Lincoln Academic Selected to Deliver Prestigious Lecture at Royal Society of Medicine

Professor Anna Marie Roos, an internationally renowned historian of Science and Medicine from the University of Lincoln, UK, will present the annual Bynum Lecture at the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) next month.

Taking place on February 7, 2024 at the Royal Society of Medicine’s headquarters in Westminster, the Bynum Lecture is a significant annual event that aims to foster an appreciation for the history of medicine among undergraduate students and stimulate new areas of research by leveraging a diverse range of resources.

The lecture – which is named after the distinguished Professor William Bynum, a pioneer in the history of medicine – encourages new areas of research and the utilisation of diverse resources in exploring the evolution of medical practices.

In the forthcoming lecture, Professor Roos will share her wealth of knowledge as she explores the topic of interdisciplinarity amongst the physicians in the early Royal Society.

Professor Roos will examine the origins of interdisciplinarity in the work of seventeenth-century physicians and scholars such as Martin Lister and Nehemiah Grew, who were able to move between their varied pursuits seamlessly; observing their patients and the natural world with sensitivity, empiricism, and even artistic flair – showing that the practice of interdisciplinarity stretches back far beyond its contemporary use as a buzzword.

Expressing her enthusiasm for this prestigious opportunity, Professor Roos remarked, “It is a great honour to be asked to deliver the Bynum Lecture. I am a great admirer of the work of Helen and Bill Bynum in the history of medicine, as well as the Royal Society of Medicine’s commitment to encouraging historical studies for medical students. This is interdisciplinarity at its best!”

In addition to Professor Roos’s lecture, the event will also include presentations by from applicants for the highly coveted Norah Schuster Prize. Awarded annually by the RSM, the Norah Schuster Prize recognizes the best essay on a topic related to the history of medicine.

The occasion promises to be a gathering of academic excellence, fostering thought-provoking discussions and a deeper understanding of the rich history that underpins the medical profession.

More information on the event can be found on the RSM’s website.