7 March 2013

New programme of talks in D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum

A new series of talks in the University of Dundee's D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum will begin next week with a look at the natural history of the local area.

Jim Cook, of the Dundee Naturalists' Society, will discuss 'The History of Natural History in Angus' on Tuesday, 12th March. His talk will explore the long history of investigation of local wildlife and wild places, and interesting stories from the past 300 years, such as the very first scientific dissection of an elephant and the recording of now-extinct plants and rare birds, will be covered.

Further talks covering the profound influence that D'Arcy Thompson, Dundee's first Professor of Biology, has had on 20th and 21st century art, the scientific training that the great Dundee social reformer Mary Lily Walker used to improve the lives of the city's poor, and the future of Scotland's wildcats will take place before the end of April.

Museum curator Matthew Jarron said, "We have a wonderful collection at the Zoology Museum, and this makes it the perfect venue for the Spring lecture series looking at various aspects of the natural world.

"D'Arcy Thompson's influence can be felt locally and globally, and in many other fields aside from biology. His book On Growth and Form showed that physical and mathematical laws could be used to explain the growth and form of living organisms, and this inspired some of the most celebrated artists of the past century, including Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Richard Hamilton and Jackson Pollock.

"The scientific training he provided for his friend Mary Lily Walker was put to good use in providing irrefutable evidence of the despair suffered by so many Victorian children. Finally, the series will look to the future with a talk on how research underpins current and future conservation efforts with regards to Scottish wildcats."

The full programme for the series is:

• Tuesday, 12th March. Jim Cook - 'The History of Natural History in Angus'.
• Tuesday, 19th March. Matthew Jarron - 'A Sketch of the Universe: Building the Bridge between Science and Art'.
• Tuesday, 26th March. Suzanne Zeedyk - 'Never More Blessed'.
• Tuesday, 30th April. Dr Jenny Bryce - 'Scottish Wildcats'.

All talks will take place at 6pm in the D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum, Carnelley Building, University of Dundee. Admission is free and there is no need to book.

For further information call 01382 384310 or email museum@dundee.ac.uk

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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