Elena Diehl (1949-2018): a pioneering woman scientist in the field of myrmecology in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

  • Emilia Zoppas de Albuquerque NMNH Smithsonian
  • Daniela Faria Florencio Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido
  • Luciane Kern Junqueira Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas
  • Fabiana Haubert Centro Municipal de Estudos Ambientais de Sapiranga
  • Franciele Sacchett Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • Marcia Eloisa da Silva
Keywords: Woman in science, Natural history, Formicidae, Genetics, Leaf-cutting ants, Termites

Abstract

The Brazilian myrmecologist Elena Diehl (1949-2018) earned a degree in Natural History in the 1970s from Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, where her scientific career flourished for 36 years. During her career she deepened our understanding of genetics, behavior, biological control, natural history, and diversity of ants and termites in Rio Grande do Sul. One of the highlights of her work was the book “Formigas: organização social e ecologia comportamental” [Ants: social organization and behavioral ecology], published in 1995. She was actively involved in strengthening the undergraduate program in Biological Sciences and creating the postgraduate program in Biology, training and mentoring 64 undergraduate and master’s students, and was editor-in-chief of the journal Acta Biologica Leopoldensia. As head of the Social Insect Genetics Lab, she published 80 articles, one book, and 15 book chapters. To date, the history of myrmecology in Rio Grande do Sul cannot be separated from the history of this researcher. Elena Diehl was a pioneering scientist of her generation, an example of successful female achievement in myrmecology in Rio Grande do Sul and Brazil, and one of the few women to lead a research laboratory in the second half of the 20th century.

Author Biographies

Emilia Zoppas de Albuquerque, NMNH Smithsonian

1School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.

2Natural Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA.

* Todas as autoras contribuíram de forma igual ao manuscrito.

Daniela Faria Florencio, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido

3Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.

* Todas as autoras contribuíram de forma igual ao manuscrito.

Luciane Kern Junqueira, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas

4Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil.

* Todas as autoras contribuíram de forma igual ao manuscrito.

Fabiana Haubert, Centro Municipal de Estudos Ambientais de Sapiranga

5Centro Municipal de Estudos Ambientais de Sapiranga, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

* Todas as autoras contribuíram de forma igual ao manuscrito.

Franciele Sacchett, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

6Laboratório de Genética de Insetos Sociais, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brasil.

* Todas as autoras contribuíram de forma igual ao manuscrito.

Marcia Eloisa da Silva

6Laboratório de Genética de Insetos Sociais, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brasil.

* Todas as autoras contribuíram de forma igual ao manuscrito.

Published
2020-05-28
How to Cite
Zoppas de Albuquerque, E., Faria Florencio, D., Kern Junqueira, L., Haubert, F., Sacchett, F., & da Silva, M. (2020). Elena Diehl (1949-2018): a pioneering woman scientist in the field of myrmecology in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Boletim Do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi - Ciências Naturais, 15(1), 337-356. https://doi.org/10.46357/bcnaturais.v15i1.252