Abstract

The theory of plate tectonics is a famously recent one. Nothing in geology makes sense without it, yet it was only pieced together half a century ago, in the face of incredulity and opposition. However, its central idea – continental drift – can be traced back much further in history. In this talk, Dr. Robert Seidel of the Sedgwick Museum discusses how the theory of plate tectonics was developed, from the first notions of continental drift in the early modern period to the paradigm shift of the 1960s and 1970s. Paradigm shifts are often portrayed as the work of solitary men of genius. The theory of plate tectonics on the other hand came about through a much more incremental, collaborative process, which arguably better reflects how science is practised in the modern age.