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Evolution at Brown

Darwin’s thinking about evolution was connected to ecology, behavior, inheritance (genetics), morphology, paleontology, and physiology. Many Brown faculty conduct research and teach in these areas.

Dozens of faculty and their students work on various aspects of evolutionary biology. Brown also has a strong group of faculty who focus on global change and other environmental and medical issues touched on in The Beak of the Finch. Use the links below to learn about these faculty and to find out how Brown undergraduates work with faculty on their research projects.

To broaden your search for faculty research at Brown, browse Banner’s course listings, or visit our Research at Brown web page, which has a database of research and researchers at Brown. Search by keywords related to topics you find interesting in The Beak of the Finch.

Albert E. Lownes Collection of the History of Science (John Hay Library)

Albert E. LownesBrown alumnus Albert E. Lownes (Class of 1920) compiled one of the three most important private collections of books on science in America. Bequeathed to Brown at his death, the Lownes Collection ranks as one of the most significant single collections ever received by the Brown University Library. Natural history is its greatest strength, although it embraces significant works in all scientific fields. Lownes defined “significant” as meaning "books that have changed the world or man's way of seeing it. Significance also meant books that I found interesting." The collection contains over three-quarters of those texts recognized by scholars as the "great books" of science published since the middle of the 15th century.

Learn about the Lownes Collection and other History of Science Collections held at Brown University (PDF format)...

Professor Bumpus

Hermon Carey Bumpus (1862-1943) was a professor of comparative anatomy at Brown and later Director of the American Museum of Natural History and President of Tufts College. While in high school, Bumpus developed an interest in horticulture adding to his already flourishing hobbies of hunting birds and collecting insects and snakes. In high school he began to think of going to college to become a naturalist, but his principal, considering his educational achievement up to that time, recommended that he work in a grocery store. The principal’s daughter, however, took an interest in Hermon and tutored him in languages, so that he was able to enter Brown in 1879.

More information about Professor Bumpus...

From Brown Medicine Magazine: 

Spring 2009 issue includes articles by Brown faculty and staff:

Brown Medicine Magazine Spring 2009

Images: Albert E. Lownes, courtesy of the John Hay Library, Brown University. Picture of Professor Bumpus from the Brown Portrait Collection. Brown Medicine cover image courtesy of The Warren Alpert Medical School.