In Darwin’s Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos (Best of OLLI)
From 1831-36, Charles Darwin circumnavigated the globe on HMS Beagle. In the Galapagos Islands and elsewhere, he collected data that, after decades of study and reflection, formed part of the basis for his publication On the Origin of Species. The ideas presented in that volume remain the foundation of all modern biological thought. Drawing upon original source materials and the instructor’s photos, this course will present the historical and cultural context of Darwin’s era, follow the 5-year journey, discuss how Darwin came to his ideas, and explain his theories in detail. This course is intended for people with little or no college-level biology experience; no prior knowledge of biology or evolutionary theory is presumed.
Faculty Bio
Eric J. Simon, Ph.D. has been a professor of Biology for over 25 years. An avid traveler and award-winning photographer, Eric leads educational international trips for both undergraduates and lifelong learners. Prof. Simon earned his Ph.D. at Harvard and is the author of a widely used series of college biology textbooks used by students in over 40 countries.
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Member Praise for Eric Simon
Very engaging instructor who clearly loved his topic and was very knowledgeable. His enthusiasm was contagious. Very receptive to questions - would start each class by answering questions he'd received and researched.
Thoroughly engaging presentations which were organized, lively and moved at a good pace. I appreciated Professor Simon's enthusiasm, clarity and sense of humor.