Category Archives: History of Science

Charles Darwin’s Grandfather

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Athene Donald

My friends know that Erasmus Darwin is one of my heroes. Much less well known than his grandson Charles, and whose work is of course far more ephemeral, nevertheless he is a true Renaissance Man – or more strictly an … Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, History of Science | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Darwin Didn’t Always get it Right

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Athene Donald

My Christmas reading included two very different books, one by Tim Birkhead and one edited by Bill Bryson, both gloriously illustrated with historical paintings. Reading these in quick succession over a short period of time caused me to reflect on … Continue reading →

Posted in History of Science, Science Culture | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments