DOCSLIB.ORG

Federico Delpino's Scientific Thought and the Birth of Modern Biology in Europe

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Federico Delpino's Scientific Thought and the Birth of Modern Biology in Europe Delpinoa, n.s. 46 : 85-93. 2004 Federico Delpino's scientific thought and the birth of modern biology in Europe 1 2 G. A LIOTTA , A. A LIOTTA 1Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; 2Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Via Arena 4, 81100 Caserta, Italy. [email protected] Abstract. The authors discuss the figure of Riassunto. Gli autori presentano la figura di Federico Delpino (1833-1905), an outstanding Federico Delpino (1833-1905), illustre esponente Italian botanist of the XIX century, focusing on della botanica italiana dell'Ottocento, evidenzian - his cooperation with the major scientists of his do i suoi rapporti scientifici con altre eminenti time, among whom Charles Darwin. Moreover, figure del suo tempo, tra cui Charles Darwin. they underline the crucial influence that Federico Inoltre, evidenziano l'influenza che il pensiero Delpino’s scientific thought and innovative stud - scientifico e gli studi innovativi di Federico ies on floral biology and plant systematic had Delpino, rivolti specialmente alla biologia fiorale e over the development of botanical sciences in the alla sistematica vegetale, hanno avuto sullo svilup - XIX century and on the birth of modern plant po delle scienze botaniche nell'Ottocento e sulla biology. nascita della moderna biologia vegetale. Key words : Charles Darwin, Federico Delpino, History of biology, Plant biology, Pollination INTRODUCTION Jacques Rousseau’s books and those by illu - minist philosophers showed a renewed interest History of biology is marked by the in nature. It was a century characterized by longevity of its issues and it commands respect collections of plants, animals and minerals. because of the enormous diversity of life, in Botany was still linked to medicine, thus terms of space (all the continents), time (since European physicians-naturalists mainly 3,8 billions of years ago), dimension (ranging searched for therapeutic properties of plants, from viruses to whales) and habitat (air, soil, particularly of those introduced after the great water). For centuries, biological phenomena voyages of exploration. Naturalists also have been classified in two main scientific dis - focused on classification of plants, following ciplines: medicine and natural history, corre - criteria that could facilitate their recognition sponding to modern natural sciences. (M AYR 1990) . The Greeks had already praised harmony of The Swedish scientist Charles Linnaeus nature and many of the current scientific issues gave the most important contribution to this (ex: embryology, systematic) were known to field. He proposed a new classification of Aristotle, who stood as a point of reference plants, according to a logic division, based on until the scientific revolution of the XVI cen - the presence or absence of the flower and on its tury. Since then, the western civilisation has characteristics. Linnaeus developed his con - been studying the rules of physics, but no other cept of species affirming that: we count as natural aspect was as reluctant to reveal its many species as the different shapes created by rules as diversity of organisms. God. Then, as other scientists of his time, he The XVIII century was the golden age of thought that the number of living things had natural history, that was enriched by the histor - been established at the moment of Creation ical voyages of James Cook, Louis Antoine de and their classification would reveal the divine Bouganville and Philibert Commerson. Jean pattern of creation. There was a dispute in France about the consider the cultural references, the method he validity of the Linnaean System that, having a applied and his cultural heritage. rigid scheme and being based on floral charac - ters, placed species in different classes, although they were similar, according to other ACADEMIC BIOGRAPHY characters (for example, a group such as gramineous plants was divided in seven class - Federico Delpino was born on December es). Moreover, observations made by relevant 27, 1833 in Chiavari, in the outskirts of Genoa, scientists of that period arose doubts about an Italy. He had a weak health and he was com - immutable number of species. This debate pelled by his mother, since early childhood, to involved scientists such as the French Georges spend most of the time outdoor, in a still exist - Louis Buffon, Bernard de Jussieu and Jean ing small garden, that became the place of his Baptiste Lamarck, the Germans Joseph early observations on swarms of ants and Gottlieb Kolreuter, Johann Wolfgang Goethe insects surrounding the flowers. After the High and Gottfried R. Treviranus, the English School at Chiavari, he attended the first Course Joseph Banks, president of the London Royal of Mathematics at University of Genoa, but he Academic Society and the Italian Domenico quit after the first year. Cirillo, physician and botanist at University of Referring to his childhood and youth, in Naples, relevant personality of the Neapolitan 1864 Delpino wrote a note on a botany text - Enlightment and president of the Legislative book: “Studium vegetabilium puer meditabar Commission for the Neapolitan Republic of inconscius, adolescens adgrediebar ardentis - 1799 ( ALIOTTA & A LIOTTA 2001). sime. Sortes adversae me ad aliena rapuerunt.” The botanist Treviranus and the botanist- (“As a child, I unconsciously thought about zoologist Lamarck, independently from each studying plants. As a young man, I was deeply other, introduced the term “biology” in two fascinated by it. Fate brought me to different papers, both published in 1802. The first meant things.”). biology as philosophy of living nature, while After the disappointment for the experience the latter referred to a wider acception, beyond at the University, his parents allowed him a morphology and systematics, typical of natural long journey to the far east, where he collected history, rather concerning the study of func - plants, especially in the Dardanelli strait. tional processes of organisms with an holistic When he got back, his honesty drove him to view of nature ( TREVIRANUS 1802-1822; find a job, so that he could be economically LAMARCK 1802) . In this scenario, at the begin - independent from the family. He found a job at ning of XIX century, there were outstanding the custom office of the Ministry of Finance, in biological discoveries: the cellular theory, the Turin. Despite his weaknesses, Delpino could origin of species, sexual reproduction of find the time and the way to deepen his knowl - plants, hereditariness of characters. edge about literature and philosophy and to Federico Delpino is the brightest figure of commit himself to the study of plants. the Italian botany in the XIX century. The most In 1865, when the capital city of the king - innovative aspect of Delpino’s scientific dom was transferred from Turin to Florence, research is the institution of a new discipline, Delpino, apart from his duties, could live in a plant biology, that should collect and describe place suitable to his ambitions; he got access to relations established among living things, the resources of the Florence Botanical Garden among plants and between plants and animals, and Botanical Museum; he could also read the in order to understand functions such as repro - books of the Webbian library. In 1867, profes - duction, dissemination, survival and self sor Filippo Parlatore proposed Delpino as an defence (B ORZÌ 1905; C ATALANO 1955) . adjunct professor, because he had appreciated Our aim is to introduce him with a brief his skills; so, Delpino officially started his biography, illustrating his activity in the scien - career. Four years later, in 1871, he became tific context of his time. In particular, we will professor of natural sciences at Vallombrosa 86 Royal Institute of Forestry, but he basically place of honour in the history of pollination, taught botany. While he was there, Delpino along with Camerarius, Koelreuter, Sprengel conceived the idea of a voyage around the and Darwin. This history began in 1694, when world, so he boarded the warship “Garibaldi” the German botanist CAMERARIUS (1694) as a naturalist. The ship had been set up for the coined the term and showed that pollination of educational voyage of the prince Tommaso di the stamen is necessary to the formation of Savoia. Unfortunately, Delpino was forced to seeds. Thus, stamen and pistils are “the sexual quit the circumnavigation because the ship organs of the flower”. These studies were not lacked basic scientific equipment. He returned continued until 1761, when Koelreuter discov - to homeland after visiting Brazil and collecting ered the different types of pollination, under - plants in the surroundings of Rio de Janeiro. At lining the role of insects and dichogamy, the the end of 1875, after a concourse, Federico floral structures and strategies that prevent Delpino became full professor of botany at self-pollination ( KOELREUTER 1761). University of Genoa, where he continued his In 1793, Konrad SPRENGEL , in his work studies on floral biology and published a book “The secret taken from nature about structure about phyllotaxis (DELPINO 1883). In 1884, he and pollination of flowers”, described accu - moved to the University of Bologna and his rately the pollination by insects and fields of interest were myrmecophilous struc - dichogamy, demonstrating the luring function tures and systematics. of corolla, that floral structure favours
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Dieci Anni Di Universa, Dieci Anni Di Ricerca
    Quaderni di Universa Universa. Recensioni di filosofia, volume 10 (2021), numero speciale Dieci anni di Universa, dieci anni di ricerca Why flowers are important to the history of philosophy Antonio Danese Doi: 10.14658/pupj-urdf-2021-3-11 UPADOVA P PADOVA UNIVERSITY PRESS Why flowers are important to the history of philosophy Antonio Danese In this paper, I intend to illustrate that a comparison with Darwin’s studies in floral biology has provided the conceptual foundations for recognising a particular theoretical space in the historical dimension of philosophy. This space can serve to legitimise the interconnection between life sciences and philosophy, improve the historical understanding about topics and themes associated with the philosophy of biology, and create conceptual and dialectical tools to inform the current debates on ecology. In the last 20 years of his life, Darwin published six botanical treatises and 75 articles in which he carried out an uninterrupted series of analytical studies on the finely articulated architecture of plants, their physiology, and the ecological dimensions of their existence1. All this contributed to introducing evolutionary biology to the heart of botanical studies. The sobriety and humility that distinguished his character and scientific method made him decline the right to define himself as a professional botanist2; in fact, he did not intend to become a profound connoisseur of botanical taxonomy, nor did he intend to bind himself to the detailed description of plant biogeography or create a research station, laboratory, or a university-centred programme entirely dedicated to experimentation on plant physiology3. 1 F. DARWIN, The botanical work of Darwin, «Annals of Botany», 13/1899, pp.
    [Show full text]
  • Sede Amministrativa: Università Degli Studi Di Padova Dipartimento Di Filosofia
    Sede Amministrativa: Università degli Studi di Padova Dipartimento di filosofia ___________________________________________________________________ CORSO DI DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN FILOSOFIA CICLO XXXI TITOLO TESI DARWIN’S CONTRIVANCES: ORCHIDS, EVOLUTION AND SCIENTIFIC ETHICS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE OF XIX CENTURY Coordinatore: Ch.mo Prof. Francesca Menegoni Supervisore: Ch.mo Prof. Fabio Grigenti Dottorando : Antonio Danese INDEX 0 INTRODUCTION 5 0.1 Topic 5 0.2 Why Orchids? 9 0.3 Structure of the work 12 1 THE DARWINIAN THEORY 14 1.1 The origin of the origin of species 14 1.2 The first concept of species 16 1.3 The renouncement of immutability and the problem of classification 18 1.4 Variation 23 1.5 The ecological context and the tree of life 26 1.6 New way of observing nature 28 2 FORERUNNERS OF DARWIN IN THE BOTANICAL FIELD 29 2.1 Cell and transmutation 31 2.2 The molecular basis for the development of life sciences 31 2.3 The starting points for Darwinian botany 33 3 THE WORK ON PLANT SCIENCES 35 3.1 The botanist Darwin 36 3.2 The movements of climbing plants 40 3.3 The insectivorous plants 43 3.4 Cross-self fertilisation 45 3.5 The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species 46 3.6 The power of movement in plants 49 4 ORCHIDS IN VICTORIAN AGE 52 4.1 Classification of new species of orchids 53 4.2 Linnaeus 54 4.3 Orchids, society, and literature 56 4.4 Darwin and orchids 59 5 THE ORIGIN OF On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids Are Fertilised by Insects and on the Good Effects of Intercrossing
    [Show full text]
  • Deceived by Orchids: Sex, Science, fiction and Darwin
    BJHS 49(2): 205–229, June 2016. © British Society for the History of Science 2016 doi:10.1017/S0007087416000352 First published online 09 June 2016 Deceived by orchids: sex, science, fiction and Darwin JIM ENDERSBY* Abstract. Between 1916 and 1927, botanists in several countries independently resolved three problems that had mystified earlier naturalists – including Charles Darwin: how did the many species of orchid that did not produce nectar persuade insects to pollinate them? Why did some orchid flowers seem to mimic insects? And why should a native British orchid suffer ‘attacks’ from a bee? Half a century after Darwin’s death, these three mysteries were shown to be aspects of a phenomenon now known as pseudocopulation, whereby male insects are deceived into attempting to mate with the orchid’s flowers, which mimic female insects; the males then carry the flower’s pollen with them when they move on to try the next deceptive orchid. Early twentieth-century botanists were able to see what their predecessors had not because orchids (along with other plants) had undergone an imaginative re-creation: Darwin’s science was appropriated by popular interpreters of science, including the novelist Grant Allen; then H.G. Wells imagined orchids as killers (inspiring a number of imitators), to produce a genre of orchid stories that reflected significant cultural shifts, not least in the presentation of female sexuality. It was only after these changes that scientists were able to see plants as equipped with agency, actively able to pursue their own, cunning reproductive strategies – and to outwit animals in the process.
    [Show full text]
  • Darwin. a Reader's Guide
    OCCASIONAL PAPERS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES No. 155 February 12, 2009 DARWIN A READER’S GUIDE Michael T. Ghiselin DARWIN: A READER’S GUIDE Michael T. Ghiselin California Academy of Sciences California Academy of Sciences San Francisco, California, USA 2009 SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS Alan E. Leviton, Ph.D., Editor Hallie Brignall, M.A., Managing Editor Gary C. Williams, Ph.D., Associate Editor Michael T. Ghiselin, Ph.D., Associate Editor Michele L. Aldrich, Ph.D., Consulting Editor Copyright © 2009 by the California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, California 94118 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN 0068-5461 Printed in the United States of America Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas 66044 Table of Contents Preface and acknowledgments . .5 Introduction . .7 Darwin’s Life and Works . .9 Journal of Researches (1839) . .11 Geological Observations on South America (1846) . .13 The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs (1842) . .14 Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands…. (1844) . .14 A Monograph on the Sub-Class Cirripedia, With Figures of All the Species…. (1852-1855) . .15 On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (1859) . .16 On the Various Contrivances by which British and Foreign Orchids are Fertilised by Insects, and on the Good Effects of Intercrossing (1863) . .23 The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species (1877) .
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Nickolas M. Waser , Jeff Ollerton , and Andreas Erhardt , School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
    TELEOLOGY AT THE ROOT OF “POLLINATION SYNDROMES”: A CRITIQUE FROM THE PAST Nickolas M. Waser 1, Jeff Ollerton 2, and Andreas Erhardt 3, 1 School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. 2 Landscape and Biodiversity Research Group, School of Applied Sciences, University of Northampton, Northampton, NN2 7AL, UK. 3 Institut für Natur-, Landschafts- und Umweltschutz, Universität Basel, St. Johanns- Vorstadt 10, 4056 Basel, Switzerland. 1 Abstract. Here we provide, and discuss, a translation of several pages from an 1882 paper by Hermann Müller. In it, the prominent German Darwinist uses several plant species to criticise the floral classification schemes of his Italian contemporary Federico Delpino. Delpino also was a self-proclaimed Darwinist, but in fact adhered to teleology— explanation beyond nature. Müller’s comments seem especially àpropos given later teleological and essentialist contributions to “pollination syndromes”—the modern version of Delpino’s classifications. Müller’s comments also seem àpropos given the recent interest in revisiting (and improving) the syndromes as a central concept in an important area of ecology, the study of pollination. Key words : Darwinism, Essentialism, Delpino, History, Müller, Pollination, Teleology 2 Introduction Our object in this unusual paper is to bring forward an historical critique of some of the teleological roots that nourished the concept of “pollination syndromes”. The pollination syndromes describe suites of floral traits that putatively adapt distantly-related plants for pollination by specific types of animals. This concept, a very Darwinian one of convergent evolution, has served as a cornerstone of the study of pollination by botanists, evolutionary ecologists, cognitive behaviorists, et al .—a solid pocket of fruitful scientific activity over the last several decades.
    [Show full text]
  • A Cross-Disciplinary Study of the Work and Collections by Roberto De Visiani (1800–1878)
    Sede Amministrativa: Università degli Studi di Padova Dipartimento di Scienze Storiche, Geografche e dell’Antichità Corso di Dotorato di Ricerca in Studi Storici, Geografci e Antropologici Curricolo: Geografa Umana e Fisica Ciclo ⅩⅨ A Cross-disciplinary Study of the Work and Collections by Roberto de Visiani (1800–1878) Coordinatore: Ch.ma Prof. Maria Cristina La Rocca Supervisore: Dr. Antonella Miola Dottorando: Moreno Clementi Botany: n. Te science of vegetables—those that are not good to eat, as well as those that are. It deals largely with their fowers, which are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, and ill-smelling. Ambrose Bierce [1] Table of Contents Preface.......................................................................................................................... 11 1. Introduction.............................................................................................................. 13 1.1 Research Project.......................................................................................................13 1.2 State of the Art.........................................................................................................14 1.2.1 Literature on Visiani 14 1.2.2 Studies at the Herbarium of Padova 15 1.2.3 Exploration of Dalmatia 17 1.2.4 Types 17 1.3 Subjects of Particular Focus..................................................................................17 1.3.1 Works with Josif Pančić 17 1.3.2 Flora Dalmatica 18 1.3.3 Visiani’s Relationship with Massalongo 18 1.4 Historical Context...................................................................................................18
    [Show full text]
  • This Work Has Been Submitted to NECTAR, the Northampton
    This work has been submitted to NECTAR, the Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research. http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/3765/ Creator(s): Waser, N., Ollerton, J. and Erhardt, A. Title: Typology in pollination biology: lessons from an historical critique Date: 2011 Originally published in: Journal of Pollination Ecology volume 3 Example citation: Waser, N., Ollerton, J. and Erhardt, A. (2011) Typology in pollination biology: lessons from an historical critique. Journal of Pollination Ecology. 3(1), pp. 1-7. 1920-7603. Version of item: Published version This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. The original version is available at: http://www.pollinationecology.org/index.php?journal=jpe&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=102 Journal of Pollination Ecology, 3(1), 2011, pp 1-7 TYPOLOGY IN POLLINATION BIOLOGY : LESSONS FROM AN HISTORICAL CRITIQUE Nickolas M. Waser 1*, Jeff Ollerton 2, and Andreas Erhardt 3 1School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA 2Landscape and Biodiversity Research Group, School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton, Northampton, NN2 6JD, UK 3Institut für Natur-, Landschafts- und Umweltschutz, Universität Basel, St. Johanns-Vorstadt 10, 4056 Basel, Switzerland Abstract—Typological schemes that describe putative floral adaptations for pollinators have played a central role in pollination biology. In 1882 the prominent German botanist and Darwinist Hermann Müller commented critically on a precursor of modern versions of such “pollination syndromes” that had been developed by his Italian colleague Federico Delpino. Delpino also was a self-proclaimed Darwinist, but in fact adhered to teleology— explanation beyond nature.
    [Show full text]
  • Federico Delpino and the Foundation of Plant Biology. Plant
    SHORT COMMUNICATION SHORT COMMUNICATION Plant Signaling & Behavior 5:9, 1067-1071; September 2010; © 2010 Landes Bioscience Federico Delpino and the foundation of plant biology Stefano Mancuso LN I V; Department of Plant, Soil & Environmental Science; University of Firenze; Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy Key words: Charles Darwin, evolution, history of botany, myrmecophily, plant biology, plant intelligence, plant-insect I n 1867, Federico Delpino, with his seminal work “Pensieri sulla biologia vegetale” (Thoughts on plant biology) established plant biology by defining it not in the broad general sense, namely as the science of living beings, but as a branch of natural science dedicated to the study of plant life in relation to the environment. Today, the figure and achievements of this outstanding plant scientist is almost unknown. In the following pages, I will concisely describe the main realizations of Federico Delpino and outline the significance of his work for modern plant science. Introduction his birth, Federico was baptized by the hands of the future Saint Antonio Maria Gianelli, at that time priest of the parish of St. From the first description of the collaborative behavior between John the Baptist in Chiavari. The little Federico was so delicate ants and plants in hundreds of different species, to the seminal in constitution that, for his fortification, his mother compelled works on the various contrivances by which many plants are fer- him to spend long hours in their garden. This is what Delpino tilized with the aid of insects, the cursus honorum of Federico writes in remembering those childhood days: “The character of Delpino embraces all the crucial advances in the understanding the naturalist is, at were, born with him, or is acquired in the first of plants.
    [Show full text]
  • Submitted to the Combined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and For
    Dissertation submitted to the Combined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematics of the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germany for the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences presented by Diplombiologin Mascha Bischoff born in Aachen Date of oral examination: Pollination ecology of the New Zealand alpine flora Referees: Prof. Dr. Claudia Erbar Prof. Dr. Peter Leins Your head is humming, and it won’t go, in case you don’t know. The piper’s calling you to join him. (Led Zeppelin 1971) All data in the presented thesis was collected by myself. The plant phenology data was collected with Ms. Lisa R. Dobbie. The modelling in bee colour space was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Adrian Dyer, Monash University, Australia. The identification of floral scent compounds was done under supervisison of Dr. Andreas Jürgens, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Photographs were taken by myself, Frank Wellenreuther and Dr. Alastair W. Robertson. Table of contents 1 Summary........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 English summary.................................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Deutsche Zusammenfassung ................................................................................................................ 4 2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.1
    [Show full text]
  • 77-1 Orchid Digest
    LIARS AND CHEATS: THE STORY OF ORCHID DECEPTION CAROL SIEGEL “Whenever, therefore, people are deceived… it is clear that the error slid into their minds through the medium of certain resemblances to the truth.” -Socrates E HUMANS ARE NO STRANGERS to This unusually high occurrence of non-rewarding deception. Psychologists say we start lying plants falls into several broad categories: Wwhen we are two years old and lie every • Sexual Deception hour or two after that for the rest of our lives. Some • Rendezvous Attraction deception is rather innocent. We dye our hair, wear • Batesian Mimicry Of Food Plants padded bras, or take twenty pounds off our weight on • Generalized Food Deception our driver’s licenses. We slip in false teeth, make our • Brood Site Imitation resumes look more glorious, or pretend we like a • Prey Imitation friend’s awful haircut. Other deception is less innocent. • Pseudoantagonism We cheat on our taxes, step out on our mates, or fool • Shelter Imitation nice people out of millions like Bernie Madoff. We are often not exactly what we pretend to be. Sexploitation and We humans may be the masters of deception in the the Unrewarding Orchid Sex Trade animal kingdom, but, in the plant kingdom, nothing holds a candle to the orchid. Fully one-third of the Perhaps the most bizarre orchid deception involves approximately 30,000 orchid species promise pollina- male insects who are so aroused by the scent, look, and tors a reward and deliver nothing at all. In the Western feel of an orchid that they try to mate with it.
    [Show full text]
  • CURRICULUM VITAE Dennis Wm
    CURRICULUM VITAE Dennis Wm. Stevenson January 2008 Education: Ohio State University, Columbus B.S. Botany 1970 Ohio State University, Columbus M.S. Botany 1971 University of California, Davis Ph.D Botany 1975 Positions Held: Instructor in Botany, Texas A&M University, July 1970–July 1971 Research Associate, Fairchild Tropical Garden: a joint postdoctoral appointment with Fairchild Tropical Garden and the Cabot Foundation, Harvard University, July 1975–July 1976 NATO Post-Doctoral Fellow: tenure spent at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, August 1976–August 1977 Research Associate, Fairchild Tropical Garden: support from the Atkins Foundation, Harvard University, August 1977–February 1978 Visiting Research Fellow, Fairchild Tropical Garden: joint support from NSF grant (to Dennis Wm. Stevenson as principal investigator) and the Cabot Foundation, Harvard University, February 1978–February 1980 NATO Senior Fellowship-Visiting Professorship: Institute of Botany, Universita di Napoli, Italy, May–July 1985 Visiting Professor of Botany: Department of Plant Biology, Universita di Napoli, Italy, May– July 1986 Assistant Professor of Biology, Barnard College, Columbia University, July 1980–July 1987 Honorary Curator, New York Botanical Garden, September 1980–July 1987 Visting Profesor of Botany: Department of Plant Biology, Universita di Napoli, Italy, May– July 1988 Plant Morphologist and Director of the Lieberman Laboratory, New York Botanical Garden, July 1987–March 1990 Administrator of the Harding Laboratory and Supervisor of Graduate Studies, New York Botanical Garden, March 1990–November 1993 Curator and Administrator of the Harding and Lieberman Laboratories, New York Botanical Garden, March 1990–1995 Director of the Harding Laboratory and Senior Curator, New York Botanical Garden, 1995– 1999.
    [Show full text]