CALL for PAPERS for The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) at 200: Science, Society, and the Natural World 1-3 July 2026

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) at 200: Science, Society, and the Natural World

The Society for the History of Natural History
in partnership with
The Zoological Society of London

Huxley Lecture Theatre, Zoological Society of London, London
Wednesday 1^st July to Friday 3^rd July 2026.

Please circulate Call for Papers below

SHNH Summer Meeting 2026 Call for Papers FINAL

Call for papers

This three-day international meeting, held in SHNH’s 90^th year, will mark the bicentenary of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and delve into its history and impact on our knowledge of the natural world. Founded in the age of empire and Enlightenment science, ZSL has shaped – and been shaped by – transformations in zoological knowledge, conservation practice, and human-animal relations. The bicentenary offers a timely opportunity to explore ZSL’s history and to reflect on its legacy in Britain and beyond.

Founded in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles, the ZSL became a cornerstone of British scientific life. Within just a few years it had opened the London Zoo (1828), received a Royal Charter (1829), and absorbed the collections of the royal menagerie, once housed at the Tower of London (1831). Throughout the nineteenth century, ZSL pioneered public zoological attractions, including the world’s first Reptile House (1849) and Aquarium (1850). Iconic animals such as Obaysch the hippopotamus and Jumbo the elephant became cultural phenomena, while figures like Charles Darwin and Evelyn Cheesman shaped its scientific reputation. The founding of Whipsnade Zoo in 1931 marked a shift toward open zoological parks, and the establishment of the Institute of Zoology in the 1960s positioned ZSL as a leader in conservation research.

We invite scholars, researchers and practitioners to submit papers that delve into the history of the ZSL, its members and animals, together with its role and importance in shaping our understanding of the natural world over time. While we will favour papers that focus on the history of ZSL, we also encourage papers which centre on the history of other zoological collections or institutions and their links to ZSL.

A watercolour of Obaysch the hippo by Joseph Wolf (c.1850), based on sketches sent from Egypt by Charles Murray. Obaysch was the first living hippopotamus in Europe since Roman times. He was a sensation, generating huge numbers of visitors to the Zoo and responsible for a Victorian craze for ‘hippomania’.

We welcome papers that explore (but are not restricted to) the following topics:

The zoo as a site of science and experimentation, education, spectacle and entertainment
ZSL’s role in collecting, classifying, and displaying animals from across the world
‘Star’ animals and their legacy
ZSL and its role in institutional and global networks
Zoo design and the aesthetics of zoological display, including botanical planting
The role of ZSL in conservation science and breeding programmes
Animal care and control including veterinary science and feeding regimes
The work of artists inspired by ZSL’s collections

Abstracts for 20-minute papers should be submitted to Dr Elle Larsson, Meetings Secretary at: meetings@shnh.org.uk. Please include a title, an abstract (up to 250 words) and a speaker biography (up to 100 words). These should be submitted as a single word document with your name in the file name.

The deadline for submission is 6 February 2026.

Successful papers will be selected to cover a range of topics and on the basis of their appropriateness and relevance to the theme of the meeting. Speakers are asked to ensure they can attend and present in person.

Please do circulate the CFP amongst your networks and contacts!

SHNH Meetings

The Society for the History of Natural History is a diverse community of people united by an active interest in the study of natural history through time, believing that a greater awareness of how nature has been considered, documented, valued and exploited by societies and individuals worldwide leads to a deeper understanding and celebration of nature. The Society is known for its friendliness and its meetings combine intellectual excellence with opportunities for an informal exchange of ideas. It is a focal point for the history of all aspects of natural history. This includes art, literature, biography and bibliography as well as investigative historical studies.

For more information on the Society please see www.shnh.org.uk.

Archives of Natural History is the journal of the Society for the History of Natural History, publishing papers on the history and bibliography of all branches of natural history. For more information see https://www.euppublishing.com/loi/anh.

Registered Charity no. 2103555 in England and Wales

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