Great Scientists Speak Again

The author of this book dressed up as famous biologists and presented their discoveries and thoughts in their own words to communicate biological information more effectively. The innovation was called "guest lecturers" and was recorded on motion picture film and published in book form.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

The author frequently receives the question, "What inspired you to impersonate renowned biologists?" The response varies depending on the interviewer, but it often includes references to their early fascination with biographies of distinguished scientists, sparked by their reading of Vallery-Radot's The Life of Pasteur as a teenager and further enriched by a comprehensive college course on the history of biology. Additionally, they mention their love of the theater, primarily from the balcony rather than the stage as a ham actor. However, the most frequent response credits the instructional innovation to the students in their Berkeley course in general biology (Zoology 10), who began expressing dissatisfaction with the traditional lecture system in the late 1960s. The author took this problem seriously and considered ways to enhance the impact of communicating biological information. One morning, while in the shower, an idea struck the author: to dress up and impersonate famous biologists, presenting their discoveries and thoughts in their own words. In addition to expounding on their scientific work, the author aimed to portray these biologists as individuals with hopes, ambitions, frustrations over failures, and joy from success. The author chose Darwin, Mendel, Harvey, Pasteur, and two lesser-known scientists: William Beaumont, a pre-Civil War Army surgeon who studied gastric digestion in the stomach of a fur trapper, and Alexis St. Martin; and Hans Spemann, a 1935 Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine, who discovered the organizer principle in embryonic development. The results of this innovation, known as "guest lecturers," were gratifying. Late in the semester, five of the lectures were recorded on motion picture film (available through the Media Center of the University of California, Berkeley). It was then suggested that the lectures be expanded into a book, which was subsequently published under the title The Guest Lecturers: Impersonating Great Biologists. The book received widespread acclaim and has since been used as a teaching tool in various educational institutions.

Weight: 181g
Dimension: 210 x 148 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520306295