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 & Introduction

01:42 The Intellectual Climate of Darwin's Time

07:10 Darwin's Early Life and Influences

10:47 The Voyage of the Beagle

16:48 Understanding Natural Selection

26:45 Darwin's Contributions to Geology

31:55 Nature vs. Nurture Debate

39:52 The Controversial Reception of Darwin's Theory

42:09 The Descent of Man and Its Implications

47:19 The Church's Acceptance of Evolution

50:05 The Importance of Earthworms

53:40 Darwin's Daily Life and Productivity

56:14 Cultivating Observational Skills

01:00:13 Setting the Record Straight on Wallace

01:03:57 Wallace's Contributions to Science

01:09:05 Advice for Graduate Students