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Unremitting passion for the beauty and mystery of the natural world – Alfred Russel Wallace Centenary



Unremitting passion for the beauty and mystery of the natural world – Alfred Russel Wallace Centenary

Joint meeting of SHNH and the Linnean Society of London

Friday 7th June, 10.30 – 18.00

University of Bournemouth, Talbot Campus, Walisdown Road, Bournemouth BH12 5BB

This meeting is taking place in association with the University’s Festival of Learning. Talks on Alfred Russel Wallace on Friday 7th June will cover Wallace’s life and letters, collecting and collections, and his contributions to the study of natural history and evolutionary biology.

Speakers include:

  • Jim Costa talking on "Wallace’s evolutionary insights seen through the lens of the Species Notebook",
  • Charles Smith on "Wallace on Natural Selection: What Did He Really Have in Mind?",
  • Annette Lord talking about the collections and correspondence of Wallace at the Oxford University Museum,
  •  Janet Ashdown on the conservation of the Wallace notebooks and other material held at the Linnean Society of London
  •  Andrew Sortwell on re-tracing Wallace’s Amazonian travels.

The morning session will open at 11.00, with registration from 10.30, and an afternoon session of talks is scheduled to start at 14.00 and finish at 16.00, prior to a theatrical event. Registration also includes participation in an evening reception from 17.00-18.00 at the Bournemouth Natural Sciences Society and a chance to view their Victorian collecting museum.

The registration fee for the day (including refreshments on arrival, lunch and the evening reception) is £25.00. For more information and to register please click here.

On Saturday 8th June there will be associated events, managed by the University of Bournemouth. These include coach transport to visit Wallace’s grave at Broadstone cemetery, a brief theatrical event at the grave, a nature walk guided by the Bournemouth Natural Sciences Society and further events and performance at Bournemouth University, in association with the Festival of Learning You should ask Wallace.