The Great Naturalists / Edited by Robert Huxley
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Mary Anning Information Sheets
Mary Anning information sheets Mary Anning was born in 1799 in the Dorset town of Lyme Regis. Her dad was a keen fossil hunter and showed Mary and her brother, Joseph, how to find and collect fossils from the local beaches. This part of the coast is now known as the Jurassic Coast due to the high number of pre-historic fossils found there. When Anning was 11 her dad died but she carried on looking for and collecting fossils in order to sell them. Anning’s family was very poor so they needed to earn as much money as possible from the sale of the fossils. Anning didn’t attend school as she needed to earn money for the family, and it was too expensive at the time to attend. She taught herself how to read, write and draw, and read all about anatomy to help her understand the way the fossilised animals that she found were formed. When she was 12, Anning’s brother spotted the fossilised skull of an Ichthyosaur. Anning uncovered it and discovered what turned out to be the first complete Ichthyosaur fossil to be found. This was an important discovery because it challenged the way scientists had thought the natural world had developed. In 1823 Anning discovered a Plesiosaurus and in 1828 she discovered a Pterodactylus. Many scientists came to visit Anning because she was so knowledgeable about her finds and the many other pre-historic fossils she had uncovered. She corresponded regularly with scientists, including Adam Sedgewick, who taught geology at Cambridge University. -
See Science Everywhere(Lesson 5) Mary Anning
See Science Everywhere (Lesson 5) Mary Anning: The Princess of Paleontology Lesson Overview: Students, in this lesson, will be introduced to an often overlooked figure in history: Mary Anning. Born in England in 1799, Anning was a pioneer in paleontology and an avid fossil collector. She is credited with many monumental geological discoveries; notably the discovery of the first Ichthyosaurus. She also uncovered the fossilized remains of the first winged dinosaur, the plesiosaur. Read to your student about her inspiring life in Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist, and explore the fascinating world of fossils with a hands-on activity. 1. Pre-reading: Vocabulary: (These terms can be found at the end of the picture book.) ● Fossil ● Paleontology ● Ammonite ● Belemnite ● Coprolites ● Petricola pholadiformis ● Plesiosaurus ● Ichthyosaurus ● Dinosaur ● Jurassic Period 2. Read: Follow this link to read the picture book Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers. 3. Watch: View this brief video clip from The Smithsonian about Mary Anning. The Princess of Paleontology 4. Further Exploration: Explain to your student that during this time in history, the field of paleontology had not been widely studied. Anning’s contributions were controversial; and the fact that she was not only a woman, but a poor, uneducated woman did not help gain her high ranking status among professional scientists. She is truly an unsung hero in this -
Alfred Russel Wallace and the Darwinian Species Concept
Gayana 73(2): Suplemento, 2009 ISSN 0717-652X ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE AND THE Darwinian SPECIES CONCEPT: HIS paper ON THE swallowtail BUTTERFLIES (PAPILIONIDAE) OF 1865 ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE Y EL concepto darwiniano DE ESPECIE: SU TRABAJO DE 1865 SOBRE MARIPOSAS papilio (PAPILIONIDAE) Jam ES MA LLET 1 Galton Laboratory, Department of Biology, University College London, 4 Stephenson Way, London UK, NW1 2HE E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Soon after his return from the Malay Archipelago, Alfred Russel Wallace published one of his most significant papers. The paper used butterflies of the family Papilionidae as a model system for testing evolutionary hypotheses, and included a revision of the Papilionidae of the region, as well as the description of some 20 new species. Wallace argued that the Papilionidae were the most advanced butterflies, against some of his colleagues such as Bates and Trimen who had claimed that the Nymphalidae were more advanced because of their possession of vestigial forelegs. In a very important section, Wallace laid out what is perhaps the clearest Darwinist definition of the differences between species, geographic subspecies, and local ‘varieties.’ He also discussed the relationship of these taxonomic categories to what is now termed ‘reproductive isolation.’ While accepting reproductive isolation as a cause of species, he rejected it as a definition. Instead, species were recognized as forms that overlap spatially and lack intermediates. However, this morphological distinctness argument breaks down for discrete polymorphisms, and Wallace clearly emphasised the conspecificity of non-mimetic males and female Batesian mimetic morphs in Papilio polytes, and also in P. -
Press Release
Press Release Issued: Wednesday 12th August 2020 Darwin mentor and geology pioneer Charles Lyell’s archives reunited Fascinating writings of an influential scientist who shaped Charles Darwin’s thinking have become part of the University of Edinburgh’s collections. A rich assortment of letters, books, manuscripts, maps and sketches by Scottish geologist Sir Charles Lyell, have been reassembled at the University Library’s Centre for Research Collections, with the goal of making the collection more accessible to the public. Some 294 notebooks, purchased from the Lyell family following a £1 million fundraising campaign in 2019, form a key part of the collection. Although written in the Victorian era, the works shed light on current concerns, including climate change and threats to biodiversity. Now a second tranche of Lyell material has been allocated to the University by HM Government under the Acceptance in Lieu of Inheritance Tax scheme. These new acquisitions, from the estate of the 3rd Baron Lyell, will join other items that have been part of the University’s collections since 1927. The new archive includes more than 900 letters, with correspondence between Lyell and Darwin, the botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker, the publisher John Murray and Lyell’s wife, Mary Horner Lyell, and many others. It also includes a draft manuscript and heavily annotated editions of Lyell’s landmark book The Principles of Geology and several manuscripts from his lectures. Lyell, who died in 1875, aged 77, mentored Sir Charles Darwin after the latter’s return from his five-year voyage on the Beagle in 1836. The Scot is also credited with providing the framework that helped Darwin develop his evolutionary theories. -
Natural Selection: Charles Darwin & Alfred Russel Wallace
Search | Glossary | Home << previous | next > > Natural Selection: Charles Darwin & Alfred Russel Wallace The genius of Darwin (left), the way in which he suddenly turned all of biology upside down in 1859 with the publication of the Origin of Species , can sometimes give the misleading impression that the theory of evolution sprang from his forehead fully formed without any precedent in scientific history. But as earlier chapters in this history have shown, the raw material for Darwin's theory had been known for decades. Geologists and paleontologists had made a compelling case that life had been on Earth for a long time, that it had changed over that time, and that many species had become extinct. At the same time, embryologists and other naturalists studying living animals in the early 1800s had discovered, sometimes unwittingly, much of the A visit to the Galapagos Islands in 1835 helped Darwin best evidence for Darwin's formulate his ideas on natural selection. He found theory. several species of finch adapted to different environmental niches. The finches also differed in beak shape, food source, and how food was captured. Pre-Darwinian ideas about evolution It was Darwin's genius both to show how all this evidence favored the evolution of species from a common ancestor and to offer a plausible mechanism by which life might evolve. Lamarck and others had promoted evolutionary theories, but in order to explain just how life changed, they depended on speculation. Typically, they claimed that evolution was guided by some long-term trend. Lamarck, for example, thought that life strove over time to rise from simple single-celled forms to complex ones. -
Mary Anning of Lyme Regis: 19Th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology
Headwaters Volume 26 Article 14 2009 Mary Anning of Lyme Regis: 19th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology Larry E. Davis College of St. Benedict / St. John's University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/headwaters Part of the Geology Commons, and the Paleontology Commons Recommended Citation Davis, Larry E. (2009) "Mary Anning of Lyme Regis: 19th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology," Headwaters: Vol. 26, 96-126. Available at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/headwaters/vol26/iss1/14 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Headwaters by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LARRY E. DAVIS Mary Anning of Lyme Regis 19th Century Pioneer in British Palaeontology Ludwig Leichhardt, a 19th century German explorer noted in a letter, “… we had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the Princess of Palaeontology, Miss Anning. She is a strong, energetic spinster of about 28 years of age, tanned and masculine in expression …” (Aurousseau, 1968). Gideon Mantell, a 19th century British palaeontologist, made a less flattering remark when he wrote in his journal, “… sallied out in quest of Mary An- ning, the geological lioness … we found her in a little dirt shop with hundreds of specimens piled around her in the greatest disorder. She, the presiding Deity, a prim, pedantic vinegar looking female; shred, and rather satirical in her conversation” (Curwin, 1940). Who was Mary Anning, this Princess of Palaeontology and Geological Lioness (Fig. -
Renee M. Clary, Ph.D., F.G.S
Renee M. Clary, Ph.D., F.G.S. P.O. Box 1705 Mississippi State, MS 39762 (337) 519-9224 [email protected] http://EarthScholars.com http://15DegreeLab.com EDUCATION 2003 Ph. D. Curriculum and Instruction, Geoscience Education, Louisiana State University 1998 M. Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Science Education, University of Louisiana at Lafayette 1997 M.S. Geology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette 1983 B. S. Chemistry, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Additional Certifications 2010 Distance Learning, Mississippi State University 2009 ESRI Arc GIS I 1982 Scanning Electron Microscopy, McCrone Research Institute EMPLOYMENT 2012- Associate Professor, Director of the Dunn-Seiler Museum, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University 2007-2012 Assistant Professor, Director of the Dunn-Seiler Museum, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University 2006 Distance Learning Instructor, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University 2005-2006 Online Instructor, College of Science and Technology, Northwestern State University of Louisiana 2003-2005 Assistant Professor, Director of the X-Ray Center, Department of Geology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2000-2003 Adjunct Professor and Instructor, Department of Geology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette 1999-2003 Instructor, South Louisiana Community College 1998 Research Assistant, Magnetic Products International 1984-1986 Chemistry and Calculus Instructor, Episcopal School of Acadiana 1984-1985 Chemist, Applied Science and Technology Laboratories, Dow Chemical, U.S.A., Louisiana Division 1981-1983 Chief Laboratory Assistant, Asbestos Research Program Clary 2 PUBLICATIONS Refereed Journal Articles Clary, R.M. (2015). William Smith’s mapping milestone: an Interactive Historical Vignette celebrating the bicentennial of the first national geologic map. The Science Teacher, 82(7), 36-42. -
Archibald Geikie (1835–1924): a Pioneer Scottish Geologist, Teacher, and Writer
ROCK STARS Archibald Geikie (1835–1924): A Pioneer Scottish Geologist, Teacher, and Writer Rasoul Sorkhabi, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA; [email protected] years later, but there he learned how to write reports. Meanwhile, he read every geology book he could find, including John Playfair’s Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory, Henry de la Beche’s Geological Manual, Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology, and Hugh Miller’s The Old Red Sandstone. BECOMING A GEOLOGIST In the summer of 1851, while the Great Exhibition in London was attracting so many people, Geikie decided instead to visit the Island of Arran in the Clyde estuary and study its geology, aided by a brief report by Andrew Ramsay of the British Geological Survey. Geikie came back with a report titled “Three weeks in Arran by a young geologist,” published that year in the Edinburgh News. This report impressed Hugh Miller so much that the renowned geologist invited its young author to discuss geology over a cup of tea. Miller became Geikie’s first mentor. In this period, Geikie became acquainted with local scientists and pri- vately studied chemistry, mineralogy, and geology under Scottish naturalists, such as George Wilson, Robert Chambers, John Fleming, James Forbes, and Andrew Ramsay—to whom he con- fessed his desire to join the Geological Survey. In 1853, Geikie visited the islands of Skye and Pabba off the coast Figure 1. Archibald Geikie as a young geolo- of Scotland and reported his observations of rich geology, including gist in Edinburgh. (Photo courtesy of the British Geological Survey, probably taken in finds of Liassic fossils. -
HUNTIA a Journal of Botanical History
HUNTIA A Journal of Botanical History VOLUME 16 NUMBER 2 2018 Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, a research division of Carnegie Mellon University, specializes in the history of botany and all aspects of plant science and serves the international scientific community through research and documentation. To this end, the Institute acquires and maintains authoritative collections of books, plant images, manuscripts, portraits and data files, and provides publications and other modes of information service. The Institute meets the reference needs of botanists, biologists, historians, conservationists, librarians, bibliographers and the public at large, especially those concerned with any aspect of the North American flora. Huntia publishes articles on all aspects of the history of botany, including exploration, art, literature, biography, iconography and bibliography. The journal is published irregularly in one or more numbers per volume of approximately 200 pages by the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. External contributions to Huntia are welcomed. Page charges have been eliminated. All manuscripts are subject to external peer review. Before submitting manuscripts for consideration, please review the “Guidelines for Contributors” on our Web site. Direct editorial correspondence to the Editor. Send books for announcement or review to the Book Reviews and Announcements Editor. All issues are available as PDFs on our Web site. Hunt Institute Associates may elect to receive Huntia as a benefit of membership; contact the Institute for more information. Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation Carnegie Mellon University 5th Floor, Hunt Library 4909 Frew Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 Telephone: 412-268-2434 Email: [email protected] Web site: http://www.huntbotanical.org Editor and layout Scarlett T. -
An Investigation Into the Graphic Innovations of Geologist Henry T
Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2003 Uncovering strata: an investigation into the graphic innovations of geologist Henry T. De la Beche Renee M. Clary Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Clary, Renee M., "Uncovering strata: an investigation into the graphic innovations of geologist Henry T. De la Beche" (2003). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 127. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/127 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. UNCOVERING STRATA: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE GRAPHIC INNOVATIONS OF GEOLOGIST HENRY T. DE LA BECHE A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Curriculum and Instruction by Renee M. Clary B.S., University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1983 M.S., University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1997 M.Ed., University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1998 May 2003 Copyright 2003 Renee M. Clary All rights reserved ii Acknowledgments Photographs of the archived documents held in the National Museum of Wales are provided by the museum, and are reproduced with permission. I send a sincere thank you to Mr. Tom Sharpe, Curator, who offered his time and assistance during the research trip to Wales. -
The Malay Archipelago
BOOKS & ARTS COMMENT The Malay Archipelago: the land of the orang-utan, and the bird of paradise; a IN RETROSPECT narrative of travel, with studies of man and nature ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE The Malay Macmillan/Harper Brothers: first published 1869. lfred Russel Wallace was arguably the greatest field biologist of the nine- Archipelago teenth century. He played a leading Apart in the founding of both evolutionary theory and biogeography (see page 162). David Quammen re-enters the ‘Milky Way of He was also, at times, a fine writer. The best land masses’ evoked by Alfred Russel Wallace’s of his literary side is on show in his 1869 classic, The Malay Archipelago, a wondrous masterpiece of biogeography. book of travel and adventure that wears its deeper significance lightly. The Malay Archipelago is the vast chain of islands stretching eastward from Sumatra for more than 6,000 kilometres. Most of it now falls within the sovereignties of Malaysia and Indonesia. In Wallace’s time, it was a world apart, a great Milky Way of land masses and seas and straits, little explored by Europeans, sparsely populated by peoples of diverse cul- tures, and harbouring countless species of unknown plant and animal in dense tropical forests. Some parts, such as the Aru group “Wallace paid of islands, just off the his expenses coast of New Guinea, by selling ERNST MAYR LIB., MUS. COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY, HARVARD UNIV. HARVARD ZOOLOGY, LIB., MUS. COMPARATIVE MAYR ERNST were almost legend- specimens. So ary for their remote- he collected ness and biological series, not just riches. Wallace’s jour- samples.” neys throughout this region, sometimes by mail packet ship, some- times in a trading vessel or a small outrigger canoe, were driven by a purpose: to collect animal specimens that might help to answer a scientific question. -
Report Case Study 25
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Brief Description of item(s) 294 manuscript notebooks of the geologist Sir Charles Lyell (1797-1875). In two series: 263 numbered notebooks, 1825-1874, on geology, natural history, social and political subjects; 31 additional notebooks, 1818-1871, with indices. Mostly octavo format. For details see Appendix 1. In good condition. 2. Context The nineteenth century saw public debate about how to conduct science reach new heights. Charles Lyell was a pivotal figure in the establishment of geology as a scientific discipline; he also transformed ideas about the relationship between human history and the history of the earth. Above all, he revealed the significance of ‘deep time’. At a time when the Anglican church dominated intellectual culture, geology was a controversial subject. Lyell played a significant part in separating the practice of science from that of religion. Through his major work, The Principles of Geology, he developed the method later adopted by Darwin for his studies into evolution. Lyell observed natural phenomena at first hand to infer their underlying causes, which he used to interpret the phenomena of the past. The method stressed not only a vast geological timescale, but also the ability of small changes to produce, eventually, large ones. The Principles combined natural history, theology, political economy, anthropology, travel, and geography. It was an immediate success, in Britain, Europe, North America and Australia. Scientists, theologians, leading authors, explorers, artists, and an increasingly educated public read and discussed it. Lyell’s inductive method strongly influenced the generation of naturalists after Darwin. Over the rest of his life, Lyell revised the Principles in the light of new research and his own changing ideas.