Astrid Karlsen – a female pioneer in Botany. In 1922 Astrid Karlsen became the first female scientist to be permanently employed at Bergen’s University Museum, at the botanic garden (now the ‘Museum Garden’). The authors document her early life, career, publications, and diverse other accomplishments. She started out as a student in plant physiology and later took up the study of the then rather little known 'slime moulds', Myxomycetes, in which she became a specialist. The article includes an epilogue on women scientists employed at the museum in and since her time.