Carmen Pujals facts for kids

Carmen Pujals (born January 13, 1916 – died October 24, 2003) was an amazing Argentinian botanist. She was a scientist who studied plants, especially tiny sea plants called algae. Carmen was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. When she was five years old, her family moved to Barcelona, Spain.

She started studying biology at the University of Barcelona in 1935. But soon after, her father moved the family back to Buenos Aires. He was worried about the start of the Civil War in Spain. In 1936, Carmen continued her studies at the University of Buenos Aires. She earned a degree in Natural Sciences.

Carmen Pujals' Scientific Work

In 1947, Carmen Pujals began working as a researcher. She worked in laboratories that studied marine phycology. This is the study of algae and other plant-like organisms found in the ocean. Her workplace was the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum. She worked there for a very long time, 52 years!

Exploring Antarctica

Carmen Pujals was part of a special group of four women scientists from Argentina. In November 1968, they traveled to Antarctica. She, along with marine biologist Irene Bernasconi, microbiologist Maria Adela Caria, and marine biologist Elena Martinez Fontes, were the first women from Argentina to visit the continent.

During her time in Antarctica, Carmen studied the plants growing there. She collected many different kinds of Antarctic marine algae. These algae are now kept safely at the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum. She made a second trip to Antarctica in 1971.

In 1971, Carmen Pujals also spent a month collecting seaweed. She gathered these specimens on the Falkland Islands. The British Embassy had asked her to do this important work.

Discovering New Plants

During her career, Carmen Pujals discovered and described two new groups of algae. These new groups are called Medeolthamnion and Camontagne. Discovering new genera (groups) is a big achievement for a botanist.

See also

In Spanish: Carmen Pujals para niños