User:Tmckenna22/Marie Catharine Neal

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Marie Catharine Neal was a female Biologist who devoted her research specifically to zoology, Conchology, and botany. Neal was born in 1889 in Southington, Connecticut. Her most recognized work came from her research in Hawaii. During her time in Hawaii, she took the time to experience how different native plant species survived. Outside of being a well-known scientist in her field, Neal published multiple novels from the information she was able to uncover while researching Hawaii’s large biodiverse ecosystem.

Marie Neal’s college expedition started at Smith College, an all-female liberal arts institute located in Northampton, Massachusetts. After her time at Smith College, Neal attended the prestigious Yale University where she acquired a Master of Arts degree in 1925. At Yale University, she wrote her well-known thesis: Hawaiian Marine Algae.

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After graduating with a Master of Arts, Neal moved to Hawaii, which is the second most endemic region in all of America. Neal initially worked as a part-time botanist for the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, the largest history museum in the state. Later, Neal became the director of the museum’s herbarium department, in which she studied how to preserve plant life. Marie Neal stayed in this line of work for 18 years. During this time, Neal helped and informed people who visited the museum about the history and plant diversity that is unlike anywhere else. With her contribution to the foundation of Hawaiian culture, she can help protect these plants from dying out. Furthermore, this research changes the entire ecosystem in Hawaii. Without these plants, Hawaii would end up like many other places where tourism is dying out. Hawaii needs unique plant findings to keep the spark of interest alive.

Neal wrote a collection of novels: Hawaiian Marine Algae, Hawaiian Helicinidae, In Gardens of Hawaii, In Honolulu Gardens, Land Snails from Hawaii, Christmas Island, and Samoa, and Outline of Hawaiian physical therapeutics. All of her works describe and illustrate the different plants living in Hawaii. Neal describes the locations and the roles that these plants have not only in their ecosystems but also in their cultural roles in the Hawaiian lifestyle. These depictions have been the starting ground for informing people not native to Hawaii of the importance of keeping these plants protected. Even after her death, Neal's books are still used as guides for plant lovers looking to explore the vast environment of Hawaii. Neal's books have helped illustrate and describe over two thousand different plant and algae life flourishing on Hawaii’s one-hundred-thirty-seven islands.

Marie Neal died in 1965 at the age of 76, and even after her death, her findings and books are still used as a tool to help curious plant enthusiasts learn about the vast vegetation, which thrives on the islands of Hawaii. Without Neal's life devotion to the discovery of Hawaii’s rich beauty, which is created through colorful and vibrant plants, it would go overlooked. It would diminish an important characteristic that makes Hawaii so unique.