Gowan Dawson

Professor Gowan Dawson holds the position of Professor of Victorian Literature and Culture at the University of Leicester, where he is also Dean of Research and Enterprise for the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities. His primary affiliations include the Centre for Victorian Studies, the UK's longest-established specialist research and teaching center on the Victorian period, and the Natural History Museum, London, as an Honorary Research Fellow. He contributes to the Royal Society's grants and library committees, and serves on editorial boards for journals such as British Journal for the History of Science and Notes and Records.

His research focuses on 19th-century literature and science, with an emphasis on cultural history, print media, and the intersections between scientific discourse and Victorian society. Key projects include analyzing scientific periodicals, the role of literature in mediating scientific ideas, and the legacy of figures like Darwin and Dickens in shaping public perception of science. Dawson has authored four books and edited eight volumes, including Show Me the Bone (2016) and Monkey to Man (2024), which explore scientific imagery and communication.

• Research Grants & Fellowships:
• Recipient of two Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowships (2012, 2020).
• Co-Investigator on the AHRC large grant 'Constructing Scientific Communities' (2014–19).
• Funding from the British Academy, UK-India Education and Research Initiative, NSF (USA), and SSHRC (Canada).

His work bridges literary studies and scientific historiography, examining how scientific concepts were disseminated through print culture and how they interacted with religious, social, and artistic movements. Recent publications highlight thematic trends such as evolutionary narratives, scientific naturalism, and the cultural reception of scientific discoveries in literature. His research often engages with methodological debates around the historical representation of science and its communities.

• Scientific Awards:
• Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship (2012)
• Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship (2020)

In advising roles, Dawson oversees research initiatives as Dean while contributing to editorial and institutional collaborations. His grants emphasize interdisciplinary projects linking science and humanities, such as the 'Constructing Scientific Communities' initiative with Sally Shuttleworth. He is actively involved in museum curation and academic committee work, furthering the integration of historical scientific research with contemporary scholarly practices.

Professor Dawson’s intellectual environment includes the Natural History Museum, Royal Society committees, and the Centre for Victorian Studies, where he promotes innovative approaches to studying Victorian-era science and literature through archival research and public engagement.