro [or Rio 92 Conference], she began her life of service to the indigenous movement.

Kaingang was a descendant of the Kaingang people, an Indigenous ethnic group primarily from the southern states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Her indigenous name, Kokoj, means “hummingbird,” and was given to her during a ceremony in honor of her great-grandmother, who died at 120 years old! Just like her name, everything she later worked for was strongly rooted in her community and heritage.

She spent her adult life fighting for the recognition of rightful territories, sustainable community development and access to quality education and medical services. Kaingang was also instrumental in bringing awareness to the struggles of Indigenous women. As one of the founders of the National Council of Indigenous Women of Brazil [CONAMI], she helped create a structure for Indigenous women to organize and protest as a larger body. These protests urged for broader access to resources and Indigenous labor rights.

Kaingang also represented several other social reform groups, most notably the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil [APIB], the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of the South [ARPINSUL] and the National Indian Foundation [FUNAI]. She participated in dozens of meetings, seminars, hearings and mobilization efforts that advocated for a more equitable future for Native Brazilians.

Kaingang is remembered for her dedication and love for the Indigenous community — a true warrior who never stayed silent in the face of injustice and adversity.

[9A]

Jan 13, 2023

Enedina Alves Marques' 110th Birthday


Today’s Doodle celebrates the 110th birthday of Brazilian engineer Enedina Alves Marques, the first Black woman in Brazil to receive an engineering degree and the first woman in the state of Paraná to become an engineer.

On this day in 1913, Marques was born in Curitiba, Brazil. She worked as a domestic laborer and nanny to put herself through secondary school and became a teacher after graduating. But she had her sights set higher on attending University. She took the qualification exams and enrolled in civil engineering classes at the Federal University of Paraná in 1940. As this was only fifty years after abolishing slavery and nine years since women gained the right to vote, Marquez was antagonized and ignored by some of her teachers and peers. Despite facing discrimination while getting a degree in a White, male-dominated field, Marques persisted and was the only woman alongside 32 male students to graduate in 1945.

She began her career at the State Department of Transportation and Public Works as an engineering assistant and transferred to the State Department of Water and Electric Energy in Paraná. Here, she contributed to sizable projects, like the development of the Paraná Hydroelectric Plan for several rivers in the area, and the topographical survey and construction of the biggest underground hydroelectric plant, the Capivari-Cachoeira Plant.

In recognition of her contributions to Paraná and the engineering field, her name was inscribed on the Memorial à Mulher [Memorial to the Woman] along with 53 other pioneering Brazilian women. A street in a neighborhood of Curitiba was named Rua Engenheira Enedina Alves Marques after her. And in 2006, the Instituto de Mulheres Negras Enedina Alves Marques [Enedina Alves Marques Institute of Black Women] was founded in Maringá, Paraná.

Happy birthday, Enedina Alves Marques!

[9A]

Mar 31, 2023

Satoshi Kako’s 97th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 97th birthday of Satoshi Kako, a Japanese author and illustrator who created children’s books that are read to this day. He wrote over 600 stories, and his engineering and scientific background inspired him to add a unique spin to make each tale educational, enjoyable, and stimulating for Japanese youth.

Kako, whose real name was Satoshi Nakajima, was born on this day in 1926 in Kunitaka Village of the Fukui Prefecture. As a boy, he was surrounded by other talented kids who encouraged him to take up drawing. Kako studied chemistry at Tokyo Imperial University [now the University of Tokyo] and graduated in 1948. While in school, he joined a theater study group and began writing scripts and designing stage sets for children’s plays.

He got a job at a major Japanese chemical company and organized puppet shows and traditional kamishibai [or play-card] performances for his colleagues’ children. Fueled by the smiles in the small audiences and praises from coworkers, Kako wrote his debut children’s book in 1959 titled Damu no Ojisan-Tachi [Uncles of the Dam] about how dams are useful to society. He continued to create masterpiece works throughout the next three decades.

Kako is most known for the Daruma-chan series about Little Daruma, a boy who goes on countless adventures and makes new friends along the way. He also wrote many stories that taught kids about everyday topics like brushing their teeth, traditional Japanese games, baking, and more. Throughout his long career as an author, Kako won many awards like the Takahashi Gozan Special Award in 1985, the Japanese Science Reading Award in 1991, and the Kanagawa Culture Award in 2009.

From beakers to books and test tubes to tales, Satoshi Kako’s life was a page turner. Happy birthday!

[9A]

Mar 19, 2023

Mario Molina's 80th Birthday




This Doodle celebrates the 80th birthday of Dr. Mario Molina, a Mexican chemist who successfully convinced governments to come together to save the planet’s ozone layer. Molina was born on March 19, 1943, in Mexico City. As a child, he was so passionate about science that he turned his bathroom into a makeshift laboratory. Nothing could compare to the joy of watching tiny organisms glide across his toy microscope.

Dr. Molina went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and an advanced degree from the University of Freiburg in Germany. After completing his studies, he moved to the United States to conduct postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, and later at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In the early 1970s, Dr. Molina began researching how synthetic chemicals impact Earth’s atmosphere. He was one of the first to discover that chlorofluorocarbons [a chemical found in air conditioners, aerosol sprays, and more] were breaking down the ozone and causing ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth's surface. He and his co-researchers published their findings in the Nature journal, which later won them the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

The groundbreaking research became the foundation of the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty that successfully banned the production of nearly 100 ozone-depleting chemicals. This international alliance is considered one of the most impactful environmental treaties ever made — a precedent that shows governments can work together effectively to tackle climate change.

Thanks to Dr. Molina’s critical scientific discoveries, the planet’s ozone layer is on track to fully recover in the next few decades! The Mario Molina Center, a leading research institute in Mexico, carries on his work to create a more sustainable world.

Thank you, Dr. Molina, for your years of research that truly changed the world.

[9A]

Nov 15, 2022

Hamed Gohar's 115th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 115th birthday of Hamed Gahar, a renowned Egyptian scientist, marine biologist and TV host. He is considered the founding father of oceanography in Egypt and the Arab world, and hosted an educational show called “Sea World” for 18 years.

Gohar was born on this day in 1907 in Cairo, Egypt. He was a gifted student from an early age and studied medicine at Cairo University in 1925. However, he decided to pursue biology and received his master’s degree in oceanography from Cambridge University in 1931. Gohar then began researching xenia, or soft coral, along the coast of the Red Sea.

Gohar discovered that dugong, a sea mammal that was thought to be extinct in the region, still existed in the Red Sea. He continued studying underwater life for 25 years at the Hurghada marine biological station, and it’s rumored that he never ate fish due to his love for sea creatures.

Gohar made several contributions to Egyptian and Arabic marine biology. He worked with the Arabic Language Academy to create scientific dictionaries in Arabic. He also served as an adviser to the United Nations’ Secretary General and helped organize the first International Conference on Law of the Sea in Geneva.

An entire generation of Arabs know Gohar from his popular TV show, “Sea World”, which he hosted for more than 18 years. By highlighting underwater scenery and natural sea life, Gohar gifted Arabs with inspiring knowledge about marine biology, and is remembered today for his distinct voice and unending love for the ocean.

Happy 115th birthday, Hamed Gohar!

[9A]

Nov 07, 2022

Celebrating Irene Bernasconi



For Irene Bernasconi, the world was her oyster—or perhaps she’d say starfish. Today’s Doodle celebrates Argentina’s first echinoderm specialist, who spent more than 50 years studying sea stars and other marine creatures. On this day in 1968, she became the first Argentine woman to lead a marine biology expedition in Antarctica.

Bernasconi was born in La Plata, Argentina on September 29, 1896. She became a teacher in 1918, specializing in natural studies, and began working at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences in the early 1920’s. She published her first scientific work about molluscs and marine invertebrates in 1925.

At age 72, Bernasconi became the first Argentine woman to lead an Arctic expedition. She and three other female scientists set out to Antarctica to explore the continent’s biodiversity near the South Pole.

Throughout the expedition, Bernasconi and her team collected more than 2,000 echinoderm specimens, as well as plant life and other living samples, in Antarctica’s ecosystem. To achieve this, they used diving equipment to set up nets and hooks in extremely cold waters. The trip’s most notable discovery was a new echinoderm family in the Arctic region.

In 1969, the Embassy of Women in America awarded the team with a commemorative medal. On International Women’s Day in 2018, which also happened to be the 50th anniversary of the polar expedition, the National Directorate for Antarctica, the Argentine Antarctic Institute and the Naval Hydrographic Service also recognized Bernasconi and her team for their achievements. Her name was incorporated into Argentine maps of Antarctica with the establishment of Bernasconi Cove.

[9A]

Jan 16, 2023

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023





Today’s Doodle celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day or MLK Day in the United States, and was illustrated by Brooklyn-based guest artist Richard A. Chance. national day of service honors Dr. King — the late civil rights movement leader and activist who was a lifelong advocate for social and racial equality.

Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. From a young age he was heavily influenced by his father — a pastor and community organizer — and eventually began his own career of service in Montgomery, Alabama as a community leader in the NAACP. In 1955, Dr. King helped lead the Montgomery bus boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat and violated local Jim Crow laws in Alabama. These peaceful protests — which are widely considered the first mass demonstration against segregation — lasted for 385 days and gained national attention.

He continued to spearhead some of America’s most groundbreaking social justice demonstrations. In 1963, more than 200,000 demonstrators marched towards the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to protest economic and racial inequality. This March on Washington is one of the most famous acts of the Civil Rights Movement, and it is where Dr. King delivered his exalted “I Have a Dream” speech. It remains one of the largest rallies for human rights in the U.S. and is credited for helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also participated in the Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965 to advocate for equal voting rights. That same year, the Voting Rights Act was passed.

Dr. King was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In honor of his birthday, MLK Day is celebrated on the third week of January every year. It was signed into law in 1983 and has been celebrated by all 50 states since 2000.

Today and everyday, Dr. King’s dream lives on in the hearts of millions of Americans who are taking action and giving back to their communities. Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Today’s Doodle celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day or MLK Day in the United States, and was illustrated by Brooklyn-based guest artist Richard A. Chance. The national day of service honors Dr. King — the late civil rights movement leader and activist who was a lifelong advocate for social and racial equality.

Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. From a young age he was heavily influenced by his father — a pastor and community organizer — and eventually began his own career of service in Montgomery, Alabama as a community leader in the NAACP. In 1955, Dr. King helped lead the Montgomery bus boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat and violated local Jim Crow laws in Alabama. These peaceful protests — which are widely considered the first mass demonstration against segregation — lasted for 385 days and gained national attention.

He continued to spearhead some of America’s most groundbreaking social justice demonstrations. In 1963, more than 200,000 demonstrators marched towards the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to protest economic and racial inequality. This March on Washington is one of the most famous acts of the Civil Rights Movement, and it is where Dr. King delivered his exalted “I Have a Dream” speech. It remains one of the largest rallies for human rights in the U.S. and is credited for helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also participated in the Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965 to advocate for equal voting rights. That same year, the Voting Rights Act was passed.

Dr. King was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In honor of his birthday, MLK Day is celebrated on the third week of January every year. It was signed into law in 1983 and has been celebrated by all 50 states since 2000.

Today and everyday, Dr. King’s dream lives on in the hearts of millions of Americans who are taking action and giving back to their communities. Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

[9A]

Jan 20, 2020

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Atlanta-based guest artist Dr. Fahamu Pecou, pays tribute to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. on this national day of service, named in his honor. A civil rights icon, Dr. King strived to pave the way for a world where people would be treated equally, regardless of their race.

Dr. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15th, 1929, and raised in a ministerial family during the segregation era. In 1955, Dr. King helped organize the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott, one of the first major protests of the African-American civil rights movement. The boycott resulted in the 1956 Supreme Court decision to declare segregation on buses unconstitutional.

A powerful orator, Dr. King traveled across the country advocating for justice and access to public services for all, delivering upwards of 2,500 speeches over his lifetime. Organizing such landmark demonstrations as the 1963 March on Washington, Dr. King also played a pivotal role in the passing of the Civil Rights of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the first national holiday named for a modern private citizen. Initially celebrated on this day in 1986, it is now observed in all 50 states.

[9A]

Jan 15, 2024

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024




This Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. DayDoodle features peaceful protesters in the Selma to Montgomery march which King led.

Dr. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 and studied at Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University before devoting his life to activism. He became nationally recognized in 1955 while leading the year-long Montgomery Bus Boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat. He didn’t stop until the city desegregated its bus system.

Dr. King gave speeches on issues of injustice across the world. His most iconic address was during the 1963 March on Washington which King helped to plan.. Around 250,000 people demanded legal equality for all, and his “I Have a Dream” speech inspired them to continue peaceful protesting. Dr. King’s influential role in demonstrations contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed public segregation.

In 1965, Dr. King participated in another impactful event that led to legislation — the Selma to Mongomery march [depicted in today’s Doodle]. The peaceful crowd of protestors demanded an end to racial discrimination in voting and listened intently as Dr. King delivered his “How Long? Not Long.” speech. This rally was key to passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He never stopped fighting for equal rights despite being arrested upwards of 20 times, stating that freedom is worth going to jail for, losing a job for, and dying for.

Today, a memorial for Dr. King stands in D.C., and nationwide, many streets, schools, and libraries are named after him. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the only federal holiday that is a national day of service, has been observed since 1986 to honor his civil rights contributions. His legacy inspires people to work toward social justice; many honor him on this day by volunteering or taking action to better their community.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

[9A]

14 January 2007

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2007



Martin Luther King Jr. Day [officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and sometimes referred to as MLK Day] is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Born in 1929, King's actual birthday is January 15 [which in 1929 fell on a Tuesday]. The holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The earliest Monday for this holiday is January 15 and the latest is January 21.

[9A]

Jan 15, 2018

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2018




“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.


Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Baptist minister, Nobel Laureate, and civil rights activist who dedicated his life working tirelessly for peace, social justice, and opportunity for all Americans - irrespective of color or creed.

On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor Dr. King. It was federally observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, and over 30 years later, the day is traditionally celebrated as a day of service, with people volunteering time and talent to help others, thus paying homage to Dr. King’s legacy.

Today’s Doodle by guest artist Cannaday Chapman was also developed in collaboration with the Black Googlers Network [BGN], one of the largest employee resource groups at Google. The image depicts a young girl perched on her father’s shoulders, enthralled by the power and eloquence of Dr. King’s words. The scene is evocative of Dr. King’s dream for children everywhere to one day live in a better world.

[9A]

Jan 12, 2024

Elizabeth Hastings 75th Birthday


This Doodle celebrates England-born Australian disability rights advocate Elizabeth Hastings who was Australia’s first Disability Discrimination Commissioner.

Hastings had polio as a baby and used mobility aids from a young age, starting with a gadget her father built. This device allowed Hastings to get to and from school but still had to rely on others for assistance. Her family moved to Australia when she was eight where she attended secondary school before studying psychology at the University of Melbourne.

After graduating in 1971, she worked as a psychologist before finding her calling in activism, which she realised at a conference she spoke at in 1978. Right before her presentation, an able bodied person gave a long speech on behalf of the disabled community. In reaction, Hastings discussed how frustrating it was to be patronised in her speech. Upon hearing booming applause and seeing audience members moved to tears, she realised she could make a difference by advocating for the rights of disabled people.

Hastings travelled the country throughout the 80s speaking about her personal experiences and recommended disability inclusion laws to various institutions. She helped plan 1981’s International Year of the Disabled Person and served on many committees relating to disability issues, including the Victorian chapter of Disabled People’s International and Women With Disabilities Australia.

In 1993, she was appointed as the first Disability Discrimination Commissioner in the country and set about promoting and administering the new Disability Discrimination Act. The Disability Discrimination Act is foundational legislation that covers areas like building regulations and public transport standards, all of which profoundly changed the ability for disabled people to live independently. She campaigned against the forced sterilisation of people with a disability and continued to break down barriers for many Australians.

Throughout her life, Hasting taught what she calls the not-yet-disabled population about the importance of inclusion and ensuring disabled people have full rights and access to opportunities. With each person who comes to understand disability as a normal part of the human condition, Elizabeth Hastings legacy lives on.

[9A]

Oct 18, 2023

Violet King Henry's 94th Birthday



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by guest artist Shanti Rittgers, celebrates the birth of Violet King Henry, Canada's first Black female lawyer. A trailblazer in the legal industry, and a leader in ​​her community, King continues to be a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity.

King was born on this day in 1929, in Calgary, Alberta. She was a well-rounded student who achieved good grades and participated in several extracurriculars. Her high school senior yearbook caption proudly stated her intentions to pursue a career in law. In 1950, she attended the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. King excelled in her classes, taught piano lessons, and was vice president of a feminist group — the Blue Stocking Club and the Students’ Union. She earned an executive “A” gold ring for her many contributions to the university in 1952.

King graduated in 1953, becoming the first Black graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and the first Black Canadian in the province to earn a law degree. She articled [or interned] at a Calgary law firm, and worked on five high-profile criminal trials in her first year. King was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1954, which added another “first” to her list — becoming the first Black woman in Canada to practice law.


She spent a few years in Alberta as a lawyer before moving to Ottawa, where she joined Canada’s federal Citizenship and Immigration department. In this role, King met with leaders of community organizations and helped new immigrants find work and settle in Canada. After seven years, she moved to the U.S. and worked as the Executive Director of the Newark, New Jersey YMCA’s Community Branch, where she helped Black applicants find employment for six years before moving to Chicago to work at the YMCA’s national headquarters. While in Chicago King eventually became the first woman of any race, and the first Black person of any gender, to hold an executive position in the U.S. National Council of YMCA’s Organizational Development Group [which functioned as the managing Board of the YMCAs].

In 1998, she was inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame for her work promoting the rights of women and minority groups. The Government of Alberta named a plaza in Edmonton after her in 2021, and the newly established Violet King Henry Law School Award is given to an outstanding Black law student at the University of Alberta annually. Toronto Metropolitan University’s Law School also presents an annual award to a committed civil rights advocate student, and the Black Law Student Association of Canada now holds a “Women of Excellence in Law” luncheon in her honor at their annual national conference.

King once noted in a speech given soon after being called to the Canadian BAR that some people discouraged her from pursuing a law career. She said “People told me it wasn’t a good idea for a girl to be a lawyer, particularly a coloured girl… so I went ahead.” - Violet King, May 5, 1956. And in “going ahead” she proved them wrong by breaking glass ceilings and inspiring women of colour everywhere to pursue their dreams, even when met with resistance.

Happy birthday, Violet King Henry, thank you for breaking down gender and racial barriers throughout your impressive career!

[9A]

Jun 27, 2023

Celebrating Martin Dibobe



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Berlin-based guest artist Helene Baum-Owoyele, celebrates Cameroonian train driver Martin Dibobe. On this day in 1919, Dibobe and 17 other African people petitioned the German government for independence and civil rights for all people in Germany’s colonial empire.

Dibobe was born in 1876 in Cameroon, which became a German colony in 1884. The son of a Douala chief, he learned to read and write in a missionary school. In his youth, the German government ordered Dibobe and many other Africans in Berlin to join an ethnographic display designed to teach Germans about daily life in Africa and gather support for colonialism. In 1886, Dibobe and one hundred other Africans were shipped to Berlin on a steamboat.

For six months, Dibobe lived under terrible conditions and appeared as an “exhibit” of African life in Berlin’s Treptower Park. Afterward, he stayed in Germany and worked as a locksmith in a local factory before falling in love with a German woman. Although the registry office refused to document their union, they later married with the support of a clergyman.

Dibobe then earned a job at the Berlin subway system and worked his way up to become the first Black train driver in the city. Unsatisfied with his social mobility, he advocated for African rights across the empire. It’s believed that the German government sent Dibobe back to Cameroon to help build a new railway line around 1907. During this time, he shared his views on equal rights with chiefs in his native country.

After the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, Germany ceded its colonies to France and Britain. Dibobe rallied fellow advocates to appeal to Germany’s National Assembly. The Dibobe petition included 32 demands supporting equal rights for the country’s African migrants, but it was ignored by the government.

Cameroon fell under French rule and when Dibobe tried to return in 1922, they denied his entry. He then traveled to Liberia where he most likely died. Today, a plaque commemorates Martin Dibobe’s efforts at his old address in Berlin. In the face of blatant racism, Dibobe always championed African rights and paved the way for future activists.

Thanks, Martin Dibobe for serving as a role model for future advocates of Black independence.

[9A]

May 05, 2023

Soledad Acosta de Samper's 190th Birthday


Today’s Doodle celebrates the 190th birthday of Soledad Acosta de Samper, a Colombian journalist, historian, and novelist who is considered one of the most renowned South American writers of the 19th century. She wrote more than 20 novels, 50 short stories, 4 plays, and more. She was a pioneer in Colombian literature and dedicated much of her work to the recognition of women.

Acosta de Samper was born in Bogotá on this day in 1833. She was the daughter of Joaquín Acosta, a prominent figure in the fight for Colombian independence, and studied in Canada and France when she was young. She found her love for writing when she returned to Colombia in 1855.

She founded several magazines and newspapers like La Mujer [The Woman, 1878], La Familia [The Family, 1884], and more. Acosta de Samper started exploring fictional writing that introduced a historical element while continuing her journalistic work. Traditionally, history was mostly written by men who would exclude important women characters and figures. Acosta de Samper made sure to mention and recognize women in history in her writing — a true disruption at the time.

For the next 35 years, Acosta de Samper published a variety of works including novels, plays, short stories, literary studies, and historical treatises. The Colombian Ministry of Culture declared 2013 “Soledad Acosta de Samper Year” to revive her works and honor her life.

[9A]

Mar 22, 2023

Julieta Lanteri's 150th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 150th birthday of Julieta Lanteri, an Italian Argentine doctor and the first woman to vote in Argentina and South America. She was a staunch advocate for women’s rights and worked tirelessly to improve healthcare.

Lanteri was born on this day in Italy in 1873. Her family emigrated to Argentina when she was six years old. She became the first woman to attend the National School of La Plata, then studied pharmacology at the University of Buenos Aires. She earned her medical degree in 1907 — she was one of the first five woman to do so in Argentina! For the next 13 years, Lanteri regularly traveled to Europe to work in hospitals and learn about healthcare for women and children.

Beyond her skills as a physician, Lanteri was also a suffragette. In 1910, she helped organize the first International Women’s Congress. The following year, she gained Argentine citizenship and became the first woman to vote in South America when she casted a ballot for the Deliberative Council elections. After this monumental achievement, the Electoral Law was changed to require military service — only men were allowed to enlist.

Despite the constant obstacles she faced, Lanteri did not back down. She created her own political party, the National Feminist Union, and ran for the position of National Deputy from 1919 to 1932. The party’s platform stood for universal suffrage, gender equality, fair working conditions, childcare support, maternity benefits, and more.

Argentine women were finally granted the official right to vote in 1947. Although she couldn’t witness it with her own eyes, Lanteri’s contributions undoubtedly helped make this dream a reality. Her fierce determination is remembered far and wide throughout South America.

Happy birthday, Julieta Lanteri!

[9A]

Mar 23, 2022

Elena Caffarena's 119th Birthday




Today’s Doodle—illustrated by Chile-based guest artist Catalina Bu—celebrates the 119th birthday of Elena Caffarena, a feminist lawyer who helped Chilean women win the right to vote in national elections. Considered one of the most important Chilean public figures of the 20th century, Caffarena spearheaded Chile’s workers' rights and women’s rights movements.

Caffarena came of age during a time when the working class labored in perilous conditions to earn meager wages. Caffarena attended the University of Chile in the early 1920s and became one of the first Chilean women to earn a law degree. Around this time, she met Luis Emilio Recabarren, a former low-wage worker and union organizer. He deepened her determination to fight for the rights of underserved communities.

In 1935, Caffarena co-founded the Movement for the Emancipation of Chilean Women, the first national group to advocate for equal salaries and opportunities for women. Thanks to a bill that Caffarena co-wrote, the Chilean feminists achieved universal suffrage in 1949.

Today’s Doodle celebrates her birthday and reflects on all she accomplished for the Chilean working class and women!

[9A]

Jul 28, 2023

Isabelle Gatti de Gamond's 184th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 184th birthday of Belgian educator Isabelle Gatti de Gamond. She is widely considered one of the first feminists in Belgium, and founded the country’s first secondary school for women.

Gatti de Gamond was born in Paris on this day in 1839. Her family moved to Brussels when she was five years old. After her mother passed away in 1854, de Gamond sought a job to help provide for her family. She worked as a private tutor for a Polish noble family, which inspired her to learn Ancient Greek, Latin, and philosophy.

Upon returning to Brussels, Gatti de Gamond continued her education through government-funded courses and pondered how she could help more women attend school. She founded the journal L'Education de la Femme [Women's Education] to share her thoughts with the public.

In 1864, Gatti de Gamond partnered with the city council to launch Cours d'Éducation pour jeunes filles—the first systematic courses for secondary female education. The initiative’s independence from the Roman Catholic Church was especially groundbreaking, making it Belgium’s first secular secondary education for girls. Although the press criticized her efforts, Gatti de Gamond’s school was a huge success and added advanced and pre-university sections in 1891. As a testament to how successful the school was, some of the students became the first women in Belgium to attend a university, work in parliament, and become a lawyer.

Gatti de Gamond founded many other schools before she retired from her role as an educator in 1899. With hopes of gaining universal adult suffrage, she worked as an activist for the Belgian Labour Party — but eventually left politics when the Labour Party chose to only support men’s right to vote.

Gatti de Gamond’s school was renamed the Isabelle Gatti de Gamond Royal Atheneum and is still open today. She wrote the book on Belgium's female education system, and thanks to her efforts, women have and will continue to add pages to her legacy.

Happy birthday, Isabelle Gatti de Gamond!

[9A]

Sep 30, 2023

Ferdinand Berthier’s 220th Birthday


Today’s Doodle celebrates Deaf French educator and intellectual Ferdinand Berthier. He was one of the first advocates for Deaf culture in a time when those who had hearing differences were outcast by society. The artwork was designed by Paris-based Deaf guest artist Nicolas Combes.

Berthier was born in Saône-et-Loire, France on this day in 1803. As an eight-year old Deaf child, he started attending the National Institute for the Deaf in Paris. His parents hoped he would learn basic vocational and literacy skills to prepare him for a job as a tradesman. However, Berthier thrived in school and drew inspiration from his teachers [such as Laurent Clerc] to pursue a career in education. After further schooling, he returned to teach at the National Institute for the Deaf. By age 27, he became one of the school’s most senior professors.

In 1834, Berthier organized the first silent banquet for Deaf Frenchmen. In the following years, women, journalists, and government officials began to attend the annual event. Berthier also successfully petitioned the French government to create an organization that represented the Deaf community's interests. The Société Centrale des Sourds-muets was born. The first formalized group of its kind, it helped organize adult education classes and mutual aid efforts for people with Deafness.

After becoming a public figure through those initiatives, Berthier used his newfound fame to spotlight other inspiring Deaf people and teachings. He wrote books about the history of sign language and biographies about those who fought for Deaf rights, often referencing sign-language poets as authors in his work. Meanwhile, he pushed Société Centrale des Sourds-muets to become a global organization. In 1849, Berthier received the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur — the first Deaf person to be awarded France’s highest honor.

Berthier remains one of the key activists for Deaf rights, and his efforts advanced education and perception of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community across Europe and America. Today, silent banquets are still held around the world.

Berthier's work also helped to raise awareness of the importance of sign language and Deaf culture, and to promote the use of sign language in Deaf education. As a result of the hard work and advocacy of Berthier, Deaf and hard of hearing people are now able to enjoy more of their human rights than ever before including access to medical care, and the right to drive vehicles.

Happy Birthday, Ferdinand Berthier!

[9A]

Jun 08, 2023

Yukie Chiri's 120th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 120th birthday of Ainu translator, Yukie Chiri and was illustrated by guest artist Yumi Koizumi. The Ainu are an Indigenous group of people that live in the northern regions of Japan. When they were forced to relocate and assimilate into Japanese culture during the early 1900s, Chiri created an anthology of Ainu epic tales, called yukar, to ensure their stories and culture were properly preserved.

Chiri was born on this day in 1903 in Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido during a time when the Ainu people were being forced to adopt traditional Japanese values. As a girl, she was sent to live with her aunt in Asahikawa and learned both Japanese and Ainu. She was a gifted student and excelled in language arts.

When she was a teenager, Chiri met a Japanese linguist named Kyōsuke Kindaiachi who was working to record Ainu folklore and traditions. She decided to dedicate the rest of her life to transcribing and translating yukar and eventually created an anthology, Ainu Shinyōshū [or A Collection of the Ainu Epics of the Gods]. This was an especially difficult task since yukar are oral works meant to be chanted.

Because of Chiri’s work, many readers started to respect the Ainu culture. Today, many still reference Chiri’s anthology as the primary reputable source for Ainu traditions and culture.

Happy birthday Yukie Chiri!

[9A]

Apr 08, 2023

José Álvares de Azevedo's 189th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 189th birthday of José Álvares de Azevedo. He was titled the Patron of Education for the Blind and creator of the first school for the blind in Brazil. His birthday is also National Braille Day.

Azevedo was born on this day in 1834 in Rio de Janeiro. He was born blind and was known to be extremely intelligent and endlessly curious as a child — he investigated the world around him through touch. His family sent him to the Royal Institute of Blind Young People in Paris, the only school specialized in education for the blind, from age 10 to 16. Azevedo attended the school at a time when it was experimenting with the newly-introduced braille writing system.

He returned to Brazil in 1850 inspired by two goals: to advocate for the social inclusion of blind people in his country, and to create a school much like the one he studied at in Paris. Azevedo gave lectures about the ease and importance of educating the blind wherever he could, from family homes to the Imperial Court. He also taught his fellow blind Brazilians how to read and write in braille.

One of his students was the daughter of the Imperial Court’s physician. The doctor, impressed by his daughter’s development, organized an audience with the Brazilian emperor. Azevedo gave a moving presentation and showed what a visually-disabled person could achieve.

He was granted the resources to open the country’s first school for the blind, the Imperial Instituto dos Meninos Cegos [or the Imperial Institute of Blind Children]. Today, the school continues its education program as the Instituto Benjamin Constant, and has expanded its offerings to include physical education, acting classes, self-care and daily living guidance, and more.

Happy birthday, José Álvares de Azevedo!

[9A]

May 10, 2023

Dr. Sulianti Saroso's 106th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates Prof. Dr. Julie Sulianti Saroso who was one of Indonesia’s first female doctors and was illustrated by guest artist Lenny. Prof. Dr. Saroso dedicated her life to helping vulnerable communities access quality healthcare.

Sulianti Saroso was born on this day in 1917 in Karangasem, Bali. Her father was a doctor and inspired her interest in medicine at a young age.

She went on to graduate with a medical degree from Geneeskundige Hoge School in 1942 and continued her education in Europe and the United States, where she earned several advanced degrees in public health.

Prof. Dr. Saroso also received a World Health Organization [WHO] scholarship to study maternal and child healthcare systems across Europe. When she returned to Indonesia in 1952, she helped bring birth control and family planning education to her homeland.

Shortly after her return, she joined the Ministry of Health to lead programs that improve healthcare access for women, children, and villagers.

After a long and successful career in public health, Prof. Dr. Saroso began teaching at Airlangga University in 1969 and helped train the next generation of doctors and healthcare workers.

She went on to become the second female President of the World Health Assembly and served in several distinguished organizations — including the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Maternal and Child Health, the UN Commission on Community Development in African Countries, and the Indonesian Women's National Commission.

Happy 106th birthday, Prof. Dr. Julie Sulianti Saroso! Your unwavering commitment to healthcare equity changed the course of medicine in Indonesia. The Prof. Dr. Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital in Jakarta carries on your legacy.

[9A]

Nov 15, 2022

Hamed Gohar's 115th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 115th birthday of Hamed Gahar, a renowned Egyptian scientist, marine biologist and TV host. He is considered the founding father of oceanography in Egypt and the Arab world, and hosted an educational show called “Sea World” for 18 years.

Gohar was born on this day in 1907 in Cairo, Egypt. He was a gifted student from an early age and studied medicine at Cairo University in 1925. However, he decided to pursue biology and received his master’s degree in oceanography from Cambridge University in 1931. Gohar then began researching xenia, or soft coral, along the coast of the Red Sea.

Gohar discovered that dugong, a sea mammal that was thought to be extinct in the region, still existed in the Red Sea. He continued studying underwater life for 25 years at the Hurghada marine biological station, and it’s rumored that he never ate fish due to his love for sea creatures.

Gohar made several contributions to Egyptian and Arabic marine biology. He worked with the Arabic Language Academy to create scientific dictionaries in Arabic. He also served as an adviser to the United Nations’ Secretary General and helped organize the first International Conference on Law of the Sea in Geneva.

An entire generation of Arabs know Gohar from his popular TV show, “Sea World”, which he hosted for more than 18 years. By highlighting underwater scenery and natural sea life, Gohar gifted Arabs with inspiring knowledge about marine biology, and is remembered today for his distinct voice and unending love for the ocean.

Happy 115th birthday, Hamed Gohar!

[9A]

Sep 02, 2021

Rudolf Weigl's 138th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 138th birthday of Polish inventor, doctor, and immunologist Rudolf Weigl. He produced the first effective vaccine against epidemic typhus—one of humanity’s oldest and most infectious diseases.

On this day in 1883, Rudolf Stefan Weigl was born in the Austro-Hungarian town of Przerów [modern-day Czech Republic]. He went on to study biological sciences at Poland’s Lwów University and was appointed as a parasitologist in the Polish Army in 1914. As millions across Eastern Europe were plagued by typhus, Weigl became determined to stop its spread.

Body lice were known to carry the typhus-infecting bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii, so Weigl adapted the tiny insect into a laboratory specimen. His innovative research revealed how to use lice to propagate the deadly bacteria which he studied for decades with the hope of developing a vaccine. In 1936, Weigl’s vaccine successfully inoculated its first beneficiary. When Germany occupied Poland during the outbreak of the Second World War, Weigl was forced to open a vaccine production plant. He used the facility to hire friends and colleagues at risk of persecution under the new regime.

An estimated 5,000 people were saved due to Weigl’s work during this period--both due to his direct efforts to protect his neighbors and to the thousands of vaccine doses distributed nationwide. Today, Weigl is widely lauded as a remarkable scientist and hero. His work has been honored by not one but two Nobel Prize nominations!

From studying a tiny louse to saving thousands of human lives, the impacts your tireless work had on the world are felt to this day—Happy Birthday, Rudolf Weigl!

[9A]

Apr 26, 2021

Anne McLaren's 94th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 94th birthday of British scientist and author Anne McLaren, who is widely considered one of the most significant reproductive biologists of the 20th century. Her fundamental research on embryology has helped countless people realize their dreams of parenthood.

Anne McLaren was born in London on this day in 1927. As a child, she had a small role in the 1936 H.G. Wells’ sci-fi film “The Shape of Things to Come.” In the scene—set in 2054—her great-grandfather lectured her on the advancement of space technology that had put mice on the moon. McLaren credits this formative, albeit fictional, history lesson as one of the early inspirations for her love of science. She went on to study zoology at the University of Oxford, where her passion for science only grew as she learned from talented biologists such as Peter Medawar—a Nobel laureate for his research on the human immune system.

In the 1950s, McLaren began to work with mice to further understand the biology of mammalian development. While the subjects of her research were tiny, the implications of their study proved massive. By successfully growing mouse embryos in vitro [in lab equipment], McLaren and her colleague John Biggers demonstrated the possibility to create healthy embryos outside of the mother’s womb.

These landmark findings—published in 1958—paved the way for the development of in vitro fertilization [IVF] technology that scientists first used successfully with humans twenty years later. However, the development of IVF technology carried major ethical controversy along with it. To this end, McLaren served as the only research scientist on the Warnock Committee [est. 1982], a governmental body dedicated to the development of policies related to the advances in IVF technology and embryology. Her expert council to the committee played an essential role in the enactment of the 1990 Human Fertilization and Embryology Act—watershed, yet contentious, legislation which limits in-vitro culture of human embryos to 14-days post embryo creation.

In 1991, McLaren was appointed Foreign Secretary, and later vice-president, of the world’s oldest scientific institution—The Royal Society—at the time becoming the first woman to ever hold office within the institution’s 330-year-old history.

McLaren discovered her passion for learning at a young age and aspired to spark this same enthusiasm for science in children and society at large. In 1994, the British Association for the Advancement of Science—an institution dedicated to the promotion of science to the general public [now the British Science Association]—elected her as its president. Through the organization and its events, McLaren engaged audiences across Britain on the wonders of science, engineering, and technology with the aim of making these topics more accessible to everyone.

Happy birthday, Anne McLaren. Thank you for all your incredible work and for inspiring many new generations to come because of it!

[9A]

Jul 07, 2020

Natalia Bekhtereva’s 96th Birthday



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Moscow-born guest artist Victoria Semykina, celebrates the 96th birthday of prolific Russian neuroscientist Dr. Natalia Bekhtereva, who committed her life to the mission of demystifying the workings of the human brain. Her pioneering research led to crucial breakthroughs in the understanding of human cognition, and she improved many lives by laying the foundation for new treatments of nervous system diseases.

Dr. Natalia Petrovna Bekhtereva was born on this day in 1924 in Leningrad, Russia. As a child, she was determined to succeed and willed herself to the head of her class. Dr. Bekhtereva graduated from medical school in 1947 and then turned her focus to neurophysiology, following in the footsteps of her grandfather Vladimir Bekhterev, a legendary scientist in that field. In 1950, Bekhtereva began as a junior researcher with the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, where she spent decades and eventually became the director of the Institute of Experimental Medicine.

Through her research, Dr. Bekhtereva made huge strides in the scientific understanding of how the brain works, including how different neurological structures and processes are linked together. She also contributed to breakthroughs in the study of chronic nervous system disorders and pioneered less invasive surgical methods to diagnose and treat them. In 1990, Dr. Bekhtereva founded the Institute of the Human Brain of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which today bears her name and continues to push forward her life’s mission.

Dr. Bekhtereva received numerous international awards for her work and authored over 360 scientific papers throughout her storied career.

С Днем Рождения, Dr. Natalia Bekhtereva, and thank you for helping to explore the mysteries of the human brain!

[9A]

Dec 17, 2023

Celebrating Ha Long Bay


This Doodle celebrates Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, one of the seven new natural wonders of the world. Ha Long Bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin and was formed some 3 million years ago. Its name in Vietnamese, Vinh Ha Long, means “where the dragon descends to the sea.”

[9A]

Sep 17, 2023

Celebrating Picos de Europa




Today’s Doodle celebrates Picos de Europa National Park. Spread across 11 villages in northern Spain, the park is home to meadows, lakes, and a steep, sloping mountain range. On this day in 2001, the Bulnes cable car was inaugurated, which ended the isolation of the town of Bulnes which is located in the Picos de Europa. The Bulnes train station can be spotted within the second “G” in today’s Doodle artwork!

The park’s natural beauty and abundant resources attract more than millions of visitors annually. From flourishing grasslands to dense forests, its 67,127 hectares provide ideal dwelling places for protected species like bearded vultures, brown bears, and Iberian wolves. The Cantabrian chamois has become the unofficial mascot of the park. Statues of the mountain goat antelope decorate trail signs and lodging throughout. Picos De Europa is also a flower enthusiast's paradise with over 40 orchid species and rare fauna like the pulsatilla rubra — known for its vibrant red petals with golden yellow stamens.

In 2003, UNESCO approved Biosphere Reserve status for the park, establishing it as a site for scientific work. Nearly a decade later, Spain extended the park’s boundaries to its current size. Today, Picos de Europa remains one of nature’s wonders and reminds us why we should protect it.

[9A]

Jan 14, 2021

Petr Semenov-Tian-Shansky's 194th Birthday

Today’s Doodle celebrates the multi-talented Russian geographer, author, and statistician Petr Petrovich Semenov-Tian-Shansky. A pioneering explorer of Asia’s Tien Shan mountain system, Semenov made huge strides in varied fields including geography, botany, statistics, and economics—all while amassing a comprehensive collection of Dutch and Flemish artwork and over 700,00 insects.

Petr Petrovich Semenov was born into a wealthy family on this day in 1827 near the city of Ryazan in Western Russia. He took an interest in botany and history as a child and went on to study natural sciences at St. Petersburg University. Following his graduation, he was admitted to the prestigious Russian Geographical Society, where he set out to translate work by the famous German geographer Karl Ritter. It was this project that first inspired Semenov to explore Central Asia’s Tien Shan mountain range, which was almost entirely uncharted by western scientists.

In 1856, Semenov embarked on his legendary first expedition of the Tien Shan. Over the course of two journeys, he classified enormous areas of mountainous terrain, and discovered eight new plant species. After his return, Semenov was elected vice president of the Russian Geographical Society and encouraged a new generation to follow in his footsteps as explorers. Semenov became a senator in 1882 and went on to spearhead Russia’s first population census in 1897.

In honor of his geographic accomplishments, Semenov was given the honorific title of Tian-Shansky on the 50-year anniversary of his iconic excursion.

Happy birthday to a fearless adventurer who reached the highest peaks of scientific progress.

[9A]

Jun 30, 2019

Celebrating Puerto Princesa Underground River




Something strange happens on the Philippine island of Palawan when the Cabayugan River reaches the 1,000-meter [3,280.8-feet] high limestone mountain called Saint Paul: the flowing water vanishes under the earth. Today’s Doodle celebrates the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a Philippines National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site protected by the Ramsar Convention on this day in 2012.

An international body created for the conservation of important wetlands, Ramsar designated this underground river as “unique in the biogeographic region because it connects a range of important ecosystems from the mountain-to-the-sea, including a limestone karst landscape with a complex cave system, mangrove forests, lowland evergreen tropical rainforests, and freshwater swamps.”

The river is one of the world’s longest underground waterways at 8.2-kilometers [5.1-miles]—and one of the few that flows into the sea, creating the largest subterranean estuary in the world. Small boats carry sightseers underground to marvel at dramatic stalactite and stalagmite formations.

The 24-kilometer [14.9-mile] matrix of caves—including the 360-meter [1181.1-feet] long, 80-meter [262.5-feet] high Italian’s Chamber, one of the largest cave halls in the world—is home to some 800 plant species as well as many animals found nowhere else, including giant spiders, crabs, fish, and snakes, as well as bats, swallows, and fossils dating back millions of years. The critically endangered Philippine cockatoo and Hawksbill turtle, and the endangered Green sea turtle and Nordmann’s greenshank are just a few of the protected species who survive in this one-of-a-kind habitat.

[9A]

Jun 30, 2021

Celebrating the Wadden Sea



Today’s Doodle celebrates the Wadden Sea, the world’s largest network of intertidal sand and mudflats, which spans the coastlines of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. On this day in 2009, UNESCO designated the Wadden Sea a World Heritage Site in recognition of its unparalleled ecological and geological importance and the decades of effort dedicated to its preservation.

Created by storms during the 14th and 15th centuries, the Wadden Sea is a relatively young wetland environment that comprises one of the world’s last remaining undisturbed intertidal ecosystems. This magnificent stretch of sea and sand houses numerous plant and animal species, including the grey seal and harbor porpoise. Considered one of the most critical regions globally for migratory birds, it’s estimated that the wetlands are visited by over 10 million African-Eurasian birds annually and can harbor up to 6.1 million birds at once!

The Wadden Sea isn’t just a pristine habitat for wildlife—popular ways human visitors enjoy the scenery include exploring the mudflats at low tide or touring the barrier islands by boat. However, it's vital for tourists to respect the site’s essential role in maintaining global biodiversity. Current conservation efforts are grounded in a strategic partnership between UNESCO, environmental NGOs, the Wadden Sea Forum, and the governments of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands so that future generations can enjoy this natural phenomenon.

Here’s to the Wadden Sea and preserving over 4,000 square miles of the natural world!

[9A]

24 Nov 2020

Celebrating Mariachi







Today’s video Doodle celebrates a quintessential element of Mexico’s rich cultural heritage: the musical genre of Mariachi. Mariachi is typically characterized by a small group of musicians dressed in traditional clothing who perform a wide repertoire of Mexican songs on mostly stringed instruments [the term Mariachi can refer to either the music or the musicians themselves]. During a session held the week of November 22, 2011 UNESCO inscribed Mariachi on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Mariachi tradition was born in west-central Mexico around the turn of the 19th century, though its exact origins remain unknown. At first, the genre was strictly instrumental, composed of the sounds of stringed instruments, and eventually vocals and the trumpet were added to the mix. In modern times, Mariachi music has been combined with elements of diverse genres from jazz to reggae. Singers often add in their best grito to express the emotion of the vibrant music! No matter the variation, Mariachi remains a strong representation of Mexican history and culture.

Today’s video Doodle features a Mariachi serenade of the classic song, Cielito Lindo. More than just music, Cielito Lindo [which roughly translates from Spanish as “lovely sweet one”] is a symbol of Mexican pride and community.The Mariachi band is depicted playing the staple instruments of the musical genre—including the guitarrón [a six-string bass], vihuela [a five-string guitar], violin, trumpet, and harp—and wearing traditional trajes de charro [charro suits].

¡Que viva el Mariachi!

[9A]

7 Sept 2019

Celebrating Marcelle Ferron





“My aim has always been modest. I wanted to transform the arranged marriage [of art and architecture] into a love match.” ​—Marcelle Ferron

Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and work of the renowned Canadian painter, sculptor, and glassmaker, whose famous installation in Montreal’s Vendôme station was unveiled on this day in 1981. Marcelle Ferron’s striking design combined colorful stained glass with a spiraling stainless steel sculpture, a unique style that inspired the Doodle’s art.

Born in 1924, Ferron studied at the École des beaux-arts de Québec, but left upon realizing she was unable to find answers to her questions about modern art. Upon meeting Québec abstract painter Paul-Émile Borduas, she joined his Automatiste group and became one of the youngest artists to sign their 1948 manifesto Refus global. Ferron went on to spend 13 years painting in Paris, exhibiting her work at the 1961 São Paulo Biennial in Brazil, where she won a silver medal.

Her meeting with glassmaker Michel Blum sparked an interest in glass as an art medium. Over time, she devised her own methods, building “walls of light” connected by invisible joints that allowed her to create large planes of color. These innovative techniques can be seen in her mural for Expo 67 and public commissions in the Champ-de-Mars train station, Sainte-Justine Hospital, and the Granby courthouse.

Throughout her 50-year career, Ferron became one of Canada’s most important contemporary artists and was made a Knight of the National Order of Québec in 1985, then promoted to Grand Officer in 2000. This restless visionary’s achievements blazed a trail for women aspiring to make a mark in what was a traditionally male-dominated space.

[9A]

12 September 2014

Ernesto Carneiro Ribeiro's 175th Birthday



Fellow grammarians, today you meet your hero on our homepage in Brazil. We’re celebrating the 175th birthday of linguist, educator and physician Ernesto Carneiro Ribeiro, who worked to revise Brazil’s official grammar code to include conversational speech.

[9A]

29 November 2015

42nd Anniversary of the official recognition of the letter ё




Google says:

The diaeresis [the two dots] signifies that the underlying “e” is pronounced as /ɛ/ [[as “e” in “bet”, i.e. the open e), no matter what comes around it, and is used in groups of vowels that would otherwise be pronounced differently.

It is not believe to be used in English language.

According to Wikipedia:

Ye, Je, or Ie [Е е; italics: Е е] is a letter of the Cyrillic script. In some languages this letter is called E. It looks like another version of E [Cyrillic].

It commonly represents the vowel [e] or [ɛ], like the pronunciation of ⟨e⟩ in "yes".

[9A]

Feb 09, 2022

150th Anniversary of the State Historical Museum



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Russian-guest artist Toma Vagner, celebrates the State Historical Museum, one of the most important repositories of the nation’s centuries-long culture and history. Established in Moscow 150 years ago today with the mission of both commemorating Russian history and archiving its cultural development, the storied museum holds artifacts from antiquity to the start of the 20th century.

The museum’s 39 halls include relics such as an excavated longboat; Scythian gold artifacts; glass and ceramic masterpieces; belongings of Tsars such as Ivan IV the Terrible and Peter I; and the birch bark manuscripts of Novgorod, Russia’s first city. In total, there are an estimated 4.5 million pieces of Russian history and culture showcased in various themed exhibitions, including the largest collections of coins in Russia. A comprehensive genealogical tree of Russian rulers, accompanied by their portraits, is one of the museum’s centerpieces.

From 1986 to 1997, the giant crimson museum was restored, allowing visitors a glimpse into the building’s former grandeur of the late 1800s. Its permanent collection includes rare artifacts found nowhere else in Russia such as maps, iconography, engravings, early printed books, ancient textiles, and masterful works of art—all of which tell the nation’s story to each guest who walks its halls.

Happy 150th Anniversary, State Historical Museum!

[9A]

Aug 13, 2023

Gluck’s 128th Birthday


Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Manchester-based guest artist Sonny Ross, celebrates British artist Gluck’s 128th birthday. Known for their iconic portraits and picture-frame design, Gluck also painted over gender norms by refusing to use any forename or prefix [such as Miss or Mr].

On this day in 1895, Gluck was born into a successful family in London. While attending St. Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith, Gluck won a Royal Drawing Society Silver Star. They attended St. John’s Wood School of Art before moving to the village of Lamorna in Cornwall, a hot spot for artists. In Larmorna’s community, Gluck began defying traditional fashion and gender appearances. When an art society identified Gluck as “Miss Gluck” on its letterhead, Gluck immediately resigned.

Refusing to identify with an artistic school or movement, Gluck chose to only show their work in solo exhibitions. In 1924, they showcased 56 paintings at the Dorien Leigh Galleries in London. Every single painting sold and the floral paintings gained popularity among local interior designers.

In 1932, Gluck designed and patented a picture frame, later known as the Gluck frame. The three-tiered design, which traditionally matched the color of the wall it hung on, gave the illusion that its painting was part of the wall’s architecture. The British Art in Industry exhibitions debuted the design, which again attracted the attention of interior designers.

Inspired by the production of a Mozart opera, Gluck painted Medallion in 1936. The dual portrait of them and their lover is now an iconic lesbian statement and one of the most famous depictions of a lesbian relationship.

Gluck also fought for change in the arts industry. Dissatisfied with the quality of available paints for artist work, Gluck spent ten years campaigning to create a new standard for oil paints — and the British Standards Institution ultimately conceded.

In 1973, Gluck held their final exhibition and debuted over fifty paintings from throughout their career.

Gluck refused to compromise artistically and personally, and their legacy continues to inspire countless artists to express themselves freely. Happy Birthday, Gluck!

[9A]

Dec 17, 2022

Celebrating Ana Mercedes Hoyos




Today’s Doodle celebrates Ana Mercedes Hoyos, a distinguished Colombian artist. She was an award-winning painter and sculptor who won over seventeen national and international awards. Hoyos was a pioneer in modern art who focused on the complexities of Colombian culture. On this day in 1968, Hoyos was awarded first place in the Bogotá Museum of Modern Arts’ “Environmental Spaces” exhibition.

Born to a family of architects in Bogotá, Colombia on September 29, 1942, Hoyos was encouraged to study art history from an early age. She attended Colegia Marymount before studying visual arts at the University of Andes. She first explored more minimalistic and abstract styles, which led to her first series Ventanas [Windows]. Many consider this collection the turning point of her career, as it won the Colombian National Salon of Artists’ Caracas Prize.

In the next few decades, Hoyos ventured into new realms. In the mid 1970s, she released Atmósferas [Atmospheres], a series exploring the parameters of light that won international recognition. She then created works featuring flora and fruit typically found in Cartagena, where she lived in the 1980s.

Hoyos’ artistic journey eventually led her to still-life paintings that examined the multicultural diversity of Colombia. These still lifes combined exaggerated light with explosive tropical colors to capture the Caribbean’s rich cultures and sceneries. Hoyos’ paintings portrayed Afro-Colombian heritage in a magical, mesmerizing way.

Nowadays, people can enjoy her work far and wide at renowned art institutions like the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, the United Nations University in Tokyo, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C., and perhaps most importantly, the Bogotá Museum of Modern Art, where her journey started.

[9A]

Mar 02, 2023

Lola Cueto's 126th Birthday





Today’s animated Doodle celebrates the 126th birthday of Mexican artist Lola Cueto. This tapestry designer, toy collector, engraver, teacher, and puppet master was born in Mexico City on this day in 1897 as María Dolores Velázquez Rivas.

Lola Cueto’s creativity was evident when she was very young. At age 12, she became one of the first women to enroll at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes [National School of Fine Arts] at San Carlos Academy. Her art training continued after the Mexican Revolution at the Santa Anita Outdoor Painting School, where she was the only woman in her class.

Cueto broke into the male-dominated embroidery field by combining traditional designs from Indigenous culture with new technology in the form of embroidery machines. She moved to Paris in 1927 with her husband, an avant-garde sculptor, where the pair became involved in a community of artists. Cueto’s intricate tapestry work was displayed at their joint exhibitions, and she used the chain technique to depict French cathedrals in her embroidery.

She moved back to Mexico City with her husband and two daughters in 1932, where she mastered engraving, pioneered puppet theater, and began to teach art at Mexico City College. Cueto was one of the artists that founded the League of Revolutionary Writers and Artists [LEAR], a cohort of creatives against the censorship of art. Through this, she created the first glove puppet dolls in Mexico. Her interests spanned into theater as well, with Cueto founding three puppet theater companies called Rin Run, El Nahual, and El Colorín. She used her puppet shows to entertain and educate children in fun ways.

A variety of her work can be viewed and enjoyed today. The dozens of puppets she fashioned are at the National School of Fine Arts, while the Met Museum houses several of her etchings and tapestries. Some of her toy collection and paper cuttings are at the Cultural Center at Santa Domingo.

Happy birthday, Lola Cueto! Thank you for pushing the needle forward for female artists.

[9A]

Jun 11, 2022

Francesca Sanna Sulis's 306th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 306th birthday of Donna Francesca Sanna Sulis. She was an Italian fashion designer who defied gender stereotypes in the 18th century by building a highly successful business. Known as the Mulberry Woman, she used mulberry silk to design exquisite dresses for notable women across Europe.

Sulis was born on this day in 1716 in southern Sardinia, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Growing up on her family’s farms, she learned how to manage a business. At age 19, she married her husband and they moved to his family’s estate on a mulberry tree farm that cultivated silkworms. Pretty soon, Sulis was overseeing the entire silk production chain — from ensuring the worms had enough mulberry leaves to eat, to extracting silk threads from cocoons. As Sulis took over the business, she invested in modern looms and transformed the estate into an advanced silk manufacturing site.

Little did she know, her business would revolutionize the entire fashion industry. Before Sulis started designing dresses, society expected noble women to wear traditional gowns that were rigid and heavy. If women refused to wear such uncomfortable dresses, they risked being outcasts.

Refusing to let women suffer in painful dresses, Sulis challenged oppressive fashion trends by designing mulberry silk gowns that were both elegant and comfortable. Her designs became so popular that the princesses from the House of Savoy, Italy’s last royal family, and Catherine the Great became her customers.

When she wasn’t designing gowns for royalty, she dedicated her free time to empowering women in her community. She ran a vocational school that taught hundreds of women the lucrative arts of spinning, weaving, tailoring and even botany. Upon completing the courses, women received a free loom and financial independence. Today, you can find Sulis’s historic dresses on display at the Donna Francesca Sanna Sulis Museum in Muravera and at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where there is a portrait of Catherine the Great donned in one of Sulis’s gowns.

Happy birthday, Donna Francesca Sanna Sulis!

[9A]

Aug 04, 2023

Altina Schinasi's 116th Birthday


Today’s Doodle celebrates the life of Altina “Tina” Schinasi, an American artist, designer, and inventor most known for designing the Harlequin eyeglass frame — known today as the widely popular “cat-eye” eyeglass frame. Schinasi also patented several other inventions throughout her career and produced documentaries.

Schinasi was born on this day in 1907 in Manhattan, New York to immigrant parents. Her mother was a native of Salonica [then in the Ottoman Empire] and her father was a Sephardic Jewish Turk. After graduating high school, Schinasi studied painting in Paris, which sparked her appreciation for the arts. Once back in the US, she studied art at The Art Students League in New York and took a position as a window dresser for multiple stores on Fifth Avenue. During this time, she found herself working with and learning from prominent artists she admired such as Salvador Dalí and George Grosz.

Schinasi’s time working as a window display designer inspired the creation of her now-famous “cat-eye” frames. At the window display of a nearby optician's office, she noticed that the only option for women’s glasses tended to be round frames with mundane designs. This observation inspired Schinasi to create a different option for women, mimicking the shape of the Harlequin masks she saw people wearing in Venice, Italy during the Carnevale festival. She found the pointed edges flattering to the face and started by cutting paper demos of her innovative frame design.

Schinasi approached all of the major manufacturers with her creation — all of which rejected her, claiming her design was too edgy. But, she didn’t give up. She struck luck when a local shop owner believed in her vision and asked for an exclusive design for six months. To their delight, the Harlequin glasses quickly became a success, earning Schansi much publicity. By the late 1930s and through the 1940s, Harlequin glasses became an overwhelming fashion accessory among women in the US. Schinasi was awarded the Lord & Taylor American Design Award in 1939 for her invention, and was recognized by major magazines including Vogue and Life.

Already an established and successful artist, Schinasi also ventured into the world of film. In 1960, she produced a documentary about the celebrated artist and her former teacher George Grosz titled George Grosz' Interregnum. It was nominated for an Academy Award and won first place at the Venice Film Festival.

In her later years, Schinasi did not slow down. She wrote and published her memoir The Road I Have Traveled [1995], volunteered as an art therapist, and even invented unique portrait chairs and benches which she called Chairacters.

Today, almost 100 years after its inception, Altina’s cat-eye design continues its influence in fashion accessory trends worldwide.

Happy birthday to the woman who was a visionary in more ways than one!

[9A]

Jan 28, 2017

Lunar New Year 2017



With traditional foods, glowing lanterns, and lots of red, today’s Doodle welcomes the Year of the Rooster.

A time of celebration with family and friends, Lunar New Year falls on the first new moon between January 21 and February 20 each year. While this means the date is always changing, the traditions surrounding the holiday have long been the same. In the US, Asian-American communities host festivals across the country – the oldest and largest of which is in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

At these events, red decor and envelopes abound, while lion dancers, giant puppets, and firecrackers fill the streets. Legend has it that many of these traditions stem from fending off the Nian, a mythical beast that would attack an ancient village each New Year’s Day. With the help of a mysterious old man, villagers discovered that the creature was afraid of the color red, as well as loud noises — and so the festivities began. Although the Nian never did return, the celebrations most certainly did.

Here’s to health, happiness, and good fortune in the new year!

[9A]

Jan 14, 2011

Festival of Kites 2011


Every year, Gujarat celebrates more than 200 festivals. The International Kite Festival [Uttarayan] is one of the biggest festivals celebrated. Months beforehand, homes in Gujarat begin to manufacture kites for the festival.

The festival of Uttarayan marks the day when winter begins to turn into summer, according to the Indian calendar. It is the sign for farmers that the sun is back and that harvest season, Makara Sankranti/Mahasankranti, is approaching. This is considered one of the most important harvest days in India as it also marks the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season. Many cities in Gujarat organize kite competitions among their citizens.

In this region of Gujarat and many other states, Uttarayan is such a huge celebration that it has become a public holiday in India lasting two days. During the festival, local food such as undhiyu [a mixed vegetable including yam and beans], chikki [sesame seed brittle] and jalebi are served to the crowds. Days before the festival, the market is filled with participants buying their supplies.

In 2012, the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat mentioned that the International Kite Festival in Gujarat was attempting to enter the Guinness World Records book due to the participation of 42 countries in it that year.

[9A]

March 12, 2013

André Le Nôtre's 400th Birthday






André Le Nôtre originally rendered as André Le Nostre, was a French landscape architect and the principal gardener of King Louis XIV of France. He was the landscape architect who designed the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, and his work represents the height of the French formal garden style, or jardin à la française.

[9A]

April 14, 2017

56th Anniversary of Xingu Indigenous Park





Officially dedicated in 1961, Xingu Indigenous Park celebrates its 56th anniversary today. The park is located in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso and spans 6,528,530 acres of savannah and forest. Xingu’s primary goal was to protect the social diversity of Brazil’s indigenous people, and was created after a long campaign by activist brothers, Orlando and Leonardo Villas-Bôas. Some of the tribes that call Xingu home are the Kamayurá, Kaiabi, Yudjá, Aweti, Mehinako, Wauja, Yawalapiti, Ikpeng, Kalapalo, Kuikuro, Matipu, Nahukwá, Suyá, and Trumai. In all, several thousand indigenous people live within the park’s boundaries.

Today’s Doodle puts Xingu indigenous culture on full display. Hugged tightly by the all-important Xingu River, the design incorporates Xingu cultural elements like fishing baskets, cassava root, buildings, and headdress.

[9A]

May 24, 2019

Concha Michel’s 120th Birthday





She sang duets with Frida Kahlo, performed for John D. Rockefeller, modeled for Diego Rivera, and traveled the world supported only by her voice and her guitar. Today’s Doodle by Mexico-based guest artist Emilia Schettino celebrates the life of the Mexican musician, folklorist, and activist Concha Michel.

Born in Villa de Purificación, Jalisco, on this day in 1899, Concepción Michel was described as “ungovernable” as a child but fell in love with music early, learning to sing and play guitar at a Catholic convent founded by her grandfather.

Known for her indigenous Mexican attire, Michel wore embroidered dresses with braided hair in the style of Mexico’s Tehuana women. She traveled throughout Mexico learning traditional songs and singing her own corridos revolucionarios or revolutionary ballads, becoming one of the few women singing this traditional Mexican form at the time.

During the 1930s she traveled to the United States where she performed at the Museum of Modern Art and the Rockefeller’s grand home. Proceeds of her performances paid for trips to Europe and the Soviet Union, where she met feminist thinkers like Clara Zetkin and Alexandra Kollontai.

In 1950, she established the Folklore Institute in Morelia, Michoacán, part of a lifelong effort to preserve Mexico’s indigenous culture. As she put it in her autobiography, “The world was my university; my graduation, voluntary. My experience was direct, confirmed by life.”

[9A]

Sep 17, 2021

Michiyo Tsujimura's 133rd Birthday




Have you ever wondered why green tea tastes so bitter when steeped for too long? Thanks to Japanese educator and biochemist Michiyo Tsujimura, and her groundbreaking research into the nutritional benefits of green tea, science has the answers. Today’s Doodle celebrates Michiyo Tsujimura on her 133rd birthday.

Michiyo Tsujimura was born on this day in 1888 in Okegawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. She spent her early career teaching science. In 1920, she chased her dream of becoming a scientific researcher at Hokkaido Imperial University where she began to analyze the nutritional properties of Japanese silkworms.

A few years later, Tsujimura transferred to Tokyo Imperial University and began researching the biochemistry of green tea alongside Dr. Umetaro Suzuki, famed for his discovery of vitamin B1. Their joint research revealed that green tea contained significant amounts of vitamin C—the first of many yet unknown molecular compounds in green tea that awaited under the microscope. In 1929, she isolated catechin—a bitter ingredient of tea. Then, the next year she isolated tannin, an even more bitter compound. These findings formed the foundation for her doctoral thesis, “On the Chemical Components of Green Tea” when she graduated as Japan’s first woman doctor of agriculture in 1932.

Outside of her research, Dr. Tsujimura also made history as an educator when she became the first Dean of the Faculty of Home Economics at Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School in 1950. Today, a stone memorial in honor of Dr.Tsujimura’s achievements can be found in her birthplace of Okegawa City.

Happy Birthday, Michiyo Tsujimura!