John Lynch
-
Sage North 110G PO Box 871612 Tempe, AZ 85287
-
Mail code: 1612Campus: Tempe
-
John Lynch has been at ASU since 1994 and Barrett, the Honors College since 2000. Within Barrett, Professor Lynch teaches sections of the signature “Human Event” and "History of Ideas" courses. He has also offered courses on evolutionary thought, the history of modern science, healthcare humanities, health disparities, the intersections between science, philosophy, & religion, and Ancient Greek drama & culture and their relevance to modern times.
Much of Dr. Lynch's service has involved adjudication of grievance claims. In 2003, he was appointed to the university's Grievance Clearing House Committee, a position he held until 2008 while holding the chairmanship twice. In 2014, he was appointed to the University Hearing Board, a group that adjudicates student appeals and Title IX cases. He served until 2020 and co-chaired the board for three years. He most recently served as Barrett's Academic Integrity Officer, a position where he tried to balance student and faculty claims.
Between 2002 and 2008, Lynch served on the university Board for Equal Opportunity, serving as Chair for two years.
Since 1998 he has been involved in the fight to maintain strong evolutionary principles in K-12 science standards and this has resulted in him presenting on anti-evolutionism and creationism at many public, legal, educational and scientific gatherings countrywide. He has served as chair of the Educational Committee for the International Society for the History, Philosophy & Social Studies of Biology, and was also the chair of the Committee for Education of the History of Science Society.
Within Barrett, he has served as faculty chair and has also chaired its Curriculum, Personnel, and Promotion committees. He has chaired more search committees that he wants to remember.
He currently serves as an advisor for pre-health students within Barrett. See http://links.asu.edu/bhcprehealth for details.
- Ph.D., Zoology (Evolutionary Biology), University College Dublin, 1993
- B.Sc. (Hons.), Zoology, minor in Biochemistry, University College Dublin, 1989
- History of evolutionary thought
- Science education
- Creationism and anti-evolutionism
- Interactions between science & religion
- Evolutionary morphometrics
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- “Preparing teachers to prepare students for post-secondary science: Thoughts from of a workshop about evolution in the classroom,” Journal of Effective Teaching 9(2): 68–79 (with CM Schrein, SK Brem, GE Marchant, K Schedler, MA Spencer, CJ Kazilek, and MG Coulombe) [2009]
- “Risk Factors Associated With Deformational Plagiocephaly” Pediatrics 124(6): e1126-33. (with J Joganic, T Littlefield & B Verrelli) [2009]
- “Does Science Education Need The History of Science?” Isis 99(2): 322–330 (with G Gooday, KG Wilson, and CK Barsky) [2008]
- “‘Scriptural Geology’, Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation and Contested Authority in Nineteenth-Century British Science” in D. Clifford et al. (eds.) Repositioning Victorian Sciences: Shifting Centres in Nineteenth-Century Scientific Thinking, London: Anthem Press, pp. 131 – 141 [2006]
- “Diagnostic Differences in Mandibular P4 Shape Between Neandertals and Anatomically Modern Humans” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 126: 268–277 (with SE Bailey) [2005]
- “Variation in early hominin temporal bone morphology and its implications for species diversity” Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 60(2): 1-5 [2005]
- “Morphometrics and hominid phylogeny: support for a chimp-human clade and differentiation among great ape subspecies” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA) 101(13): 4356-4360 (with C Lockwood and W Kimbel) [2004]
- “Quantifying temporal bone morphology of great apes and humans: an approach using geometric morphometrics” Journal of Anatomy 201: 447-464 (with CA Lockwood and WH Kimbel) [2002]
- “Use of geometric morphometrics to differentiate Gila (Cyprinidae) within the Upper Colorado River Basin” Copeia 2001(2): 389-400 (with ME Douglas, MR Douglas and DM McElroy) [2001]
- “Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in Irish quarries: current status and factors influencing occupancy” Bird Study (with NA Moore, PF Kelly & FA Lang) [1997]
- “Craniometric variation in the Eurasian badger (Meles meles L.)” Journal of Zoology, London 242: 31-44 (with R Whelan, AI Il Fituri & TJ Hayden) [1997]
- “Sexual dimorphism in the craniofacial skeleton of modern humans” pp 407-414 in Marcus, LF et al. (eds.) Advances in Morphometrics, Plenum Press, New York. (with CG Wood) [1996]
- “Variation in cranial form and sexual dimorphism among five European populations of the otter Lutra lutra (L.)” Journal of Zoology, London 238: 81-96 (with JWH Conroy, AC Kitchener, D Jefferies & TJ Hayden) [1996]
- “Sexual dimorphism in cranial size and shape among red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from north-east Ireland” Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 96B(1): 21-26 [1996]
- “Postglacial colonisation of Ireland by mustelids, with particular reference to the badger (Meles meles)” Journal of Biogeography 23: 179-185 [1996]
- “Geometric morphometrics in primatology: craniofacial variation in Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes” Folia Primatologica 67: 15-39 (with CG Wood & S Luboga) [1996]
- “Genetic influences on cranial form: variation among ranch and feral American mink Mustela vison (Mammalia: Mustelidae)” Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 55: 293-307 (with TJ Hayden) [1995]
- “Antler growth and morphology in a feral sika deer (Cervus nippon) population in Killarney, Ireland” Journal of Zoology, London 232: 21-35 (with G O’Corry-Crowe & TJ Hayden) [1994]
- “Changes in the skull morphology of the Arctic wolf, Canis lupus arctos, during the twentieth century” Journal of Zoology, London 233: 19-36 (with J Clutton-Brock & AC Kitchener) [1994]
- “Morphometric and genetic variation among badger populations” pp 94-107 in Hayden, T.J. (ed.) The Badger, Royal Irish Academy: Dublin (with G O’Corry-Crowe, CL Cheeseman, S Harris, EJ Duke & TJ Hayden) [1993]
- “Cranial form and sexual dimorphism in the Irish otter (Lutra lutra L.)” Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 93B: 97-105 (with WM O’ Sullivan) [1993]
- “Multivariate morphometrics and the biogeography of Irish mustelids” pp 25-34 in Costello, M.J. and Kelly, K.S. (eds.) Irish Biogeography: Past, Present and Future, Irish Biogeographical Society: Dublin (with TJ Hayden) [1993]
- “A case of twin fetuses in a sika hind (Cervus nippon) from County Wicklow, Ireland” Deer 8: 437-439
(with T Clinton, TJ Hayden & P Murphy) [1992]
Edited Volumes
- Arthur Conan Doyle, The Coming of the Fairies, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2006
- Agassiz on Evolution. Bristol: Thoemmes Press, 2003
- Creationism and Scriptural Geology. Bristol: Thoemmes Press, 2002
- Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection, British Responses, 1859-1871. Bristol: Thoemmes Press, 2001
- Vestiges and the Debate Before Darwin. Bristol: Thoemmes Press, 2000
Other Publications
- “Some comments on ‘Social Media Trends in Medical History’” Medical History 59(1): 150-154. [2015]
- “Introduction to ‘Popularizing and Policing Darwinism: 1859 – 1900″ Science and Education 21(7): 935-936 [2012]
- The State of State Science Standards 2012. Thomas B. Fordham Institute (with LS Lerner, U Goodenough, M Schwartz, R Schwartz & PR Gross) [2012]
- Commentary and Feedback on Draft 1 of the Next Generation Science Standards. Thomas B.. Fordham Institute (with PR Gross, LS Lerner, M. Schwartz, R Schwartz & WS Wilson) [2012]
- “Historians and Contemporary Anti-Evolutionism” Newsletter of the History of Science Society 38(4): 14-16 [2009]
- “In Reply [to Richard Weikart and Steve Fuller]“ Isis 100(1): 115–116. [2009]
- “Haeckel, Ernst Heinrich” in T. Flynn (ed.) New Encyclopedia of Unbelief, New York: Prometheus Books [2007]
- “Scientists, Unbelief among” in T. Flynn (ed.) New Encyclopedia of Unbelief, New York: Prometheus Books (with M Young) [2007]
- “Medawar, Peter Brian ” in N. Koertge (ed.) The New Dictionary of Scientific Biography, Vol 5: 85-90. New York: Gale
- “Medawar, Peter Brian” in S. Brown (ed.) The Dictionary of Twentieth Century British Philosophers, Bristol: Thoemmes Continuum, pp. 673–674 [2005]
- “Pirie, Norman Wingate” in S. Brown (ed.) The Dictionary of Twentieth Century British Philosophers, Bristol: Thoemmes Continuum, pp. 783–784 [2005]
- “Sherrington, Charles Scott” in S. Brown (ed.) The Dictionary of Twentieth Century British Philosophers, Bristol: Thoemmes Continuum, pp. 948–949 [2005]
- “Thompson, D’Arcy Wentworth” in S. Brown (ed.) The Dictionary of Twentieth Century British Philosophers, Bristol: Thoemmes Continuum, pp. 1042-1043 [2005]
- “Chambers, Robert” in B. Lightman (ed.) The Dictionary of Nineteenth Century British Scientists, Bristol: Thoemmes Press, pp. 404–409 [2003]
- “Mivart, St. George Jackson” in B. Lightman (ed.) The Dictionary of Nineteenth Century British Scientists, Bristol: Thoemmes Press, pp. 1411–141[2003]
- “Biological Sciences, History of” in David Loades (ed.) The Readers Guide to British History, London: Fitzroy-Dearborn.
- “Sedgwick, Adam” in The Dictionary of Nineteenth Century British Philosophers, Bristol: Thoemmes Press, pp. 992 – 995. [2002]
- “Chambers, Robert” in The Dictionary of Nineteenth Century British Philosophers, Bristol: Thoemmes Press, pp. 237 – 241
- “A morphometric comparison of the skulls of fossil British and extant European beavers, Castor fiber” Scottish Natural Heritage Review 127: 1–31 (with AC Kitchener) [2000]
- “Conservation implications of hybridisation between mustelids and their domesticated counterparts: the example of polecats (Mustela putorius) and feral ferrets (M. p. furo) in Britain” Small Carnivore Conservation 13: 17-18 [1995]
- “Morphometric variation in the badger (Meles meles): clinal variation in cranial size and shape across Eurasia” Small Carnivore Conservation 10: 6-7 [1994]
- "A summary of ongoing research into morphometric variation among mustelids” Small Carnivore Conservation 8: 16-17 [1993]
- “Morphological and genetic discriminants of European wildcats, Felis silvestris, in Great Britain” Council of Europe Environmental Encounters Series 16: 72-74 (with AC Kitchener & S McOrist) [1993]
Book Reviews
- Moran, “American Genesis” Isis 107(2): 408-409
- Ruse, “The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Darwin and Evolutionary Thought” and Johnson, “Darwin: Portrait of a Genius” Reports of the National Center for Science Education 35(2)
- Russell, “Evolutionary History: Uniting History and Biology to Understand Life on Earth” Isis 104(2): 422-423.
- Schwartz, “Darwin’s Disciple. George John Romanes, A Life in Letters” Reports of the National Center for Science Education 33(1)
- Wiker & Witt, “A Meaningful World” Reports of the National Center for Science Education 31(6)
- Rupke, “Richard Owen. Biology Without Darwin” Isis 102(2): 374-375
- “The Voyage that Shook The World” Reports of the National Center for Science Education 30(6): 22–24 (with J Lippard)
- Wiker, “The Darwin Myth” Journal of the History of Biology 43: 609 – 611
- Silverton, “99% Ape: How Evolution Adds Up.” Journal of the History of Biology 42(3): 617–619
- Livingstone, “Adam’s Ancestors: Race, Religion & The Politics of Human Origins.” British Journal for the History of Science 42(3): 435–437
- Smith & Arnott, “The Genius of Erasmus Darwin” Journal of the History of Biology 41(4): 766–768
- Stoczkowski “Explaining Human Origins: Myth, Imagination and Conjecture” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 127(4): 494–495
- Ruse “The Evolution-Creation Struggle” Nature Cell Biology 7(12): 1050
- Dean & Wood “A Digital Radiographic Atlas of Great Apes Skull and Dentition” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 128(4): 915
- Forsdyke “The Origin of Species Revisited” Journal of the History of Biology 37: 211-212
- Bowler “Reconciling Science and Religion” and Brooke et al, “Science in Theistic Contexts” Journal of the History of Biology 35:
- Alter, “Darwinism and the Linguistic Image: Language, Race and Theology in the Nineteenth Century” Isis 92(1): 97
- Ferngren, “The History of Science and Religion in the Western Tradition: An Encyclopedia” Journal of the History of Biology 34: 225–226
- Gould, “Rocks of Ages” and Conkin, “When All the Gods Trembled” Journal of the History of Biology 33(3): 420 – 422
- Hayward, “The Creation/Evolution Controversy: An Annotated Bibliography” and Smout, “The Creation/Evolution Controversy: A Battle for Cultural Power” Journal of the History of Biology 32(3): 573 – 575
Courses
2025 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
MBB 492 | Honors Directed Study |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MBB 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MED 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 492 | Honors Directed Study |
HON 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2024 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
MBB 493 | Honors Thesis |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 493 | Honors Thesis |
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
2024 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
MBB 492 | Honors Directed Study |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MBB 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MED 494 | Special Topics |
HON 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 492 | Honors Directed Study |
HON 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2023 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
2023 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
MBB 492 | Honors Directed Study |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MBB 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MED 494 | Special Topics |
HON 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
2022 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
MED 494 | Special Topics |
ABS 494 | Special Topics |
HON 494 | Special Topics |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
2022 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
MBB 492 | Honors Directed Study |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MBB 495 | Undergraduate Research |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MED 494 | Special Topics |
HON 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
2021 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
MED 494 | Special Topics |
ABS 494 | Special Topics |
HON 494 | Special Topics |
HON 498 | Pro-Seminar |
2021 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 370 | History of Ideas |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
MED 494 | Special Topics |
HON 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
2020 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
HON 171 | The Human Event |
HON 171 | The Human Event |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
MED 494 | Special Topics |
ABS 494 | Special Topics |
HON 494 | Special Topics |
2020 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HON 499 | Individualized Instruction |
HON 272 | The Human Event |
HON 272 | The Human Event |
- Co-Organizer & Moderator, “Copernicus Crosses the K-16 divide: How Four Distinguished Historians of Science Helped Create a National History Day Web Site,” History of Science Society Annual Meeting, Cleveland, November 2011.
- Organizer & Chair, “The Challenges and Opportunities of Interdisciplinary Teaching,” History of Science Society Annual Meeting, Montreal, November 2010.
- Participant, "Translating Evolutionary Science into the Public Classroom", Workshop for High school teachers, Arizona State University, May 2009.
- Participant, "Teaching Evaluations and Teaching Excellence", ASU Distinguished Teaching Academy, February 2008.
- “Teaching Controversy,” a workshop for the Center for Learning and Teaching Excellence, ASU, October 2006.
- Participant, "Creating a Culture of Teaching Excellence", ASU Distinguished Teaching Academy, April 2006.
- Workshop organizer & chair, “Revisiting the Darwinian Revolution: In Memoriam – Ernst Mayr. Part II: Teaching the Darwinian Revolution,” International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology, Guelph, July 2005.
- Participant, "What Should An Honors Education Be?" Arizona State University, Spring 2001.
- Participant, "Teaching Strategies Workshop", Hughes Program / Arizona Collaborative for Excellence in the Preparation of Teachers, June 1999.
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award (2000)
- Devil's Advocate Apple Polisher Award (2003, 2012, 2013)
- ASASU Centennial Professor Nominee (2005, 2007, 2011)
- ASU Founders' Day Service Award nominee (2005, 2006)
- Barrett Faculty Award for Outstanding Academic Service (2006)
- Provost’s Faculty Achievement Award for Service (2006)
- CASE / Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Professor of the Year for Arizona (2007)
- ASU Last Lecturer (2009)
- Barrett Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching (2011)
- Series Editor, Evolution and Anti-Evolution: The Debates Before and After Darwin, (Thoemmes Press, Bristol, 2000 - 2004).
- Supervising Editor for entries on evolutionary thinking, Dictionary of Nineteenth Century British Philosophers, (W.J. Mander & A.P.F. Sell, eds., Thoemmes Press, Bristol, 2002).
- Supervising Editor for entries on zoology, Dictionary of Nineteenth Century British Scientists, (B. Lightman, ed., Chicago University Press, 2004).
- Supervising Editor for entries on biology and evolutionary thinking, Dictionary of Twentieth Century British Philosophers, (S.C. Brown, ed., Thoemmes Press, Bristol, 2005).
- Editorial Board, Journal of Zoology (Lond.), 2007 – 2014.
- History of Science Society
- International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology
- Society for Evolutionary Analysis in Law
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Society of Mammalogists
- American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
- Mammal Society of Britain and Ireland
- Irish Biogeographical Society
- Directed over forty honors theses
- Served on a further 50+ honors thesis committees as the second reader
- Directed three graduate theses
- Served on twelve graduate committees at ASU, U of Oklahoma, UT Austin, and Minnesota.
Selected International Service
- Member, International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology Publications Committee, 2009 – 2011
- Member, International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology Program Committee, 2007 – 2009
- Member, History of Science Society Committee on Education, 2006 – 2011 (chair, 2011).
- Chair, International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology Education Committee, 2005 – 2011.
- Interdisciplinary Officer, Society for Evolutionary Analysis in Law, 2004 – 2009
Selected University-Wide Service
- Member, University Hearing Board, 2014 - 2019. Co-chair, 2018 - 2019.
- Member, National Scholarships and Fellowships Committee, 2010 – present.
- Member, General Studies Council, 2004 – 2007.
- Member, School of Global Studies Undergraduate Curriculum Steering Committee, 2004.
- Chair, Grievance Clearinghouse Committee, 2003 – 2004, 2007 – 2008.
- Member, Tempe Campus Board for Equal Opportunity, 2002 – 2008.
- Phi Kappa Phi Scholarships & Awards Coordinator, 2002 – 2004.
- Member, Barrett Honors College Faculty Council, 2000 – 2012, 2014 - 2019
- Member, Curriculum and Academic Programs Committee, 2001 - 2004.
- Director, Office of National Scholarship Advisement, 2001 - 2002
- Member, Arizona Humanities Articulation Task Force, 1997 - 2000. (Chair, 1998 - 1999)
Selected Service to Barrett
- Dean's Fellow, 2018 - 2019.
- Faculty Chair, 2016 - 2018.
- Member, International Admissions Committee, 2016 - present.
- Member, Admissions Committee, 2013 – 2016.
- Member, Promotion Committee, 2010 – 2017 (Chair, 2010 - 2015).
- Member, Personnel Committee, 2006 – 2013 (Chair 2011 – 2013).
- Member, Honors Faculty Fellow Search Committee, 2005, 2008 (Chair), 2010 (Chair), 2014 (Chair), 2023.
- Academic Senator, 2003 – 2005.
- Member, Curriculum Committee, 2000 – 2006 (Chair, 2003 – 2005).