Darwin-Inspired Research
The Charles Darwin Trust is actively engaged with research relating to Darwin, evolution, natural history and science education.
Through research within our organisation and beyond, the Trust aims to contribute to deepening the understanding of how children learn in science and how historical, cultural and philosophical ideas can support and enhance teaching and learning. Darwin’s ways of working based on simple observation and questioning have the potential to produce a powerful but accessible model for students to investigate the natural world.
The Trust is committed to drawing on and contributing to research in science education and its educators have made a significant contribution to the literature on teaching and learning in science.
Our Books
Selected Research
Gericke, N., Tani, S., Newall, E., & Deng, Z. (2025). A framework for curricular analysis of powerful knowledge: comparing school biology in England, Finland and Sweden. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 57(4), 441–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2025.2512323
Newall, E. & Reiss, M. J. (2023) Evolution hesitancy: Challenges and a way forward for teachers and teacher educators. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 16(5), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12052-023-00183-9.
Reiss, M. J. (2023) Debating evolution in context – religion in the biology classroom – Brazil, England and the United States. In: The Bloomsbury Handbook of Schools and Religion, Fraser-Pearce, J. & Fraser, J. W. (Eds), Bloomsbury Academic, London, pp. 155-171.
Reiss, M. J. & Ruse, M. (2023) The New Biology: A Battle between Mechanism and Organicism, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.
Scaramanga, J. & Reiss, M. J. (2023) Evolutionary stasis: Creationism, evolution and climate change in the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 18, 809-827. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-023-10187-y.
Swanepoel, A., Reiss, M., Launer, J., Music, G. & Wren, B. (2022). Evolutionary perspectives on childhood trauma. In R. Abed & P. St John-Smith (Eds.), Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health (pp. 214-227). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781911623625.016.
Swanepoel, A., Reiss, M., Launer, J., Music, G. & Wren, B. (2022). Evolutionary perspectives on neurodevelopmental disorders. In R. Abed & P. St John-Smith (Eds., Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health (pp. 228-243). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781911623625.017.
Wren, B., Launer, J., Music, G., Reiss, M. J. & Swanepoel, A. (2021) Can an evolutionary perspective shed light on maternal abuse of children? Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26(1), 283-294. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104520974418.
Dunk, R. D. P., Barnes, M. E., Reiss, M. J., Alters, B., Asghar, A., Carter, B. E., Cotner, S., Glaze, A. L., Hawley, P. H., Jensen, J. L., Mead, L. S., Nadelson, L. S., Nelson, C. E., Pobiner, B., Scott, E. C., Shtulman, A., Sinatra, G. M., Southerland, S. A., Walter, E. M., Brownell, S. E. & Wiles, J. R. (2019) Evolution education is a complex landscape. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 3, 327-329. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-019-0802-9.
Harms, U. & Reiss, M. J. (Eds) (2019) Evolution Education Re-considered: Understanding What Works, Springer, Cham.
Reiss, M. J. (2019) Evolution education: treating evolution as a sensitive rather than a controversial issue. Ethics and Education, 14(3), 351-366. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449642.2019.1617391.
Wren, B., Launer, J., Reiss, M. J., Swanepoel, A. & Music, G. (2019) Can evolutionary thinking shed light on gender diversity? BJPsych Advances, 25(6), 351-362. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2019.35.
Owens, D. C., Pear, R. S. A., Alexander, H. A. A., Reiss, M. J. & Tal, T. (2018) Scientific and religious perspectives on evolution in the curriculum: An approach based on pedagogy of difference, Research in Science Education, 48(6), 1171-1186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-018-9774-z.
Reiss, M. J. (2018) Evolution education in England. In: Evolution Education Around the Globe, Deniz, H. & Borgerding, L. A. (Eds), Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 155-167.
Boulter, C. J., Reiss, M. J. & Sanders, D. L. (Eds) (2015) Darwin-Inspired Learning, Sense, Rotterdam.
Maloney, J, Johnson, S &Goldie-Morrison, K, 2011. A Memorable Day Out. Primary Science Review. 119, 30-32.
Costa, J. T. 2009. Darwinian revelation: tracing the origin and evolution of an idea. BioScience 59: 886-894.
Goldie-Morrison, K, 2009. Major Influences on Charles Darwin. Heritage Learning 40 (English Heritage).
Keynes, R, 2009. Darwin’s Ways of Working – an Opportunity for Education. Journal of Biological Education. 43(3), 101-103.
Grace, M, Hanley, P and Johnson, S, 2008. Darwin-Inspired Science. School Science Review. 90(331), 71-77.
Johnson, S, 2008. Teaching Children to Tackle Big Questions. Roots. 5(2), 9-11.
Johnson, S, 2008. Teaching Science Outdoors. School Science Review. 90(331), 65-70.
Costa, J. T. 2003. Teaching Darwin with Darwin. BioScience 53: 1030-1031.
Useful Links
Down House – https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/home-of-charles-darwin-down-house/
Darwin Correspondence project – https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/
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Whatever part man values most, that part will be found to present the greatest amount of difference.
CHARLES DARWIN
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