Podcast #53: Eva Crane

In this buzz-worthy episode, DLS co-founder Katy Derbyshire (and translator) brings us the story of leading bee scientist Eva Crane. Born to humble beginnings, Eva obtained a PhD in nuclear physics but quickly shifted her attention from atoms to apiculture. She travelled the world to document all things bees, and was particularly interested in the relationship between bees and humans, including the long history of human honey cultivation.

Amateur bee enthusiast (and producer/host) Susan Stone is joined by other DLS co-founder Florian Duijsens for the introducing honors.

Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and Acast.

You can download the transcript, created by Annie Musgrove, here.

Show notes:

The Crane family vehicle, with Eva chilling in the back

Eva smiling mischievously at the front right

Amazing sisters!: Our founder Eva Crane, studied nuclear physics before becoming a world authority on bees. Her older sister Elsie Widdowson was a dietitian who oversaw the addition of vitamins to food during wartime rationing. #WomenInScience
A family photo of Eva (r) & Elsie pic.twitter.com/SXigPM1EqG
— Eva Crane Trust (@EvaCraneTrust) February 11, 2020

Apicultural delights from the 1940s (for Susan and all other bee enthusiasts)

Before focusing on bees, Eva Crane first studied maths & quantum physics because she found them the hardest subjects she had ever studied & therefore had greatest satisfaction in attempting to solve their mysteries. #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInSTEM #bees pic.twitter.com/m1WRJYA6Fu
— Eva Crane Trust (@EvaCraneTrust) March 8, 2022

Bee World! Find more on this publication’s history at IBRA’s website

Eva in a special Georgian beekeeping hat! Check out many more pictures of here travels at the Eva Crane Trust.

Aboriginal figures made of stingless bees’ wax

On her travels around the world Dr Crane collected many bee related artefacts, like these lovely little honey pots. #bees #honey #FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/9JewcPG0Io
— Eva Crane Trust (@EvaCraneTrust) May 29, 2020

The Crane sisters (in the middle) dressed to the nines

Eva, aged 74, casually abseiling for science

Katy recommends these two books if you want to learn more about Eva Crane: Eva Crane: Bee Scientist, edited by her colleagues, Penelope Walker and Richard Jones, and of course, Crane’s own Making a Bee-line. The Eva Crane Trust’s site is also indispensable for information about Crane and bees.

#OnThisDay Our founder Eva Crane was born. She was one of the greatest writers about bees & beekeeping in the 20th Century & travelled extensively. Here she is in Hawaii, 1979. Learn more about this inspiring lady https://t.co/RZfY94NsOe #WomenInScience #bees pic.twitter.com/0fpt1Azx12
— Eva Crane Trust (@EvaCraneTrust) June 12, 2020

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A post shared by Susan Stone (@hausvonstone)

As promised, here’s one of Susan’s videos of some Bee-rliner bees.

Our theme music is “Little Lily Swing” by Tri-Tachyon. Thanks for listening! We’ll be back with a new episode next month.