■ Is Technology Darwinian?

Professor Julian Vincent
University of Bath

Does technology evolve, or does it just fill the gaps in our competence? Technology develops like social transformation rather than morphological evolution. Perhaps the (Darwinian) transformation of structures and the transformation of organisations have different patterns.

Friday 1 May 2009

■ Twisting by the Gene Pool with Polymorphic Snails

Dr Paul Craze
Open University

Although the theory of evolution by natural selection came from observing organisms in their natural environment, further genetic study between and within species was largely confined to laboratories. With rapid climate change and the challenges of genetically modified organisms, the study of variation needs to focus again on organisms in nature. How can we take part in the widest-ever such study? What can we learn from ‘twisting snails’ and other such studies?

Friday 15 May 2009

■ Darwin’s Greatest Friend– Sir Joseph Hooker of Kew

Dr Tim Hooker
BRLSI member

It was Joseph Hooker, botanist, traveller and director of Kew Gardens, to whom Darwin first ‘confessed’ his evolutionary ideas in 1844. After publication of the Origin of Species Darwin wrote that Hooker’s assistance was more ‘than I received from anyone else, and is beyond valuing in my eyes’.
150th anniversary of 1st publication of Origin of Species.

Tuesday 24 November 2009

■ Dante’s Infernal Problem—Linguistics as a Precursor and Mirror to the Study of Evolution

Dr Nicholas Ostler, philologist

Languages and life forms were traditionally

attributed to divine action in Genesis. Dante saw that a process of gradual change in language would be invisible, but could explain variety. Such dynamic explanations were finally developed as theories, revolutionising both linguistics and biology through the 19th century.

Friday 16 January 2009

■ Gwen Raverat

Betty Suchar, BRLSI member

Gwen Raverat was Darwin’s granddaughter, author of the much-loved Cambridge family memoir Period Piece, friend of Rupert Brooke, talented wood engraver and associate of Virginia Woolf.

Thursday 5 February 2009 (starts at 1.00pm)

■ From Darwin’s Fishes to Jenyns’ Fishes— Ichthyology and the Voyage of the Beagle

Dr Daniel Pauly, Professor of Fisheries
University of British Columbia

A look at some of the practical problems Darwin faced while fish-sampling on the Beagle and how ‘beating the French’) which Darwin hoped his fish collection would help address. The collaboration between Charles Darwin and naturalist Leonard Jenyns, leading to the publication of Fish as part of the Zoology of the Beagle, will be described, based on the published correspondence between Darwin and Jenyns.
The speaker will open the ‘Mr Darwin’s Fishes’ exhibition

Thursday 12 February 2009 (Darwin’s birthday)

All events are at 16 Queen Square Bath BA1 3EY, and start at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.

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Science Philosophy Botany Visual Arts Institution Lectures Literature/Exhibitions Other Events Home

The Imperfection of the Fossil Record
Dr Phil Donohue, 27 Feb

Is Evolution Over?
Prof Steve Jones, 11 Dec

Darwin’s Philosophical Legacy
Prof John Dupre, 4 June

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