The poet Ruth Padel talks about her great great grandfather, Charles Darwin, and how she has responded to his life and work in her poetry.

Transcript -- Darwin's great great granddaughter

Charles Darwin is one of most famous scientists of the nineteenth century, but what was he like as a child, a father and a husband? How did his emotional response to the world affect his scientific theories? And how widespread is his influence today? This album looks at Darwin's rich and complex legacy. Ruth Padel, one of his direct descendants, offers a series of unique insights into Darwin the man, through recollections of childhood conversations with her grandmother, readings from family letters and her own cycle of biographical poems. Within the scientific world, Darwin remains an inspirational figure both for evolutionary biologists and for many other practitioners. The Nigerian scientist, Sheila Ochugboju, reveals how influential Darwin has been on her own career, and Professor Colin Pillinger of The Open University compares the voyage of the Beagle with his recent mission to Mars. The album concludes with a visit to the Grant Museum of comparative biology at UCL in London, which is dedicated to Robert Edmond Grant, a professor of biology who was an important early influence on Darwin.

The tracks on this album were produced by The Open University in collaboration with the British Council. They form part of Darwin Now, a global initiative celebrating the life and work of Charles Darwin and the impact his ideas about evolution continue to have on today’s world. © The British Council 2009.

Education

Charles Darwin is one of most famous scientists of the nineteenth century, but what was he like as a child, a father and a husband? How did his emotional response to the world affect his scientific theories? And how widespread is his influence today? This album looks at Darwin's rich and complex legacy. Ruth Padel, one of his direct descendants, offers a series of unique insights into Darwin the man, through recollections of childhood conversations with her grandmother, readings from family letters and her own cycle of biographical poems. Within the scientific world, Darwin remains an inspirational figure both for evolutionary biologists and for many other practitioners. The Nigerian scientist, Sheila Ochugboju, reveals how influential Darwin has been on her own career, and Professor Colin Pillinger of The Open University compares the voyage of the Beagle with his recent mission to Mars. The album concludes with a visit to the Grant Museum of comparative biology at UCL in London, which is dedicated to Robert Edmond Grant, a professor of biology who was an important early influence on Darwin. The tracks on this album were produced by The Open University in collaboration with the British Council. They form part of Darwin Now, a global initiative celebrating the life and work of Charles Darwin and the impact his ideas about evolution continue to have on today’s world. © The British Council 2009.

Share Transcript -- Darwin's great great granddaughter

Sign up to save your podcasts

Transcript -- Darwin's great great granddaughter

Transcript -- Darwin's great great granddaughter

More shows like Charles Darwin - the man and the scientist - for iPad/Mac/PC

Culture, identity and power in the Roman empire - for iPod/iPhone

The Acropolis and the Parthenon - for iPod/iPhone

En rumbo: intermediate Spanish - Audio

Beginners’ Chinese - Audio

Environmental Science in the Field - for iPod/iPhone

Croeso: beginners' Welsh - Audio

Rheumatoid arthritis - a long term condition - for iPod/iPhone

Rheumatoid arthritis - a long term condition - for iPad/Mac/PC

Andante: beginners' Italian - Audio

Women Writers: Voices in Transition - for iPod/iPhone