International Darwin Day is annually observed across the globe on 12 February to commemorate the birth anniversary of Charles Robert Darwin, a 19th-century British Naturalist, Geologist who was credited with “The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection”.The day recognises Darwin’s contributions to science and promotes scientific development.
Significance:
i.The Day is observed to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth as embodied in Charles Darwin.
ii.This is a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being.
Background:
i.The annual observance of International Darwin Day was initiated by 3 Darwin enthusiasts namely: Dr. Robert Stephens, Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, and Amanda Chesworth.
ii.Dr. Robert Stephens led the Silicon Valley Humanist Community, the United States of America (USA) in 1995.
iii.Prof. Massimo Pigliucci organised annual Darwin Day events at the University of Tennessee, the USA in 1997.
iv.Amanda Chesworth joined Dr. Robert Stephens to officially incorporate the Darwin Day Program in New Mexico (USA) in 2000.
About Charles Robert Darwin:
i.He was born on 12 February 1809 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.
ii.From 1831 to 1836, he was employed as a naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle by the British Royal Navy to survey the coastline of South America and chart its harbours to make better maps of the region.
iii.He collected diverse samples of plants, animals, rocks, and fossils across Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and the Galápagos Islands and sent specimens back to England, contributing to the understanding of Earth’s processes.
iv.In 1859, he published his thoughts about evolution and natural selection in the book “On the Origin of Species” which laid the groundwork for profound advancements in both biology and philosophy.
v.He died in 1882 at the age of 73 in Down House, London, England, and was buried in Westminster Abbey in London.
Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection:
i.Darwin introduced the concept of “natural selection,” a mechanism driving the evolution of species.
ii.This process explains how organisms evolve to thrive in their specific environmental conditions.
iii.He proposed that all organisms share a single common ancestor and this concept laid the foundation for understanding the interconnectedness of life forms.
Other Noted Works by Charles Darwin:
i.The Voyage of the Beagle (1839);
ii.The Descent of Man (1871);
iii.The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872);
iv.Insectivorous Plants (1875);
v.The Life of Erasmus Darwin (1879)
