Peter F. Stevens
Education:
Ph.D., Edinburgh, Biology, 1970.
M.A., Oxford, 1971.
B.A., Oxford, 1966
Employment:
Professor of Biology and Curator of the Arnold Arboretum and Gray Herbarium, Harvard
University, 1983-present
Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Curator of the Arnold Arboretum and Gray Herbarium, Harvard University, 1980-1983
Assistant Professor of Biology and Associate Curator of the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, 1977-1980
Assistant Curator, Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, 1973-1976
Botanist, Division of Botany, Dept. of Forests, Lae, Papua New Guinea, 1970-1973
Research Interests:
Dr. Stevens’ research interests are in two main areas. He is studying the Malesian flora, especially that of New Guinea, and he is conducting phylogenetic/monographic work (currently mostly in Clusiaceae and Ericaceae). He also has a strong interest in the history of systematic biology, especially the period of 1750-1900, and in systematic theory, especially the issue of data in systematics and delimitation of character states, and in the relationship between cognitive psychology and systematic theory and practice.
Selected Publications:
Stevens, P. F. 1994. The Development of Biological Classification: Antonie-Laurent de Jussieu, Nature, and the Natural system, xxii + 616 pp., Columbia University Press, Nw York.
Stevens, P. F. 1995. Introduction. In J. Luteyn (ed.), Ericaceae. Flora Neotropica Monograph 66. New York Botanical Garden, New York, pp. 1-12.
Davis, S. D. and P. F. Stevens. 1995. Arafak Mountains, Gunung Lorentz, Maberamo-Pegunungan Jayawijaya. In S. D. Davis, V. H. Heywood, and A. C. Hamilton, Centers of Plant Diversity: A Guide and Strategy for their Conservation. WWF & IUCN, pp. 406-415.
Stevens, P. F. 1996. Guttiferae subfam. Calophylloideae. In B. J. Conn (ed.), Handbooks of the Flora of Papua New Guinea, Vol. III., Melbourne University Press, pp. 61-126.
Stevens, P. F. 1997. How to interpret botanical classifications: Suggestions from history. BioScience 47: 243-250.
Gift, N. and P. F. Stevens. 1998. Vagaries in the delimitation of characters states - an experimental study. Syst. Biol. 46: 112-125.
Stevens, P. F. 1998. What kind of classification should the practising taxonomist use to be saved. In J. Dransfield, M.J.E. Coode, and D. A. Simpson, eds., Plant Diversity in Malesia III. Royal Botanica Gardens, Kew, pp. 295-319.
Jarvie, J. J. and P. F. Stevens, 1998, in press, Interactive keys, inventory and conservation. Conserv. Biol.
Stevens, P. F. 199-. in press. Mind, memory, and history: How classifications are shaped by and through time, and some consequences. Zoologica Scripta.
Stevens, P. F. 199-. in press. Linnaeus. Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy.
Stevens, P. F. 199-. accepted. Clusiaceae. In K. Kubitzki (ed.), The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants.