Winding through the woods and around the fields behind Down House, Charles Darwin’s home outside London, there is a path called the Sandwalk. Darwin took daily strolls along the Sandwalk, using the time to observe, think, and reflect. In fact, he called it his “thinking path.” For Darwin and many of us, there is a clear connection between walking and thinking (Jabr, 2014). The New York Times even highlighted the benefits of walking in their June 2013 Well series. It’s also something I do daily on what I call the Valley Loop near my home.

So, in considering a name for this series of essays, it occurred to me that Sandwalking nicely captures the spirit I hope to convey. The essays are the kinds of thoughts and musings that we might all have as we walk, meander, and reflect on biology, evolution, natural history, and teaching....

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