The 274th birthday of Sir Joseph Banks was celebrated in style by the society which honours his name. The Sir Joseph Banks Society exists to promote knowledge of the extraordinary man. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR JOSEPH: David Robinson president of the Sir...

Europeans settled Australia, much of the country was covered by grasslands and open forests. In 1770, that great botanist Sir Joseph Banks reported "very few tree species, but every place was covered with vast quantities of grass". Many other explorers...

It seemed to me that there were a disproportionate amount of questions about the last few years, but then that may just be my mind playing tricks on me. Our next contender gave us a much more traditional sort of specialist subject. Diana Muir was...

Montford's, unlike mine, is to write with cool restraint. But though he doesn't title his report quite as provocatively as "The Royal Society is a joke" – that, essentially, his conclusion. How did this once revered institution, home of such great men...

YORKS: A Hessle youngster has been crowned the county's St John Ambulance Cadet Of The Year. Joseph Banks will represent his fellow cadets at events throughout the county during the year, including at enrolment and award ceremonies. He will also be...

What was going on in the heavens that day? Now, with the assistance of modern planetarium software, we can time travel to find out. Phillip was in command of 11 ships, the first of which arrived at Botany Bay on January 18, 1788. No matter the...