The nature study idea in New South Wales: The role of Charles Tucker Musson (1856-1928)

Dorothy Kass*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    CharlesTucker Musson was a highly respected teacher at HawkesburyAgricultural College from 1891 to 1919 and a prolific contributor of articles to scientific and other journals in New South Wales. In addition, he became a strong advocate of Nature Study, a subject widely discussed as it was introduced to schools throughout the English-speaking world in the early twentieth century but since fallen into obscurity within historical research. Musson's understandings of ecology and adaptation promoted a holistic study of nature. For him any action that affected the natural environment had wider implications that needed to be understood. He came to believe that environmental understanding required more than factual scientific investigation and thus embraced the additional appeal to emotional attachment and aesthetic appreciation that Nature Study endorsed. A study of his life and writing thus provides insight into the particular ideology of Nature Study as it was introduced into New SouthWales schools and its wider connection with conservationist and preservationist thought.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)225-241
    Number of pages17
    JournalHistorical Records of Australian Science
    Volume24
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

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