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Montreal 2006 |
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Natural Science in the New World: the descriptive enterpriseSeptember 21-24, Montréal, Quebec The 16th International Meeting was attended by 53 participants from Canada, France, Spain, UK and the USA, and took place in 2 main venues, with the conference dinner bringing in a third, all three being part of the efficient and supportive team that brought the conference into being: McGill University,with the Redpath Museum and the Canadian Studies History Department, the McCord Museum and the Jardin Botanique. |
The first day opened with full day and half-day field trips, giving delegates a chance to see a bit more than the lecture theatre and experience Montréal natural history at first hand.
Once back from the Biosphere reserve, the various museums and the Biodome, the conference was officially opened with an amusing, illuminating talk by François-Marc Gagnon on “The Beaver or Castor” in which he discussed old beliefs and images of this animal, its fishy nature enabling it to b
4/4/07
4/4/07
in its building operations, and by the others as a monarchical hierarchy. He managed to keep firmly within the history of Canadian natural history but reminded us of Canada’s mixed colonial heritage. This was further emphasised by the following “vin d’honneur” in which the Québecoise wines and cheeses offered amazing variety.
The roster of speakers reflected a wide-ranging interest in the history of natural history at Canada’s universities and cultural institutions and encouragingly brought many younger scholars to the fore. The first formal session took place at the Jardin Botani 4/4/07 ecently renovated auditorium took us through sessions on the botanical exploration of the New World, the role of amateur naturalists and popular education as well as the management of natural history as a national resource and as decorative inspiration. The programme allowed plenty of time for questions and lunch gave us a chance for a glimpse of the Botanic garden itself. Drinks in the modern Insectarium rounded off the first day of presentations. It ended with a truly amazing chance to see the Chinese Garden at night, lit by multitudinous “magic lanterns” representing a vast range of creatures, dragon boats and figurines.
On Saturday we were back in the more traditional classic lecture theatre at the Redpath Museum, with a chance to learn more about Spanish expeditions to the west coast of North America, the Hudson’s Bay company and its role, moving on to entomology, ornithology, military history and the insights gained from linguistic studies. An extended lunch break gave us a chance to see the treasures of the Blacker Wood Library, the Osler Medical history library or Sherbrooke Street geology.
The conference dinner at the McCord Museum started late enough to give us a chance to see something of that institution as well and the delicious buffet was followed by a most interesting and thought provoking final talk by Graham Bell, the James McGill Professor of Biology at McGill University and former Director of the Redpath Museum.
Even now the conference was not quite over, a small group meeting at 07.30 on Sunday morning at Westmount Summit Park did see some of the “early birds” and the rather wet walk through this small remnant of forest gave us some idea of what the early naturalists experienced as those of us from the other side of the Atlantic tried to put names to unfamiliar and familiar fauna and flora.
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Thanks to all who made this enjoyable and enlightening meeting possible, especially Ingrid Birker, Victoria Dickenson and Joanne Landry and their support staff and students. |
The Montreal presentation can be downloaded here
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