Four Natural History Heroes — Alfred Russel Wallace, Dorothea Bate, Lucy Evelyn Cheesman and Anton van Leeuwenhoek - four Natural History Heroes.

BBC Radio 4 Natural History Heroes

By Steve Hopkinson

First published 21 September 2015

Join our scientists as they celebrate the pioneers who transformed the study of natural history.

In this 10-part BBC Radio 4 series, Museum scientists and other experts celebrate the men and women who have influenced their work and made invaluable contributions to their fields of study.

The scientists profiled include Alfred Russel Wallace, who joint-published the theory of evolution with Darwin; Dorothea Bate, a pioneer of archaeozoology; and Anton van Leeuwenhoek, the 'father of microbiology'.

Listen to Natural History Heroes on BBC iPlayer Radio.

BBC Radio 4 Natural Histories

Listen to the stories of extraordinary species that have influenced human society and changed the way we see the world.

Collections

Britain's first geological map

Unearth 15 facts about William Smith’s pioneering map, which was published in 1815.

Naming nature, putting life in order

How do you name and categorise all life on Earth? Curator Jon Ablett gives an insight into the crucial and never-ending work of taxonomists.

Collections

Charles Darwin’s coral conundrum

Darwin’s first scientific theory wasn’t about evolution, but how coral reefs form around the world.

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