Loving and Studying Nature

Emeritus Professor Malcolm Skilbeck AO FASSA educated in Australia, USA and England. Professorial positions at the University of Ulster, University of London and Deakin University Australia where he was also Vice-Chancellor. Honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland. Foundation director of the Australian Curriculum Development Centre, and Deputy Director for Education at the OECD, Paris. Research and publications include curriculum theory, higher education policy and education and cultural reconstruction.

Chapter 1. Introduction: Visions of nature.- Chapter 2. A ravaged land: The mining city of Broken Hill.- Chapter 3. Recovery.- Chapter 4. Bison and beyond: Artists encounter animals.- Chapter 5. To be religious.- Chapter 6. Christianity spreads from ancient roots.- Chapter 7. Souls: Pagan, Christian, Animal.- Chapter 8. Imagining nature in myths and creation stories.- Chapter 9. Hierarchical nature: Did God love all of his creatures equally?.- Chapter 10. Walafrid Strabo: Benedictine monk, Virgilian poet, mediaeval gardener.- Chapter 11. St Francis the Poverello: Little poor man of Assisi - and his followers.- Chapter 12. The Protestant Reformation, consumer capitalism and the Religious Society of Friends.- Chapter 13. The Reverend Gilbert White and the religion of nature.- Chapter 14. Pathways to the earthly paradise: The Mongul emperors.- Chapter 15. Voyagers, Explorers, Travellers and Collectors.- Chapter 16. Ways of Valuing and Appreciating Nature.- Chapter 17. Reaching an understanding and love of nature.