Eric J. Simon Talks
Eric J. Simon, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized expert in biology education and a celebrated communicator of nature.
Explore Eric’s Talks on Nature as the Consilience of Science and Art
John James Audubon and The Birds of America
I discuss the life of celebrated naturalist John James Audubon with an emphasis on his revolutionary book The Birds of America, often called the finest illustrated book ever produced. This talk will be customized to discuss birds in your area.
Beatrix Potter: Painting the Secret Life of Fungi
You’ve heard of Beatrix Potter as a celebrated children’s author. Now delve into her lesser-known side as a talented mycological artist and scientific observer. This talk uncovers how her detailed illustrations of fungi combined artistic beauty with scientific precision, highlighting her lasting contributions to both botany and storytelling.
In Darwin’s Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos
This talk follows Charles Darwin’s 1831-6 around-the-world voyage of discovery aboard HMS Beagle with an emphasis on the Galapagos archipelago.
Alexander von Humboldt’s Hero’s Journey to South America
Learn about the life of the 19th century’s most famous scientist and his groundbreaking and celebrated five-year journey to South America.
The Art of Conservation: John Muir, Ansel Adams, and Yosemite National Park
Celebrated naturalist, promoter of national parks, founder of The Sierra Club: John Muir led a life focused on conserving nature’s splendor. Ansel Adams is America’s best known landscape photographer. Learn and see how their lives and different approaches to art intersected to help promote and protect Yosemite National Park.
Metamorphosis Mastered: Maria Sibylla Merian, Art, and the Birth of Modern Entomology
Discover the groundbreaking contributions of Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th-century artist and naturalist who revolutionized our understanding of insect life cycles through her stunningly detailed illustrations. This talk explores how her pioneering work bridged art and science, laying the foundation for modern entomology and ecological study.
Science and the Sublime: Humboldt, Church, and the Art of Exploration
American landscape painter Frederic Church was a central figure in the Hudson River School. Alexander von Humboldt was a Prussian polymath and explorer whose groundbreaking journey to the Andes inspired Church to follow in his footsteps. Learn how these two remarkable 18th century figures intersected to enhance our scientific and aesthetic appreciation of the landscape of South America.
Before Ansel Adams: Carleton Watkins—The First Photographer to Frame the West
Carleton Watkins, born 1829, paved the way for modern landscape photographers like Ansel Adams, Richard Misrach, or Robert Adams. His iconic photographs of the American West in the 1860s contributed to the creation of the National Parks system and are still revered for their technical mastery.
Understanding Darwinian Evolution by Natural Selection
In this talk, I develop and discuss the ideas presented in Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking book “On the Origin of Species” to show how Darwin used his experiences in the Galapagos and elsewhere to formulate this theory of evolution by natural selection.
Alexander von Humboldt’s Naturgemälde: Explaining Nature through Art
After his journey to South America, Alexander von Humboldt published the Naturgemälde, considered the world’s first infographic. Learn how this remarkable work of art provided the foundation of modern biogeography and changed how scientists communicate data.
Following the Turtle: Art and Science in the Work of David Carroll
This talk explores how the renowned New Hampshire naturalist David Carroll blends meticulous field science with lyrical, hand-drawn artistry to reveal the hidden lives of turtles and their wetland habitats. This talk invites audiences into Carroll’s world where the line between artist and scientist disappears into the quiet beauty of nature.
Biology and Society
Eric Simon is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on how to teach biology to non-scientists. Join Eric as he dives into any one of a number of fascinating topics, including personal genomic testing, DNA forensics, transgenic organisms, cloning, cancer, and genetic engineering.
And more available upon request
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