Sandy Knapp is a plant taxonomist in the Department of Botany at the Natural History Museum in London. She is a specialist on the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and the author most recently of Plant Discoveries: A Botanist’s Voyage Through Plant Exploration (Firefly Books, 2003). She is also the author of several popular books on the history of science and botanical exploration, including the award winning Potted Histories (2004).

Watch the full lecture

Professor EO Wilson's lecture to mark Origin Day

The panel's responses

Peter Bowler

Professor Emeritus of the History of Science at Queen's University. Peter Bowler.

 

Randal Keynes

British conservationist and descendent of Charles Darwin, Randal Keynes.

 

Sandy Knapp

Plant taxonomist in the Department of Botany at the Natural History Museum in London: Sandy Knapp.

 

Armand Leroi

Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology at Imperial: Armand Leroi.

 

Audience questions and answers

Question One

What would have happened had The Origin of Species never been published?

 

Question Two

If Darwin were alive today, what area of evolutionary science would he be working in, and why?

 

Question Three

In 50 million years’ time is the impact of modern man on biodiversity going to look significantly different from the meteorite strike which we believe wiped out the dinosaurs?

 

Question Four

Could the panel list the tools of science that we can use at home to develop the future of biology?

 

Question Five

Are there abuses of Darwinism, perversions of Darwinism around today and might they yet lead us down a dark route?

 

Question Six

Would the panel care to comment on the grip that creationism has on the minds of the wider public?

 

Content last updated: 24/11/2009

Comments