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
The Greatest Illustrated Book Ever Made: John James Audubon and The Birds of America
Learn about the life of celebrated naturalist and artist John James Audubon with an emphasis on his revolutionary book The Birds of America, often called the finest illustrated book ever produced. We’ll discuss his life and artistic process and then take a deep dive into his bird paintings. This talk is customized to discuss birds in your area.
Beyond Peter Rabbit: Beatrix Potter’s Pioneering Work in Science and Nature
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 beauty with scientific precision, highlighting her lasting contributions to both botany and storytelling.
In Darwin’s Footsteps: Journeying 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. Longer versions of this course will include his development of the theory of evolution by natural selection.
If Einstein Climbed Everest: Alexander von Humboldt, the most famous scientist and explorer of the 19th century
Learn about the incredible life and career of Alexander von Humboldt, Prussian naturalist, mountaineer, polymath, and the era’s 2nd most famous European (after Napolean). His journey to South America (1799-1804) was a groundbreaking accomplishment for science, art, and their intersection.
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.
From Amsterdam to Suriname: The Art and Adventure of Maria Merian’s Extraordinary Discoveries
Discover the groundbreaking contributions of Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th-century artist and naturalist who revolutionized our understanding of insects 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.
Carleton Watkins in Yosemite, 1861: Mammoth Photographs, Monumental Vision
Carleton Watkins paved the way for modern landscape photographers like Ansel Adams, Richard Misrach, and Robert Adams. His iconic photographs of the American West in the 1860s, and his mammoth 1861 prints from Yosemite in particular, 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.
Capturing Light: The Science Behind Photography and Photography’s Role in Science
We dive into the fascinating history of photography, exploring how breakthroughs in chemistry, optics, and scientific ingenuity made it possible to capture images from light. From there, we’ll see how these images became powerful tools in multiple scientific fields. Discover how photography has not only documented the world but transformed the way we understand it.
Following the Turtle: The Art and Science of Naturalist 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.