C11. In Darwin's Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos

From 1831-6, Charles Darwin circumnavigated the globe on HMS Beagle. In the Galapagos Islands and elsewhere, Darwin collected data that, after decades of study and reflection, formed part of the basis for his publication On the Origin of Species. The ideas presented in that volume remain the foundation of all modern biological thought. Drawing upon original source materials and the instructor’s photos, this course will present the historical and cultural context of Darwin’s era, follow the 5-year journey, discuss how Darwin came to his ideas, and explain his theories in detail. This course is intended for people with little or no college-level biology experience; no prior knowledge of biology or evolutionary theory is presumed.

Optional Readings: 

Instructor: Eric J. Simon, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Biology and Health Science at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. Dr. Simon is an award-winning nature photographer who leads educational trips for both undergraduates and lifelong learners to such destinations as Belize, the Galapagos, Tanzania, Cuba, the Amazon River, and Patagonia. Prof. Simon earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Harvard University. Dr. Simon is the author of a widely used series of college biology textbooks with over 2 million books in print that help teach biology to students in over 40 countries.