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Bernissart Iguanodons in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels

The Dinosaur Gallery in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels Museum of Natural History) includes the famous Bernissart Iguanodons. This consists of thirty complete or nearly complete skeletons [...]

Pterodactyl (Oolite) statues in Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, restored 2000, damaged after 2005

Pterodactyl statues in Crystal Palace Dinosaurs | missing

Following this month’s damage to one of the most famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, Megalosaurus, I’m reminded of the pterodactyl statues (properly, pterosaurs) that were original to the collection. Those were [...]

George Gaylord Simpson’s (1953) The Major Features of Evolution. Title page

Major Features of Evolution (1953) by George Gaylord Simpson

George Gaylord Simpson‘s (1902-1984) book, Major Features of Evolution, was published in 1953 by Columbia University Press in their Columbia Biological Series. This book played an important part in the [...]

Project Pitch Explained for HPSC0044 Undergraduates

In HPSC0044 Science and the Publishing Industry students develop a book proposal. First, they sketch an idea. Second, they deliver a project pitch. Third, they submit a book proposal. To [...]

Proceedings of the Seventh International Genetical Congress held in 1939 and published in 1941.

International Genetical Congress (1939, Seventh): Queries using LLM

What work can large-language models (LLMs) do for historical researching? They offer tools for voluminous compilation of data ready for complex human analysis. They can organise and reorganise data. They can extract data from source material. They can be set to search for trends. We’re coming to grips with LLM tools for historical researching, and we’re quickly moving well beyond the LLM-as-author model so distrusted in our community. Historians must push ourselves to be as creative and demanding of LLM resources as those in our sister disciplines.

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HPSC0010 History of Modern Science

This page is in development. Please return in September 2026. Until then, please enjoy these cartoons. What are these?

HPSC0028 History of Life Sciences

A historical survey of the biological sciences from the Enlightenment to the present. What are the big names and big ideas? How were they received at the time and appropriated later? Who’s been ignored and […]

HPSC0041 Dissertation

Undergraduates in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) undertake final year projects resulting in dissertations or research reports. Students undertake a research project largely of their own design in the field of science […]

Evolution. Sewall Wright Taught Me, volume 1. Edited by Joe Cain. ISBN 9781906267025

Evolution: Sewall Wright Taught Me, volume 1 | EGP

Sewall Wright taught throughout his long career. Between 1926-1955, he worked at the University of Chicago. During this time, he developed and taught both undergraduate and graduate courses. By the early 1930s, Wright’s teaching load […]

Eoörnis pterovelox gobiensis (Eoornis) | EGP

Meet Eoörnis (Eoornis), the woofen-poof. As the author explains, ‘Through countless ages and successive civilizations this remarkable bird has been the symbol of speed, stamina, grace of line, proportion of members, and beauty of motion.’ […]

William Jennings Bryan arrives in Dayton, Tennessee for the 1925 Scopes Trial

Last Message of William Jennings Bryan (Scopes Trial) | EGP

As the Scopes ‘Monkey’ Trial came to an end in July 1925, William Jennings Bryan expected to deliver the prosecution’s closing argument. Procedural tactics by the defence prevented this. The trial ended without the long-awaited […]

Professor Joe Cain

UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology

Synthesis Period in Evolutionary Studies

Haldane. Mathematical Theory of Natural and Artificial Selection (1924-1934)

Sewall Wright Taught Me series: Evolution, Genetics, Physiological Genetics | EGP

Comparing Tempo and Mode (1944) with Major Features (1953) by George Gaylord Simpson

Biodynamica, published by Basile J. Luyet

Major Features of Evolution (1953) by George Gaylord Simpson

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

Bernissart Iguanodons in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels

Pterodactyl statues in Crystal Palace Dinosaurs | missing

GenAI in Research

Major Features of Evolution (1953) by George Gaylord Simpson

Project Pitch Explained for HPSC0044 Undergraduates

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International Genetical Congress (1939, Seventh): Queries using LLM

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HPSC Modules 2026-27

HPSC0010 History of Modern Science

HPSC0028 History of Life Sciences

HPSC0041 Dissertation

Open Access Titles | Euston Grove Press

Evolution: Sewall Wright Taught Me, volume 1 | EGP

Eoörnis pterovelox gobiensis (Eoornis) | EGP

Last Message of William Jennings Bryan (Scopes Trial) | EGP