| Darwin Day | |
|---|---|
 Darwin at 59 | |
| Observed by | Various groups and individuals |
| Significance | The day celebrates Darwin's life and work |
| Celebrations | Various |
| Date | 12 February |
| Next time | 12 February 2026 (2026-02-12) |
| Frequency | annual |
Darwin Day is acelebration tocommemorate thebirthday ofCharles Darwin on 12 February 1809. The day is used to highlight Darwin's contributions toscience and to promote science in general. Darwin Day is celebrated around the world.[1]
The celebration of Darwin's work and tributes to his life have been organised sporadically since his death on 19 April 1882, at age 73. Events took place atDown House, inDowne on the southern outskirts of London where Darwin and members of his family lived from 1842 until the death of his wife,Emma Darwin, in 1896.[2]
In 1909, more than 400 scientists and dignitaries from 167 countries met inCambridge to honour Darwin's contributions and to discuss vigorously the recent discoveries and related theories contesting for acceptance. This was a widely reported event of public interest.[3][4] Also in 1909, on 12 February, the 100th birth anniversary of Darwin and the 50th anniversary of the publication ofOn The Origin of Species were celebrated by theNew York Academy of Sciences at theAmerican Museum of Natural History. A bronze bust of Darwin was unveiled.[5] On 2 June 1909 theRoyal Society of New Zealand held a "Darwin Celebration". "There was a very large attendance."[6]
On 24–28 November 1959, TheUniversity of Chicago held a major celebration of Darwin and the publication ofOn the Origin of Species,[7] the largest event of theDarwin Centennial Celebration. Scientists and academics sometimes celebrated 12 February with "Phylum Feast" events—a meal with foods from as many different phyla as they could manage, at least as early as 1972, 1974, and 1989 in Canada.[8] In the United States,Salem State College in Massachusetts has held a "Darwin Festival"[9] annually since 1980,[10] and in 2005, registered "Darwin Festival" as a service mark with the US Patent and Trademark Office.[11]
The Humanist Community[12] ofPalo Alto, California, was motivated by Dr. Robert Stephens in late 1993 to begin planning for an annual Darwin Day celebration. Its first public Darwin Day event was a lecture by Dr.Donald Johanson (discoverer of the early hominid "Lucy"), sponsored by the Stanford Humanists student group[13]and the Humanist Community on 22 April 1995.[14] The Humanist Community continues its annual celebration.[15]
In the early 1990s, The London Evolution Group was formed to bring together London-area evolutionary biologists, especially fromUniversity College London, theNatural History Museum, London, andImperial College, as well as other universities and research institutions in and around London. Their first official meeting, named the "Darwin's Birthday Party" was held at theLinnean Society of London in 1994.[16] The evolution of this Darwin celebration is detailed further below.
Independently, in 1997, ProfessorMassimo Pigliucci initiated an annual Darwin Day event at theUniversity of Tennessee.[17] The event included public lectures and activities as well as a teachers' workshop meant to help elementary and secondary school teachers better understand evolution and how to communicate it to their students, as well as how to deal with the pressures often placed on them by thecreationism movement.[citation needed]
2009 was the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and it also marked the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin'sOn the Origin of Species. Events were planned, with the most prominent celebrations inShrewsbury, theUniversity of Cambridge and at theNatural History Museum in London.[citation needed]
Darwin'salma mater,Christ's College, Cambridge, commemorated the bicentenary with the unveiling of a life-sized bronze statue of theYoung Darwin, sculpted by their graduateAnthony Smith. Prince Philip (then-chancellor of the university) unveiled the statue and it was later shortlisted for the Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture 2009.[18] The same year, two well known evolutionary biologists,Richard Dawkins andJerry Coyne, published book length treatments covering theevidence for evolution.[citation needed]
ThePerth Mint, Australia launched a 2009 dated commemorative 1-ounce silver legal tender coin depicting Darwin, young and old; HMSBeagle; and Darwin's signature.[19]
The bicentenary was also celebrated by the release of a Darwin biopic, Creation, directed byJon Amiel and starringPaul Bettany andJennifer Connelly.
On 9 February 2011,California RepresentativePete Stark introduced H. Res 81 to Congress designating 12 February 2011 as Darwin Day, calling Darwin "a worthy symbol of scientific advancement... and around which to build a global celebration of science and humanity."[20] The resolution was a culmination of collaboration between Stark and the American Humanist Association, which had awarded Stark the Humanist of the Year award in 2008. In a statement on the House floor, Rep. Stark said, "Darwin's birthday is a good time for us to reflect on the important role of science in our society." In a press release from the American Humanist Association, executive director Roy Speckhardt said, "Stark's Darwin Day resolution is a thrilling step forward for the secular movement. Not only is this an opportunity to bring the scientific impact of Charles Darwin to the forefront, but this also signifies the potential for greater respect for scientific reasoning on Capitol Hill."[21]
On 22 January 2013,New Jersey RepresentativeRush D. Holt, Jr., aQuaker Christian andnuclear physicist, introduced aresolution to theUnited States Congress designating 12 February 2013 (Charles Darwin's 204th birthday) as "Darwin Day" to recognise "the importance of sciences in the betterment of humanity".[22] In 2015, Delaware's governorJack Markell declared 12 February "Charles Darwin Day", making Delaware the first state in America to formally mark the occasion.[23][24]House Resolution 67, introduced by RepresentativeJim Himes in the United States House of Representatives on 2 February 2015 would designate 12 February as Darwin Day in the United States.[25] It would recognise Darwin as "a worthy symbol on which to focus...a global celebration of science and humanity."[25]
In 1992, "The London Evolution Group" was formed by evolutionary biologistJames Mallet and systematic botanistSandra Knapp. At first, this consisted of little more than a mailing list of evolutionary biologists in the London area. By 1994 plans had coalesced around an annual "Darwin's Birthday Party" at the Linnean Society of London in Piccadilly on or around 12 February to celebrate Darwin's work. The program consisted of two speakers, sometimes on opposite sides of some evolutionary question, followed by question and answer session and finally a reception.[26] The program continues today in collaboration with the Centre for Ecology and Evolution (CEE), a London-area multi-institution consortium to host talks on evolutionary topics. Major players areUniversity College London, theLinnean Society of London and theNatural History Museum, London, but many other universities and research institutions are involved. Today the annual February celebration is titled "Darwin Birthday Debate",[27] but the spirit very much lives on.
In the late 1990s, two Darwin enthusiasts, Amanda Chesworth and Robert Stephens, co-founded an unofficial effort to promote Darwin Day. In 2001, Chesworth moved to New Mexico and incorporated the "Darwin Day Program".[28] Stephens became chairman of the board and President of this nonprofit corporation withMassimo Pigliucci as Vice-President and Amanda Chesworth as member of the Board, Secretary, and Executive Director.Stephens presented the objectives of the organisation in an article titled "Darwin Day An International Celebration."[29]
In 2002, Chesworth compiled and edited a substantial book entitledDarwin Day Collection One: the Single Best Idea, Ever.[30] The objectives of the book were to show the multidisciplinary reach of Charles Darwin and to meld academic work with popular culture.[citation needed]
In 2004, the New Mexico corporation was dissolved and all its assets assigned to the "Darwin Day Celebration", anon-profit organisation incorporated in California in 2004[31] by Dr. Robert Stephens and others[32]and the Mission Statement was expanded.[33]
Darwin Day Celebration redesigned the website, from a static presentation of information about the Darwin Day Program to a combination of education about Darwin and the Darwin Day Celebration organisation, including automated registration and publication of planned and past celebratory Events and the automated registration of people who want to receive emailings or make public declaration of support for Darwin Day. The website is now operated by the International Darwin Day Foundation, an autonomous program of theAmerican Humanist Association.[citation needed]
Darwin Day is also celebrated by theUniversity of Georgia. The event is co-sponsored by theFranklin College of Arts and Sciences, Division of Biological Sciences,Odum School of Ecology and the departments of cellular biology, plant biology, and genetics.[34] Mark Farmer, a professor and division chair of biological sciences and organiser of Darwin Day at UGA. Farmer said he got the idea from the International Darwin Day Foundation and brought the event to UGA in 2009 in time for the 150th anniversary of the publication of "Origin of Species" and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. The university celebrates the impact that Darwin's work had on the scientific community through a series of lectures around campus.[35]
The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island celebrates with programs that appeal to children and adults both.[36] TheClergy Letter Project encourages evolution-affirming churches to participate in Evolution Weekend, on the Sunday closest to this date, to learn about and discuss evolution.[37][38]
Darwin Day and Darwin week is also celebrated at Southern Illinois University,[39] and has been celebrated annually since 2006 when it commenced with a talk byTim Berra.[40]
Various events are conducted on Darwin Day around the world.[1] They have included dinner parties with special recipes forprimordial soup and other inventive dishes, protests withschool boards and other governmental bodies, workshops and symposia, distribution of information by people in ape costumes, lectures and debates, essay and art competitions, concerts, poetry readings, plays, artwork, comedy routines, re-enactments of theScopes Trial and of the debate betweenThomas H. Huxley and BishopSamuel Wilberforce, library displays, museum exhibits, travel and educational tours, recreations of the journey ofHMS Beagle, church sermons, movie nights, outreach, and nature hikes. The Darwin Day Celebration Web site offers free registration and display[41] of all Darwin Day events.Some celebrants also combine Darwin Day with a celebration ofAbraham Lincoln's Birthday (February 12th). Still others celebrate the many noted individuals that influenced or were influenced by Darwin's work, such asThomas H. Huxley,Charles Lyell,Alfred Russel Wallace,Carl Sagan, andErnst Mayr.[citation needed]
Support for Darwin Day comes from both secular and religious organisations. Many Christians who support the concept ofevolutionary creation, such as theBiologos Foundation and GC Science, celebrate Darwin Day, believing that evolution was a tool used by God in the creation process.[22][42] Some free-thought organisations that support Darwin Day includeCouncil for Secular Humanism, TheFreedom from Religion Foundation,[43] theHumanist Association of Canada[44] theCenter for Inquiry[45] and theAmerican Humanist Association[46] in the United States, as well as theBritish Humanist Association[47]in the UK, have helped to spread awareness about Darwin Day. In 1999, theCampus Freethought Alliance[48]and the Alliance for Secular Humanist Societies[49] began promoting Darwin Day among members.Humanist andsceptic groups welcomed the event and an increase in celebrations on or around 12 February spread across the US and in several other countries. The organizers behind this effort included theInternational Humanist and Ethical Union,[50]Massimo Pigliucci, Amanda Chesworth, and Joann Mooney.
D. J. Grothe continues to champion this effort among groups associated with theCenter for Inquiry. The Center's branches across the world also organise Darwin Day events.Free Inquiry magazine, the flagship publication of theCouncil for Secular Humanism, andSkeptical Inquirer, the flagship publication of theCommittee for Skeptical Inquiry, advertised the event and attracted further individuals and groups. TheSecular Student Alliance,[51] and other organisations committed toreason andrationality also participate in the annual celebration.
With Robert Stephens, a scientist, as its President, Darwin Day Celebration has received support from scientists and science enthusiasts across the globe. Educators began to participate by offering special lessons to their students on or around 12 February. Darwin Day Celebration has joined COPUS, the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science,[52] reflecting an increased emphasis on science education and appreciation.[citation needed]
Public relations emails to major publications led to coverage by media such asThe Guardian in the UK,Scientific American,New Scientist, theDiscovery Channel. In 2006 Darwin Day was covered by major news syndicates such asAssociated Press,Knight-Ridder, andThe New York Times. Over 150 articles appeared in major newspapers across the world and helped to attract more participants.[53]
Scientific organisations such as theNational Center for Science Education,[54]and theLinnaean Society, have endorsed the holiday. Scientists, philosophers, historians, and physicians lent their names in support of the effort, includingDaniel Dennett,Steven Pinker,Eugenie Scott,Steven Jones,Elliott Sober, SirJohn Maddox,Helena Cronin,William Calvin,John Rennie,Paul Kurtz,Carl Zimmer,Edward O. Wilson,Michael Shermer,Susan Blackmore,Michael Ruse,Richard Leakey,Niles Eldridge, andColin Tudge. Musicians and entertainers such as Richard Miller andStephen Baird also participated.[citation needed]
In 2004,Michael Zimmerman, a professor of biology and dean of theCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences atButler University, founded theClergy Letter Project[55] in which over 11,100 clergy, as of 18 April 2008, have signed a declaration that a person of faith does not have to choose either belief in God or belief in evolution. In 2006 Zimmerman developed theEvolution Sunday movement. In 2007 lectures and sermons were presented to roughly 618 congregations across the United States and five other countries, on Darwin's birthday.[56]Evolution Sunday is intended to show that faith and evolutionary science are compatible in many religious traditions. In 2008, Evolution Sunday was expanded to an Evolution Weekend to incorporate a wider range of faith traditions and 814 congregations from nine countries participated.[citation needed]
Media related toCommemorations of Darwin Day at Wikimedia Commons