I would rather see no life than one that would interest very few. Charles Darwin (1861)
Is a biographer able to truly understand the place of a person’s scientific contribution when they are not familiar with the science? Can a scientist bring life and vigour to their subject’s personality? And just how do you tackle a subject with voluminous correspondence, hundreds of publications and popular fame? Science Biography brings together four of the University of Sydney’s professors in the Victorian surrounds of the Macleay Museum to discuss their approaches to these challenges. Featuring biological scientists Frank Nicholas and Anthony Larkum and historians Alison Bashford and Iain McCalman, this is a wonderful opportunity to delve into the lives of Charles Darwin, William Darwin Fox and Griffith Taylor through the eyes of their most recent biographers.
IAIN MCCALMAN (LOCAL) IAIN McCALMAN AO is a professorial fellow in the Department of History, University of Sydney. In 2007 he was made an Officer AO, Order of Australia, for service to history and the humanities as teacher, researcher, author and through advocacy, advisory roles in academic and public sector organisations. His book The Seven Ordeals of Count Cagliostro: The Greatest Enchanter of the Eighteenth Century, was published to acclaim worldwide and has been translated into eight languages. His latest book is Darwin’s Armada: How Four Voyagers to Australasia Won the Battle for Evolution and Changed the World. It is being made into a two-part documentary which will be screened in Australia on the ABC in late 2009.
ALISON BASHFORD (LOCAL) Alison Bashford is an historian of medicine and science at the University of Sydney. She is the co-author of Griffith Taylor: Visionary, Environmentalist, Explorer with Carolyn Strange, and is currently finishing a history of the world population problem, as well as editing a collection of essays on the world history of eugenics. In 2009 she takes up the Harvard chair of Australian Studies, joining the Department of the History of Science.
FRANK NICHOLAS (LOCAL) FRANK NICHOLAS is emeritus professor of Animal Genetics in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney. For 34 years he lectured in animal genetics in the Faculties of Veterinary Science and Agriculture at the University of Sydney, and conducted genetic research into a range of issues relevant to animal production and/or animal health. As a biologist, Frank works daily in the context of evolution. With his wife, Jan, he co-authored Charles Darwin in Australia, in which a complete transcription of the Australian section of Darwin’s Beagle diary is illustrated with beautiful contemporary paintings by former Beagle shipmate Conrad Martens.
ANTHONY LARKUM (LOCAL) ANTHONY LARKUM is emeritus professor of Plant Sciences in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney. He has had an international teaching career with a focus in the subjects of marine biology, global climate change and photosynthesis. Tony has made a significant contribution to his field publishing over 200 academic articles. His major research interests include coral reef ecosystems, DNA-based analysis, photosynthesis, the evolution of photosynthesis, and most recently Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace and the work of Darwin’s cousin, William Darwin Fox. This research has culminated in his most recent book A Natural Calling: Life, Letters and Diaries of Charles Darwin and William Darwin Fox.
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