Richards, Evelleen

Summary

Evelleen Richards is a science historian who is internationally recognised for her studies in the contextual history of evolutionary biology. In particular she has focused on the work of Charles Darwin. She has also concentrated on the history and socio-politics of medicine and their policy implications, particularly regarding clinical trials and drug regulation. Richards is Honorary Professor in the School of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Sydney. For her research she has received several awards, including the Royal Society of New South Wales's history and Philosophy of Science Medal.

Details

"Professor Richards is an Australian scholar of outstanding achievement and international standing. Her work is particularly notable in that she has made significant contributions to answering key questions in the history of science, especially in the history and historiography of evolutionary theory, as well as to the study of contemporary research policy in science and medicine. Her studies in the contextual history of evolutionary biology are internationally regarded as offering a major advance in the understanding and interpretation of the scientific past. Her recent book on the genesis and reception of Charles Darwin's concept of sexual selection, Darwin and the Making of Sexual Selection has generated substantial international impact, being awarded the 2018 Suzanne J Levinson Prize of the US History of Science Society. Equally remarkable during her career has been her engagement with the history and socio-politics of medicine and their policy implications, demonstrating the importance of historical and sociological analyses in illuminating medical practices and policy, particularly in relation to clinical trials and drug regulation." [from https://www.royalsoc.org.au/history-and-philosophy-of-science-medal/ 2026-01-29]

Chronology

1976

Education - PhD, University of Queensland

2018 -

Award - Fellow, Royal Society of New South Wales

2018

Award - Suzanne J. Levinson Prize, History of Science Society, U.S.A.

2019

Award - History and Philosophy of Science Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales

2020 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• Richards, Eveleen, Vitamin C and cancer - medicine or politics? (Basingstoke, U.K.: Palgrave Macmillan, 1991), 269 pp. Details
• Richards, Evelleen, Darwin and the making of sexual selection (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 672 pp. Details

Journal Articles

• Hesketh, Ian, Barton, Ruth and Richards, Evelleen, 'Down under Darwin: Australasian perspectives on Darwin studies', Studies in history and philosophy of science, 103 (2024), 96-76, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2023.11.004. Details
• Richards, Evellen, 'A question of property rights: Richard Owen's evolutionism reassessed', British journal for the history of science, 29 (2) (1987), 128-71. Details

Resources

• The RSNSW History and Philosophy of Science Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales, Sydney, 2022. https://www.royalsoc.org.au/awards/history-and-philosophy-of-science-medal. Details