Adventures in the Indo-Pacific

Find out how Joseph Banks’ expeditions paved the way for our understanding of the natural world. 

We discovered how Banks documented and protected important species in the Indo-Pacific, inspiring future generations of scientists, including Charles Darwin and Joseph Hooker. 

Our expert panel discussed the effect of Banks’ voyages and looking at how they set the foundations for our understanding of climate change and the protection of fragile ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef.

Speakers included:

• Professor Iain McCalman, Professor of History, University of Sydney and co-Director of the Sydney Environment Institute
• Professor Kathy Willis, Director of Science, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
• Dr Rebekah Higgitt, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Kent
• Dr Simon Werrett, Senior Lecturer in History and Philosophy of Science, UCL

For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.