Nineteenth Century naturalists overwhelmed by the abundance of life in a tropical rainforest [From J.B.. von Spix and C.F. P. Martius, 1817-1820]
Geological panorama in Southern France, demonstrating Charles Lyell's diluvial theory of valley formation through water erosion [Lyell, 1822]
Engraving of one of Luigi Galvani's experiments showing the similarity of nerve and muscle activity to electricity. The leads connecting to the frog muscle preparation pick up and transmit atmospheric electricity (lightening) to the muscle which then twitches. [Galvni, Effects of Electricity on Muscular Motion.Norwalk, CT (1953): Translation with Facsimile of 1791 edition, Plate 2]
William Harvey's demonstration of valves in the vein providing one-way flow of blood. [Harvey, De motu cordis, 1628: Figs 3-4: pp 56-57]
Promoting Eugenical Sterilization in Oregon of Hereditary Defectives (Feebleminded) Based on family pedigree analysi (Sunday March 1, 1937)

The History and Philosophy of Biology and Medicine Lunchtime Seminars is a monthly talk series dedicated to bringing together leading national and international historians and philosophers of biology and medicine to interact with collegues in the St. Louis area. The series promote the development of historians and philosophers of biology at WUSTL and area universities, at the same time exposing students to cutting-edge scholars in the history and philosophy of biology.

April 8, 2013

News

HPS & M Series, presents Gregory Yablonsky, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Parks College, St. Louis University

Grasping Chemical Complexity: Temporal Behavior

February 21, 2012

Recent Work

Allen, Garland E. , "Culling the Herd: Eugenics and the Conservation Movement in the United States, 1900-1940," Journal of the History of Biology 45 (No, 2, Summer, 2012): Forthcoming