E. Janet Browne
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Janet Browne is a British historian of science
known especially for her work on the history of 19th century biology. She taught at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine, University College, London, before returning to Harvard. She is currently Aramont Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University.
Browne gained a BA degree from Trinity College, Dublin
in 1972 and from Imperial College, London an MSc (1973) and PhD (1978) on the history of science.http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/06.01/03-browne.html She was a research fellow at Harvard University
. She received an honorary Doctor in Science (Sc. D) degree from Trinity College, Dublin
in 2009 in recognition of her contribution to the biographical knowledge of Charles Darwin
.http://www.tcd.ie/Communications/news/pressreleases/pressRelease.php?headerID=1234&pressReleaseArchive=2009
After working as an associate editor on the University of Cambridge
Library project to collect, edit, and publish the correspondence of Charles Darwin, she wrote a two volume biography of the naturalist: Charles Darwin: Voyaging (1995), on his youth and years on the Beagle
, and Charles Darwin: The Power of Place (2002), covering his post-Beagle years through the publication of his theory of evolution
and beyond. The latter book has received acclaim for its innovative interpretation of the role of Darwin's correspondence in the formation of his scientific theory and recruitment of scientific support. In 2004, the latter volume won the History of Science Society
's Pfizer Prize, the Society's highest honor awarded to individual works of scholarship.http://www.hssonline.org/meeting/program/2004_Prize_Winners.htm#Pfizer In 2003, it also won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize
for Biography.
Browne is currently the Aramont Professor in the History of Science at Harvard University
. She specializes in life sciences, natural history, and evolutionary biology from the 17th to the 20th century.
History of science and technology
The history of science and technology is a field of history which examines how humanity's understanding of the natural world and ability to manipulate it have changed over the centuries...
known especially for her work on the history of 19th century biology. She taught at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine, University College, London, before returning to Harvard. She is currently Aramont Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University.
Biography
Browne was born in 1950, the daughter of Douglas Bell CBE (1914–1993) and his wife Elizabeth Mary Bell (née Edelsten). She married Nicholas Browne in 1972; they have two daughters.Browne gained a BA degree from Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in 1972 and from Imperial College, London an MSc (1973) and PhD (1978) on the history of science.http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/06.01/03-browne.html She was a research fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. She received an honorary Doctor in Science (Sc. D) degree from Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in 2009 in recognition of her contribution to the biographical knowledge of Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
.http://www.tcd.ie/Communications/news/pressreleases/pressRelease.php?headerID=1234&pressReleaseArchive=2009
After working as an associate editor on the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
Library project to collect, edit, and publish the correspondence of Charles Darwin, she wrote a two volume biography of the naturalist: Charles Darwin: Voyaging (1995), on his youth and years on the Beagle
The Voyage of the Beagle
The Voyage of the Beagle is a title commonly given to the book written by Charles Darwin and published in 1839 as his Journal and Remarks, bringing him considerable fame and respect...
, and Charles Darwin: The Power of Place (2002), covering his post-Beagle years through the publication of his theory of evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
and beyond. The latter book has received acclaim for its innovative interpretation of the role of Darwin's correspondence in the formation of his scientific theory and recruitment of scientific support. In 2004, the latter volume won the History of Science Society
History of Science Society
The History of Science Society is the primary professional society for the academic study of the history of science.It was founded in 1924 by George Sarton and Lawrence Joseph Henderson, primarily to support the publication of Isis, a journal of the history of science Sarton had started in 1912....
's Pfizer Prize, the Society's highest honor awarded to individual works of scholarship.http://www.hssonline.org/meeting/program/2004_Prize_Winners.htm#Pfizer In 2003, it also won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize
James Tait Black Memorial Prize
Founded in 1919, the James Tait Black Memorial Prizes are among the oldest and most prestigious book prizes awarded for literature written in the English language and are Britain's oldest literary awards...
for Biography.
Browne is currently the Aramont Professor in the History of Science at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. She specializes in life sciences, natural history, and evolutionary biology from the 17th to the 20th century.