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Sketch of Dinner in Iguanodon Model as remembered by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, 1862. Source: Letter from Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins to Edward James Alfred Trimmer, 27 August, British Library Add MS 50150 f215. Photo: ProfJoeCain CC BY NC.

Remembering Dinner in the Dinosaur: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins’ 1862 Sketch

Near the end of August 1862, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (1807-1894) wrote to Edward Trimmer (1827-1904) with a brief mention of the New Year’s Eve dinner in Iguanodon mould. The letter [...]

Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins 1854 paper on visual education applied to Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, with detailed descriptions.

Why Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins Created Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (FGS, FLS) was the sculptor who created the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. Specifically, he created over thirty statues of prehistoric animals for the Crystal Palace and Park (Sydenham), [...]

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 [...]

George Gaylord Simpson’s (1944) Tempo and Mode in Evolution. Title page

Tempo and Mode in Evolution (1944) by George Gaylord Simpson

George Gaylord Simpson‘s (1902-1984) book, Tempo and Mode in Evolution, was published in 1944 by Columbia University Press in their Columbia Biological Series. This book played an important part in [...]

2026-27 Modules

HPSC0009 Introduction to History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science

This page is in development. Please return in September 2026. Find out more.

HPSC0097 Research Project

Postgraduate taught students in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) undertake summer research projects resulting in dissertations or research reports. Professor Joe Cain supervises some students in this work, as do all academic […]

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 […]

George Baxter print showing Crystal Palace 1854 Sydenham view from the north

Guide to Crystal Palace and Park from 1871 | EGP

The Crystal Palace Company published a Guide to Crystal Palace and Park nearly every year in the first few decades after opening their attraction in Sydenham in 1854. These guides described main attractions – especially […]

Physiological Genetics: Sewall Wright Taught Me, volume 3. Edited by Joe Cain. ISBN 9781906267049

Physiological Genetics: Sewall Wright Taught Me, volume 3 | 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.’ […]

Professor Joe Cain

UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology

Synthesis Period in Evolutionary Studies

Tempo and Mode in Evolution (1944) by George Gaylord Simpson

Patricide in the Repeated Assassination of George Gaylord Simpson

Evolution: Sewall Wright Taught Me, volume 1 | EGP

Regular Contact with Anyone Interested: Documents of Society for the Study of Speciation | EGP

Columbia Biological Series, 1894-1974

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

Remembering Dinner in the Dinosaur: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins’ 1862 Sketch

Why Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins Created Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

GenAI in Research

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

Tempo and Mode in Evolution (1944) by George Gaylord Simpson

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#205 Why Green Activism Must Turn Blue | WeAreSTS

Recent Posts

HPSC Modules 2026-27

HPSC0009 Introduction to History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science

HPSC0097 Research Project

HPSC0028 History of Life Sciences

Open Access Titles | Euston Grove Press

Guide to Crystal Palace and Park from 1871 | EGP

Physiological Genetics: Sewall Wright Taught Me, volume 3 | EGP

Eoörnis pterovelox gobiensis (Eoornis) | EGP