Alex Sinclair, in a conversation

with author Figure 1 Alexander Andrea Wulf, von Humboldt (1769–1859) explores Alexander (image, Wikimedia von Humboldt’s Commons) contribution to science

What has Humboldt ever done for you?

ow many times have you been confident that many readers have not asked who your favourite heard of him. Hactress, musician or film star This article developed from a is? But what about your favourite conversation with Andrea Wulf, the Figure 2 Mare Humboldtianum, an scientist? Do you even have a favourite author of a beautiful new graphic book area of the Moon, and the Humboldt scientist? I hope that by introducing called The adventures of Alexander penguin, just two of the huge number my favourite scientist, this article gets von Humboldt, who is convinced, as of places and living things named you thinking about how the current I am, that he should feature in the after Humboldt (images, Wikimedia fascination with celebrities could be primary science curriculum. Between us Commons) widened to encompass scientists as we identified five broad areas that we well as media stars. think justify his inclusion and these are Let me present Alexander von outlined below. Humboldt (Figure 1). Despite having more places and living things named He loved to observe and after him than any other person in measure history (the Humboldt penguin, the Like any good scientist, Humboldt Humboldt mountain ranges and Mare was fanatical about taking accurate Humboldtianum, an area on the recordings and measurements Moon, to name but a very few), I am (Figure 3). His science, however, was

Key words: Humboldt Famous scientists

PRIMARY SCIENCE 160 Nov/Dec 2019 25

PRIMARY Science 160 nov_dec 2019.indd 25 14-Oct-19 5:20:57 PM ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT

not confined to a laboratory and much of his working life was spent travelling around the Americas. In this time he Figure 3 and his companions carried up to Humboldt was 42 different measuring instruments. fixated with These included a hair hygrometer observing and that measures relative humidity (see measuring Weblinks below), thermometers to (from Wulf and test the boiling point of water at Melcher, 2019) different altitudes, and chronometers (time pieces). Perhaps his most prized possession was his barometer, which he used to measure the air pressure in the different places that he visited to determine his altitude (see Weblinks Figure 4 The for how to make one). He also forgotten father of collected and preserved all the new environmentalism plant species that they discovered (see (from Wulf and Weblinks for how to press flowers). Melcher, 2019) So meticulous were Humboldt’s recordings that in 2012 a group of scientists felt confident enough to use a set of his historic data on the distribution of plant species in the Andes to compare with their own (Morueta-Holme, et al., 2015). Do children get enough opportunities to undertake science activities outside the named. Humboldt recognised that classroom as Humboldt did, and could there are particular key animal or plant the climate and how these were related they be challenged to take accurate species that play a critical role in the to deforestation, irrigation and the measurements that would withstand healthy functioning of an ecosystem effects of relying on a monocultural scrutiny 210 years later? (to exemplify this there is an excellent form of agriculture (Figure 4). He even video that outlines what a keystone identified the potential dangers of the He just discovered so much species is by demonstrating the effect important and fascinating stuff ‘great masses of steam and gas’ being of the reintroduction of wolves into produced by industrialised towns and Humboldt’s keen interest in everything Yellowstone Park – see Weblinks). cities. All these topics could provide to do with the natural world, and his Realising there are global vegetation excellent starting points for discussion obsession with measuring, meant that zones. By comparing the flora and about the many effects humans have he did not just focus on one area of fauna in different places around had on the planet, highlighting that science as most scientists do now. His the world, Humboldt noticed that this is not a modern problem. discoveries were diverse and many. comparable animals and plants lived at Influences While he did not necessarily use the similar altitudes. following terms, these are just some of Humboldt’s influences are wide the ideas attributed to his work: The latter two could be used as stimuli ranging and, as noted above, much of Identification of more than 2000 when learning about food chains the current environmental movement plant species new to Europeans. and webs, or when studying the can be traced back to his work: he Considering that only 6000 species had adaptations of different organisms. had even considered naming one of been named at that time this was an They are perhaps of most significance his books ‘Gaia’, more than 200 years incredible feat. to modern-day thinking as they relate before James Lovelock conceived his famous Gaia theory. He described Suggestions that volcanoes were on to how he viewed the planet as a Earth as a living organism and talked fault lines. He noticed that volcanoes connected whole. This contributed to about harmful human-induced could be found grouped together or in his pioneering work for environmental climate change. The contemporary long chains, which he thought were studies. scientists who used his data have linked to what was happening deep What he did for noted that the vegetation he recorded under the surface of the Earth. environmentalism has shifted position as a result of He suggested an ‘ancient connection’ Humboldt is also considered the the increased temperatures brought between Africa and South America forgotten father of environmentalism, about by climate change. In addition more than a century before scientists being one of the first to identify many to this, Charles Darwin had a working began to discuss shifting tectonic of the key issues that the planet is copy of Humboldt’s writing in which plates. He came to this conclusion by currently facing. Even back in the he underlined many key ideas. It is identifying that the coastal plants in 1800s, he was well aware of humans’ tempting to suggest that without Africa and South America were similar. power over nature, suggesting that this Charles Darwin may not have Identification of keystone species, we were ‘raping nature’. His scientific formulated his ideas about natural 200 years before the concept was recordings show his concerns about selection and evolution.

26 PRIMARY SCIENCE 160 Nov/Dec 2019

PRIMARY Science 160 nov_dec 2019.indd 26 14-Oct-19 5:20:57 PM ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT

He was a different type of learn scientific names but only after this Summary scientist process. This would prioritise emotions Because of the sheer volume and As I have highlighted already, Humboldt over classification. diversity of Humboldt’s work, it has only very much looked at how aspects of the The inclusion of emotions within a been possible to give a small outline of planet were related and was keen to science lesson may cause consternation what he achieved. Has this convinced make connections. This is in opposition for some. However, this is Andrea Wulf’s you that you should include Alexander to the works of Carl Linnaeus who was key reason for wanting Humboldt von Humboldt in your teaching? There a rigid classifier. We currently appear to included in the curriculum. His writings is so much more for you to explore and favour Linnaeus’s type of science as there were conveyed in such a way that his I hope that this article stimulates you to are four times as many references to awe and wonder for the natural world do that. were evident. She wonders if some of classifying and identifying in the National References Curriculum in England as there are to the science community, who convey their ideas in sterile ways, could learn from this Dickinson, E. (2013) The misdiagnosis: pattern-seeking: perhaps an increase in rethinking ‘nature-deficit disorder’. pattern-seeking enquiries might help approach and as a consequence help us Environmental Communication, 7(3), to improve this situation. One way to to care more for our planet. There has 314–335. overcome this might be the process of been a recent trend for a STEAM (science, Morueta-Holme, N., Engemann, K., Sandoval- ‘non-naming’, which focuses on the technology, engineering, arts and maths) Acuña, P., Jonas, J. D., Segnitz, R. M. and sensory experiences garnered from approach to learning science and many Svenning, J.-C. (2015) Strong upslope engaging with an animal or plant prior to have rightly commented that this has shifts in Chimborazo’s vegetation over two centuries since Humboldt. PNAS, 112(41), the potential to reduce the science learning its name. This approach includes 12741–12745. Available at: www.pnas.org/ asking questions such as How does it content. I am convinced, however, there content/112/41/12741 feel?, How does it talk?, How does it are ways in which the arts can be used Wulf, A. and Melcher, L. (2019) The see?, How does it smell? and What is it to communicate science that do not adventures of Alexander von Humboldt. like? (Dickinson, 2013: 331). Dickinson dilute the scientific content but allow an London: John Murray. recommends that children should still expression of emotions about the world. Alex Sinclair is primary science lead at Weblinks St Mary’s University, Twickenham. How a hair hygrometer works: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jzhda5iha0 Andrea Wulf is author of The To make a barometer: www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Simple-Weather-Barometer adventures of Alexander von To press flowers: www.proflowers.com/blog/how-to-press-flowers Humboldt and The invention of Reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park: nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q new world.

Half p ad

PRIMARY SCIENCE 160 Nov/Dec 2019 27

PRIMARY Science 160 nov_dec 2019.indd 27 14-Oct-19 5:20:57 PM