#24- Professor John van Wyhe : How Charles Darwin Changed The World

Professor John van Wyhe is a historian of science at the National University of Singapore and the founder and Director of Darwin Online– probably the most comprehensive scholarly website on any historical person.His research has resolved long-standing mysteries and myths such as Darwin’s so-called delay, when Darwin received Wallace’s evolution essay, whether Darwin was the naturalist on the Beagle, where the legend of Darwin’s finches comes from, and whether Darwin lost his faith because his daughter Annie died.His book, Darwin: A Companion, has been called “the most amazing book on Darwin ever published”. It includes thousands of new discoveries and the most extensive iconography of any historical figure in science.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Teaser & Introduction01:42 The Intellectual Climate of Darwin's Time07:10 Darwin's Early Life and Influences10:47 The Voyage of the Beagle16:48 Understanding Natural Selection26:45 Darwin's Contributions to Geology31:55 Nature vs. Nurture Debate39:52 The Controversial Reception of Darwin's Theory42:09 The Descent of Man and Its Implications47:19 The Church's Acceptance of Evolution50:05 The Importance of Earthworms53:40 Darwin's Daily Life and Productivity56:14 Cultivating Observational Skills01:00:13 Setting the Record Straight on Wallace01:03:57 Wallace's Contributions to Science01:09:05 Advice for Graduate Students