History of Biology Seminar

In 1987, Garland E. Allen and Jane Maienschein organized the first History of Biology course to kick off a year-long MBL Centennial Celebration.  The focus was on Embryology and Genetics. In 1989, the Dibner Fund provided support for a course on the History of Neurobiology and Behavior, and in 1990, the newly founded  Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology at MIT began a series of annual seminars.  Garland Allen retired as seminar director, and John Beatty and James Collins joined the team. 

Each summer brings historians, philosophers, and scientists together to explore a selected topic in the history of biology.  Invited seminar leaders guide us through each session, and intense discussion and exploration of ideas continues week-long. 

The MBL Librarian Cathy Norton has always been a keen supporter of the program, which involves visits to the Rare Books Room and introduction to the rich resources available through the MBL-WHOI Library. The Library is a leader in digital library development, and a partner in several important history of science projects.

Hundreds of scholars have participated over the past two decades, supported by the Dibner Institute, and we are delighted that the tradition will continue with the new partnership of  the MBL with Arizona State University.

For more information, please contact:  mbl@asu.edu

Click here to go to past seminars.