Expert uncovers legacy of legendary naturalist

A world-renowned expert on Charles Darwin will provide an insight into the evolutionary biologist’s other legacy – his children – at a lecture at Charles Darwin University this week.

Professor Tim Berra is a University Professorial Fellow at CDU and is visiting from the United States where he is Academy Professor and Professor Emeritus of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at Ohio State University.

Hosted by the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods (RIEL), Professor Berra will deliver the lecture titled “Darwin & His Children: His Other Legacy” on Thursday, 13 October.

“The lecture covers the lives of Charles Darwin and first cousin Emma Wedgwood’s 10 children,” Professor Berra said.

“Three of the children were Fellows of the Royal Society and were knighted, and most of his children who survived to adulthood made significant contributions to society.”

The lecture is based on one of several books Professor Berra has authored on the legendary naturalist and aims to illuminate this extraordinary family.

“While much has been written about the life and works of Charles Darwin, the lives of his 10 children had remained largely unexamined,” he said.

“Most Darwin books consider his children as footnotes to the life of their famous father and close with the death of Charles Darwin. This is the only book that deals substantially with the lives of his children from their birth to their death, each in his or her own chapter.”

Professor Berra was the recipient of an unprecedented three Fulbright Awards to Australia in 1969, 1979 and 2009. Associated with CDU’s RIEL, he has undertaken research into the biology of nurseryfish in the Adelaide River since 2001. He has authored more than 80 scientific papers and eight books.

The lecture will be held on Thursday, 13 October from 1pm to 2pm in Building Yellow 1.1.39, CDU Casuarina campus. The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit W:  riel.cdu.edu.au/news-events/events