Darwin Day 2024: Check History, Celebration, Significance and Key Facts here
Darwin Day 2024: It is observed on 12 February to commemorate the birth anniversary of Charles Darwin and his significant contributions in the field of science and humanity. Check below how the day is celebrated, and its significance.
Darwin Day
Darwin Day 2024: Charles Darwin was an English naturalist whose scientific theory of evolution by natural selection formed the foundation of modern evolutionary studies. Every year on 12 February Darwin Day is observed to commemorate the birthday of Charles Darwin. He was born on 12 February 1809 at Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. Darwin Day is also known as International Darwin Day. The day focuses on the contribution of Charles Darwin to science and also to promote science in general.
Darwin Day: History
Darwin Day celebration began with three Darwin enthusiasts: Dr. Robert Stephens, who motivated the community of Humanist in Silicon Valley to initiate an annual Darwin Day celebration in 1995; Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, who organised an annual Darwin Day event at the University of Tennessee in 1997 and Amanda Chesworth, who joined Stephens to officially incorporate the Darwin Day Program in 2000 in New Mexico.
Two years later, the Darwin Day celebration was reincorporated in California as the Darwin Day Celebration to encourage science and humanity throughout the globe. It was incorporated under 501 (c) (3) a non-profit educational corporation that promotes public education about science. In the United States, it was made an official holiday due to House Resolution 67 which designated 12 February as Darwin Day in the US in 2015.12 February is the birth anniversary of Charles Darwin and in 2003 an original website for Darwin Day was also created?
When Charles Darwin published the book "The Origin of Species" several scientists, artists, scholars, etc. gave tributes throughout the world. On the 100th anniversary of Charles Darwin in 1909 large celebrations were held in Cambridge, New York, and New Zealand for his contributions to science and humanity. In 1959, the University of Chicago commemorated the 100th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species with a series of events from 24 November to the 28th November.
The 200th birth anniversary of Darwin saw an entire season of BBC programming on his theories, evolution, and natural selection? Even, the Salem State University has successfully held an annual Darwin festival since 1980.
Purpose behind celebrating Darwin Day
Darwin day is celebrated to inspire people all over the world to reflect on the importance of scientific thinking, works, curiosity to find new things, hunger for truth, etc. of Charles Darwin.
How is Darwin Day celebrated?
It is celebrated in various ways across the globe. People can visit a natural history museum, can attend exhibitions, exhibits on evolution, they can read The Origin of Species his book and one of his famous invention or theory. Even on social media, several posts are shared by the people to celebrate and honour Charles Darwin.
Several events are conducted on Darwin Day around the world. Also, the birthplace of Darwin i.e. Shrewsbury began the 'Darwin Festival' in 2003 which now lasts the full month of February.
About Charles Darwin and his invention
Name: Charles Robert Darwin
Born: 12 February 1809, Shrewsbury, England
Father: Robert Darwin
Mother: Susannah Wedgwood Darwin
Spouse: Emma Wedgwood
Famous for: The Voyage of the Beagle, On the Origin of Species, and The Descent of Man
Awards: FRS (1839), Royal Medal (1853), Wollaston Medal (1859), Copley Medal (1864), Doctor of Laws, Cambridge
Died: 19 April 1882, Down House, England
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England on 12 February 1809. He was the second youngest of six children. His father was Robert Darwin a doctor and Susannah Wedgwood Darwin. At the age of 22 in 1831, he left for a five-year survey voyage on the HMS Beagle. He had studied several types of animals and plants and started generating a theory of evolution and his views on natural selection. After 28 years he had published his book named “On the Origin of Species". On 19th April 1882 he died in London.
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
According to this theory, the species survived through a process called natural selection, where those are successfully adapted or evolved to meet the changing requirements of their natural habitat but those who failed to evolve and reproduce died. He studied birds, plants, and fossils. Darwin noticed similarities among all the species all over the world and also told that species gradually evolved from common ancestors. Later Darwin's theory of evolution and the process of natural selection came to be known as "Darwinism".
Theory: Origin of Species
After several years of investigation and research in 1858, he publicly introduced his revolutionary theory of evolution in a letter read at a meeting of the Linnean Society. On 24 November 1859, he published his theory On the Species by Means of Natural Selection.
So, now you may have come to know about Darwin Day; why and how it is celebrated all over the world. No doubt Charles Darwin’s discovery or his work put the world of life into the domain of natural law.
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