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150th anniversary of Scots scientist
12/08/2010
Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop has described a Scottish pioneer of life sciences as one of the 'intellectual giants of the modern age'.
Ms Hyslop was speaking on a visit to the University of Dundee, which is marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Professor Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson.
One of the most famous scientific personalities of his time, the biologist, mathematician and classics scholar held chairs at Dundee and St Andrews Universities for more than 60 years.
The Edinburgh-born scientist is best known for his landmark book, On Growth and Form, in which he asserted that physical and mathematical principles can be applied to biological form.
As well as continuing to inspire biologists and mathematicians today, the publication's influence can be found in the work of artists such as Henry Moore, Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi.
While in Dundee as part of her summer tour programme, the Minister visited the D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum at the University of Dundee, which houses of many of the specimens he collected during his career.
Ms Hyslop said:
"Professor Sir D'Arcy Thompson was one of the intellectual giants of the modern age and his scientific discoveries made a valuable contribution to our understanding of the world. It is important that we remember and celebrate Scotland's great minds and innovations. So, I am glad to see Dundee marking this anniversary and telling the story of this great man."
D'Arcy Thompson taught until the age of 87 and died in 1948 at St Andrews.
A series of exhibitions and events is being held in 2010 to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth, in a collaborative project between the University of Dundee and the University of St Andrews.
The full programme is available at www.darcythompson.org