Today's Google Doodle celebrates 107th b'day of Rachel Louise Carson -- writer, scientist, and ecologist. The Google Doodles are so much fun -- and spark a discovery journey to learn more about the subject. Only wish Google would CREDIT THE ARTIST(S). Does anyone know??? (online searching revealed more info and updates added 5/28) Google just credits an anonymous "team of talented illustrators" at this general link on doodles here: http://www.google.com/doodles/about
Info about individual artists -- AND SOMETIMES COMMENTARY FROM THEM ON THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS -- can be found by searching the individual doodle (links added 5/28)
Google Doodles are a wonderful example of how curiosity inspired by an image can help you learn something new every day :)
RACHEL CARSON GOOGLE DOODLE
Here are some links to learn more about Rachel Carson: http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history/themes/public-and-environmental-health/environmental-chemistry/carson.aspx
and here http://www.rachelcarson.org/Biography.aspx#.U4SzqHJdXTp
Carson Doodle is by artist Matthew Criukshank. More on this doodle here:
http://www.google.com/doodles/rachel-louise-carsons-107th-birthday
DOROTHY HODGKIN GOOGLE DOODLE
This graphic design doodle honors scientist Dorothy Hodgkin, a pioneer in work on the structure of chemical crystals. Here's a brief bio from the Facebook page "Physics Today" :
It's the birthday of Dorothy Hodgkin, who was born in 1910 in Cairo, Egypt. Hodgkin studied chemistry at Oxford University and crystallography at Cambridge University. She was a pioneer in the application of crystallography to proteins. With her collaborators she derived the 3D structures of several important biomolecules, including penicillin, vitamin B12 and insulin. Hodgkin was awarded the 1964 Nobel chemistry prize for her discoveries.
Link for more info on Dorothy Hodgkin:
http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history/themes/molecular-synthesis-structure-and-bonding/hodgkin.aspx
Hodgkin Doodle is by Leon Hong. More on this Doodle here:
http://www.google.com/doodles/dorothy-hodgkins-104th-birthday
MARY ANNING GOOGLE DOODLE (This one's still a MYSTERY 5/28)
Mary Anning's Google Doodle celebrated the 215th b'day of the world's first fossil hunter. She was one of the very first women scientists -- and best of all, she was recognized by her peers for her contributions. Learn more on Mary Anning: :http://www.strangescience.net/anning.htm
and here http://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/in-the-museum/mary-anning
and also here http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/anning.html
Doodle post for Mary Anning doesn't seem to credit an individual artist. Here's the link:
http://www.google.com/doodles/mary-annings-215th-birthday
PERCY JULIAN GOOGLE DOODLE
All the images in the doodle above just scratch the surface of the accomplishments of scientist Percy Julian. He held over 100 chemical patents and it's his work that opened the doors to a range of chemicals and plant-based medicines in wide use today. In spite of all the obstacles in his path, and the bitter racism he endured, he refused to give up. In the end, he was a wealthy and recognized leader in business and science. A true visionary and pioneer.
Links on him here:
http://www.chemheritage.org/percy-julian/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/forgotten-genius.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bmjuli.html
This Doodle by Mike Dutton. Link here: http://www.google.com/doodles/percy-julians-115th-birthday
JOHN VENN GOOGLE DOODLE (8.4.14) artist Mike Dutton.
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/08/google-doodle-john-venns-180th-bday-by.html
MARIE CURIE GOOGLE DOODLE
This Doodle from 2011 saluted Marie Curie's 144th b'day -- and arrived in the International Year of Chemistry celebrating (among other things) the 100th anniversary of Marie Curie's individual Nobel prize, won in 1911 for her work in chemistry. The 1911 award made Madame Curie the first person to ever win TWO Nobel prizes. She won her first Nobel prize in 1905 as a shared award with her husband Pierre Curie and another scientist, Henri Becquerel, for their work on radioactivity.
Read more about the Intl Year of Chemistry (IYC) here --
From Chemical Heritage Foundation (one of the best science museums EVER :)
and from Intl Year of Chemistry official website:
For more about Marie Curie:
The artist for the Marie Curie Doodle is Jennifer Horn. Here's more info on the doodle: http://www.google.com/doodles/marie-curies-144th-birthday
Two more favorite doodles -- these honor great women artists:
MARY BLAIR GOOGLE DOODLE
Here's link to Mary Blair official website: http://magicofmaryblair.com/
More on Mary Blair here on the blog -- post from mar 15, 2014 for exhibit at Walt Disney Family Museum.
Here are some books on Mary Blair from the SNB website -- http://stuartngbooks.com/
http://stuartngbooks.com/magic-color-flair-the-world-of-mary-blair.html
http://stuartngbooks.com/blair-babys-house-little-golden-book.html
http://stuartngbooks.com/before-the-animation-begins-the-art-and-lives-of-disney-inspirational-sketch-artists-signed-by-john-canemaker-and-tyrus-wong.html
http://stuartngbooks.com/the-art-of-the-disney-golden-books-pre-order-your-signed-copy.html
This final Google Doodle is for iconic Audrey Hepburn.
Here's official site for Ms. Hepburn: http://www.audreyhepburn.com/menu/index02.php
Doodle by Jennifer Horn. More info here: http://www.google.com/doodles/audrey-hepburns-85th-birthday
If you like the style of this doodle -- and Ms. Hepburn -- you might also enjoy images on blog post here from Oct 4, 2011 for book "Masters of Fashion Illustration" from SNB:
also book on artist Bob Peak, famous for his posters, including My Fair Lady
April 14, 2015 Google Doodle Celebrated 155th Anniversary of the Pony Express... with an interactive video game..
Did you know the Pony Express only lasted about a year (1860-1861). Here's link to historical timeline for Pony Express http://ponyexpress.org/pony-express-historical-timeline/
This link has more info on Google Doodle artist Nate Swinehart and the team behind the Pony Express Doodle and game... https://www.google.com/doodles/155th-anniversary-of-the-pony-express
May 26, 2015 Google Doodle Celebrated 64th b'day of astronaut Sally Ride.
Link below to Google Doodle page contains animation by Nate Swinehart: a behind the scenes look at the doodle, narrated by doodle artist Olivia Huynh and Sally Ride partner Tam O'Shaughnessy, who authored the doodle blog post.
https://www.google.com/doodles/sally-rides-64th-birthday
UPDATE 11.9.15
UPDATE 3.21.16
There is an annual Google Doodle contest for student artists --- K-12.
The contest has state and regional finalists as well as the national winner. The 2016 winner is high school student Akilah Johnson for her doodle "My Afrocentric Life" Here's what she said about her image:" My Afrocentric Google is drawn as a box braid, with my personal characteristics surrounding it. I based this picture off my lifestyle and what has made me into what I am today."
More info on the contest on the Google Doodle website: https://www.google.com/doodle4google/how-it-works.html
UPDATE 6.2.16
Doodle for animation pioneer Lotte Reiniger
art for the doodle ... by Olivia Hyunh
This post includes link to a behind-the-scenes video clip about doodle's creation.
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/google-doodle-for-lotte-reiniger-early.html
UPDATE 6.9.16
Two science gals celebrated by Google Doodles on the same day:
UK Doodle for Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
US Doodle for birder Phoebe Snetsinger (art by Juliana Chen)
links and behind-the-scenes of these doodles in this post: http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/google-doodles-different-doodles.html
UPDATE 6.2.16
Doodle for animation pioneer Lotte Reiniger
art for the doodle ... by Olivia Hyunh
This post includes link to a behind-the-scenes video clip about doodle's creation.
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/google-doodle-for-lotte-reiniger-early.html
UPDATE 6.9.16
Two science gals celebrated by Google Doodles on the same day:
UK Doodle for Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
US Doodle for birder Phoebe Snetsinger (art by Juliana Chen)
links and behind-the-scenes of these doodles in this post: http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/google-doodles-different-doodles.html
UPDATE 9.9.20
Links for 2020 Google Doodle posts
Jackie Ormes 9.3.20
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2020/09/google-doodle-jackie-ormes.html
Jackie Ormes 9.3.20
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2020/09/google-doodle-jackie-ormes.html
Alexandre Dumas 8.28.20
Barbara Hepworth 8.20
Juneteenth 6.20
Hawaiian icon Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole 5.20
Martin Luther King Jr Day 1.20
Juneteenth 20201