Science and Society series to discuss Gregor Mendel April 6
Robin Marantz Henig, author of “The Monk in the Garden: The Lost and Found Genius of Gregor Mendel, the Father of Genetics” will join a live, online discussion at 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 6, presented by the Lewes Public Library and Browseabout Books via Zoom.
Many are familiar with Gregor Mendel, the Moravian monk who patiently grew peas in a monastery garden and revolutionized the understanding of inheritance, but there is much more to the story – intrigue, jealousy, and a healthy dose of bad timing. In this talk, Henig will describe the fascinating and little-known story of how Mendel’s discoveries went unnoticed and unappreciated for 35 years. Mendel’s work was finally rescued from obscurity in 1900, when three scientists in different countries recognized its significance, launching the birth of modern genetic study.
The event is part of the Lewes Public Library’s Science and Society series. The conversation will be moderated by Colin Norman, former news editor at Science, and Fred Dylla, executive director emeritus of the American Institute of Physics and author of “Scientific Journeys.”
Henig is a longtime journalist and the author of nine books, including “Pandora's Baby,” about the early days of IVF research, and “A Dancing Matrix,” about how new pandemic viruses emerge. She lives most of the year in New York City, where she teaches at the Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program at New York University, and part time in Lewes, where she and her husband Jeff have a house near the library.
The discussion is free to the public. Registration is required. To sign up, go to lewes.lib.de.us.
Participants are also encouraged to support the author by purchasing a copy of the book from local independent bookstore Browseabout Books. Each copy purchased comes with an archival bookplate signed by the author. Orders may be placed online at browseaboutbooks.com, by calling the store at 302-226-2665, or in person at 133 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.
