All over the world, people are celebrating the work of scientist Charles Darwin. Darwin is famous for his groundbreaking contributions to science, in particular his theory of evolution by natural selection. This significant work has paved the way to the current understanding of evolutionary biology.
Charles Darwin and Evolution by Natural Selection
Darwin was born in 1809 in Shropshire, England. After completing his studies in theology at Cambridge, he became the naturalist on the HMS Beagle’s five-year voyage around South America. It was following this expedition that he worked on his theory of evolution by natural selection.
Natural selection is about the survival of traits that are advantageous to a species, and the decline of traits which are not. Natural selection requires the following:
- Trait variation
- Differential reproduction
- Heredity
In their Natural Selection section, the University of Berkeley’s Understanding Evolution website uses green and brown beetles as an example. If the green beetles are more likely to get eaten, their population will decrease and the brown beetles will be more prevalent if they continue to reproduce.
Getting Involved in Darwin Celebrations
Some events have been and gone, but many celebrations will take place on and around February 12th, and some will continue throughout the year. November 2009 marks 150 years since the publication of Darwin’s book, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
Events include workshops, talks and exhibitions, and are being held in many areas, including libraries, universities, museums and theatres. The Darwin Day Celebration (DDC) website includes a resource for finding and/or registering events. Looking in local newspapers and contacting libraries and museums may also be worthwhile.
Darwin Celebrations and Resources Online
There are a great many websites about Darwin, and evolutionary biology in general. Several have included extra material in celebration of his work, including articles, podcasts and videos. Some useful websites include:
- Darwin Day Celebration (DDC) – This non-profit education organisation is administered by the Institute for Humanist Studies, and includes a searchable register of events.
- The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online – As its name suggests, a huge resource of Darwin’s work. This site also includes a list of Darwin celebrations.
- Understanding Evolution – Run by the University of Berkeley, this website is an excellent resource on biological evolution. Their “Evo in the News” section includes a tribute to Darwin.
- Darwin200 – This site is run by the Natural History Museum (UK) and includes lists of events, resources for schools and fact sheets about Darwin.
Read Charles Darwin Biography for more information on Darwin, including his early life, the Beagle voyage and some trivia. For details of the mechanisms of evolution, read Natural and Artificial Selection.
Sources
Charles Robert Darwin, Darwin Day Celebration (DDC) website, accessed: 10th February 2009, no author specified.
About Charles Darwin, Darwin200 website, accessed: 10th February 2009, no author specified.
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