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: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

"What led you to impersonate great biologists?" is a question often asked of me, and my answer varies depending on the interviewer. Sometimes, I cite my interest in biographies of distinguished scientists initiated by a reading of Vallery-Radot's The Life of Pasteur as a teenager and furthered by a superb college course on the history of biology. Another answer: my love of the theater, more from the balcony than on the stage as a ham actor. My most frequent reply, however, credits this instructional innovation to the students in my Berkeley course in general biology (Zoology 10), who began to show, in the late sixties, their dissatisfaction with the lecture system. I gave serious thought to the problem of communicating biological information with greater impact. One morning in the shower, I was stuck not only by the spray but also by an idea: dress up and make up as some of the great biologists and present their discoveries and thoughts in their own words. In addition to expounding their scientific work, portray them as persons with hopes and ambitions, frustration over failure, and joy from success. I chose Darwin, Mendel, Harvey, and Pasteur, who would probably be on the most lists of great biologists, and two lesser-known scientists: William Beaumont, pre-Civil War Army surgeon who studied gastric digestion in the stomach of a fur trapper, Alexis St. Martin; and Hans Spemann, 1935 Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine, who discovered the organizer principle in embryonic development. The results of the innovation, which I call guest lecturers, were gratifying. Late five of the lectures, in abbreviated form, were recorded on motion picture film (available through the Media Center of the University of California, Berkeley). Then, it was suggested that I write a book about the experience. This I did, and the result is Impersonating Darwin: The Adventures of a Biologist in His Own Words. The book has been well received, and I have been invited to lecture on it at various universities and scientific organizations.

Introduction:
The author's interest in impersonating great biologists began with a reading of Vallery-Radot's The Life of Pasteur as a teenager and was further fueled by a college course on the history of biology. However, the most frequent response credits the innovation to the students in their Berkeley course in general biology (Zoology 10), who began to show dissatisfaction with the traditional lecture system in the late sixties. The author gave serious thought to the problem of communicating biological information with greater impact and decided to dress up and make up as some of the great biologists to present their discoveries and thoughts in their own words.
The Innovation:
The author chose Darwin, Mendel, Harvey, and Pasteur, as well as 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 author called these scientists "guest lecturers" and presented their scientific work, as well as their hopes, ambitions, frustrations over failure, and joy from success.
The Results:
The results of the innovation were gratifying. Late five of the lectures were recorded on motion picture film and are available through the Media Center of the University of California, Berkeley. The author also wrote a book about the experience, Impersonating Darwin: The Adventures of a Biologist in His Own Words, which has been well received and has led to invitations to lecture on the topic.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the author's interest in impersonating great biologists was sparked by a desire to communicate biological information with greater impact. The innovation of guest lecturers, in which the author dressed up and made up as some of the great biologists, was a successful way to achieve this goal. The results of the innovation were gratifying, and the author's book has been well received. The author hopes that this approach will continue to be used in the future to enhance the teaching of biology and other scientific subjects."

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 210 x 148 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520357815