Astrid Løken
Encyclopedia
Astrid Løken was a Norwegian
entomologist
and member of the Norwegian resistance movement
during World War II
. Spending most of her career at Bergen Museum
, from 1949 to 1979, she was the first female member of the Norwegian Entomological Society, and specialized in the bumblebee
genus Bombus.
in 1925. She enrolled at the University of Oslo
, and graduated as cand.real. in 1942. In 1941 she became the first female member of the Norwegian Entomological Society.
and occupied
after a two-month campaign
. In the spring of 1941, Løken was recruited to XU
, a clandestine intelligence organization which answered to the Norwegian High Command-in-exile in the United Kingdom
. She bore the nom de guerre "Eva".
According to one historian, students of natural science
s were well-suited for intelligence work, as they were practically oriented and used to working in the field. In addition, their photography in the field was often regarded as inconspicuous. In 1943, Løken was granted access to Hardangervidda
, a military restricted area. Under the cover of studying the genus Bombus, she had been cleared by Reichskommissar
Josef Terboven
, the highest Nazi leader in Norway. Travelling freely in the area, Løken managed to photograph roads, bridges and other installments. At Hardangervidda, she had access to a darkroom
where she developed pictures for both entomological and military use. Since 1941 Løken used a laboratory at the Department of Biology during the night for illegal photography.
In addition to contributing her own material, she coordinated the sorting of intelligence material which was sent to the XU headquarters in Oslo. She would typically transport material by bicycle in the middle of the night. Number four in the organization, she was among the few who actually knew the location of these headquarters.
In the case of her cover being blown, she carried a cyanide
suicide pill
at all times. In addition, she kept a pistol, incendiary bomb
s and hand grenade
s in her bedroom. She notably escaped apprehension on 16 December 1943.
as "impressing", in contrast to the "miserable" conditions in Norway at the time. She also spent two months in 1947 at a research station in Logan, Utah
. However, in Michigan, the unmarried Løken was barred from conducting field research together with married men, as this could "spoil their reputation".
She returned to Norway, and was given her first academic position as a research assistant
at the Norwegian College of Agriculture
. In 1949 she was hired as associate curator at the department of zoology, Bergen Museum
. She mainly worked on building the entomological collection there, as well as conducting field studies. She later became chief curator, and took the dr.philos. degree in 1973 with her thesis Studies on Scandinavian Bumble Bees. Retiring in 1979, she entered a new position as senior research fellow
at the University of Oslo, where she stayed until 1990.
Dr. Løken published more than fifty scientific papers. Among others, she studied the species Bombus consobrinus
and the subgenus Psithyrus
.
Dr. Løken served as deputy chairman of the Norwegian Entomological Society from 1960 to 1965. She was responsible for the Nordic Entomological Convention in 1977, the first of its kind to be held in Norway outside of Oslo. She was given honorary membership in 1991.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
and member of the Norwegian resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Spending most of her career at Bergen Museum
Bergen Museum
The Bergen Museum is a university museum in Bergen, Norway. Founded in 1825 with the intent of building large collections in the fields of culture and natural history, it became the grounds for most of the academic activity in the city, a tradition which has prevailed since the museum became part...
, from 1949 to 1979, she was the first female member of the Norwegian Entomological Society, and specialized in the bumblebee
Bumblebee
A bumble bee is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae. There are over 250 known species, existing primarily in the Northern Hemisphere although they are common in New Zealand and in the Australian state of Tasmania.Bumble bees are social insects that are characterised by black...
genus Bombus.
Early career
Astrid Løken was born in 1911 in Kristiania, which was renamed OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1925. She enrolled at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, and graduated as cand.real. in 1942. In 1941 she became the first female member of the Norwegian Entomological Society.
Occupation of Norway
On 9 April 1940, Norway was invaded by Nazi GermanyOperation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
and occupied
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
after a two-month campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
. In the spring of 1941, Løken was recruited to XU
XU
XU was a clandestine intelligence organisation working on behalf of Allied powers in occupied Norway during World War II...
, a clandestine intelligence organization which answered to the Norwegian High Command-in-exile in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She bore the nom de guerre "Eva".
According to one historian, students of natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
s were well-suited for intelligence work, as they were practically oriented and used to working in the field. In addition, their photography in the field was often regarded as inconspicuous. In 1943, Løken was granted access to Hardangervidda
Hardangervidda
The Hardangervidda is a mountain plateau in the Hardanger region of western Norway. It is the largest such plateau in Europe, with a cold year-round alpine climate and is the site of one of Norway's largest glaciers. Much of the plateau is protected as part of Hardangervidda National Park; it is a...
, a military restricted area. Under the cover of studying the genus Bombus, she had been cleared by Reichskommissar
Reichskommissar
Reichskommissar , in German history, was an official gubernatorial title used for various public offices during the period of the German Empire and the Nazi Third Reich....
Josef Terboven
Josef Terboven
Josef Antonius Heinrich Terboven was a Nazi leader, best known as the Reichskommissar during the German occupation of Norway.-Early life:...
, the highest Nazi leader in Norway. Travelling freely in the area, Løken managed to photograph roads, bridges and other installments. At Hardangervidda, she had access to a darkroom
Darkroom
A darkroom is a room that can be made completely dark to allow the processing of light sensitive photographic materials, including photographic film and photographic paper. Darkrooms have been created and used since the inception of photography in the early 19th century...
where she developed pictures for both entomological and military use. Since 1941 Løken used a laboratory at the Department of Biology during the night for illegal photography.
In addition to contributing her own material, she coordinated the sorting of intelligence material which was sent to the XU headquarters in Oslo. She would typically transport material by bicycle in the middle of the night. Number four in the organization, she was among the few who actually knew the location of these headquarters.
In the case of her cover being blown, she carried a cyanide
Cyanide
A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
suicide pill
Suicide pill
A Cyanide pill is a pill, capsule, ampoule or tablet containing a fatally poisonous substance that a person ingests deliberately in order to quickly cause his/her own life to end...
at all times. In addition, she kept a pistol, incendiary bomb
Incendiary device
Incendiary weapons, incendiary devices or incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus....
s and hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
s in her bedroom. She notably escaped apprehension on 16 December 1943.
Academic career
Hospitalized near the end of World War II due to general exhaustion, she travelled to the United States shortly after the May 1945 liberation of Norway. She described the Department of Entomology at Michigan State CollegeMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
as "impressing", in contrast to the "miserable" conditions in Norway at the time. She also spent two months in 1947 at a research station in Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
. However, in Michigan, the unmarried Løken was barred from conducting field research together with married men, as this could "spoil their reputation".
She returned to Norway, and was given her first academic position as a research assistant
Research assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
at the Norwegian College of Agriculture
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences is a public university located in Ås, Norway.It is located at Ås in Akershus, near Oslo, and has around 3800 students...
. In 1949 she was hired as associate curator at the department of zoology, Bergen Museum
Bergen Museum
The Bergen Museum is a university museum in Bergen, Norway. Founded in 1825 with the intent of building large collections in the fields of culture and natural history, it became the grounds for most of the academic activity in the city, a tradition which has prevailed since the museum became part...
. She mainly worked on building the entomological collection there, as well as conducting field studies. She later became chief curator, and took the dr.philos. degree in 1973 with her thesis Studies on Scandinavian Bumble Bees. Retiring in 1979, she entered a new position as senior research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at the University of Oslo, where she stayed until 1990.
Dr. Løken published more than fifty scientific papers. Among others, she studied the species Bombus consobrinus
Bombus consobrinus
Bombus consobrinus is a species of bumblebee.-Distribution:It is found in Hungary, Northern Scandinavia, Kazakhstan, Russia , China , Korea and Japan.-Description:...
and the subgenus Psithyrus
Psithyrus
Cuckoo bumblebees are members of the subgenus Psithyrus in the bumblebee genus Bombus. Up until recently, the 29 species of Psithyrus were considered to constitute a separate genus. They are a specialized lineage which has lost social behavior, and lost the ability to collect pollen, and are...
.
Dr. Løken served as deputy chairman of the Norwegian Entomological Society from 1960 to 1965. She was responsible for the Nordic Entomological Convention in 1977, the first of its kind to be held in Norway outside of Oslo. She was given honorary membership in 1991.