Burke and Wills: The Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition by - pdf epub fb2

This book challenges the common assumption that little or nothing of scientific value was achieved during the Burke and Wills expedition. The Royal Society of Victoria initiated the Victorian Exploring Expedition as a serious scientific exploration of the hitherto unexplored center of Australia. Members of the expedition were sent 10 pages of detailed instructions on scientific measurements and observations to be carried out, covering about a dozen areas of science. The tragic ending of the expedition meant that the results of the scientific investigations were not reported or published. Burke and Wills: The Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition rectifies this historic omission. It includes the original instructions as well as numerous paintings and drawings, documents the actual science undertaken as recorded in notebooks and diaries, and analyzes the outcomes. It reveals for the first time the true extent and limits of the scientific achievements of both the Burke and Wills expedition and the various relief expeditions which followed. Importantly, this new book has led to a re-appraisal of the successes of the journey. KEY FEATURES * Draws extensively on material held in the State Library of Victoria’s collection. This includes the original instructions from Macadam to members of the expedition, the sketchbooks of Becker, Beckler and Strutt, and Wills’ fieldbooks* The book will lead to a re-appraisal of the successes of the journey