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Darwin Day

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Charles Darwin, age 29 Darwin Day is sponsored by the Humanist Community. It is held in honor of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), whose profound theories on the evolution of life stand as a landmark of scientific achievement. Charles Darwin, age 47

For additional information on our upcoming Darwin Day, please leave a message for our Executive Director (650-964-7576).
For additional information on any Darwin Day, please send e-mail to hcinfo@humanists.org

2010 We will celebrate by devoting our Forums of Feb 7 and Feb 14 to Darwin-related topics. See our Forums page.
2009

(anniversary year)

2009 is the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species.
There were celebrations all over the world.
• Visit http://www.darwinday.org
• Stanford participated.
• The Humanist Community participated. We had a Forum entitled Darwin Provides the Support for Humanist Ethics prepared by Dr. Bob Stephens and Arthur Jackson at our regular Forum site.
2008

Charles Darwin of Shrewsbury

Who was this Charles Darwin who developed a theory [commonly dubbed "evolution"*] that upset the world? He was born Feb 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. His interests and skills were developed there. Peter Boyd, Museum Collections Manager for Shrewsbury Museum Service, will talk about Darwin's Shrewsbury roots.
* The concept of evolution was accepted by enlightened peoples even in ancient times. Darwin identified the idea of natural selection, which made Evolution a scientifically valid Theory.
2007

The History of Life on Earth

Evolutionary biologist David Seaborg presents a summary of the evolution and history of life on earth, including principles of evolution that guided it. He will discuss possible origins of life on earth, the evolution of bacteria, the Cambrian explosion, the evolution of invertebrates, the rise of fish, the invasion of land by amphibians, the age of dinosaurs, the evolution of reptiles, birds, and mammals, mass extinctions, and the evolution of humans and our future from an evolutionary point of view.
David Seaborg is the son of Nobel Laureate Glenn Seaborg and a well-known activist in his own right.
2006

Darwin Day Celebrations

Feb 12, 1809: On this date, two great men were born: Abraham Lincoln, Emancipator of American Slaves, and Charles Darwin, Emancipator of the Human Mind. Their positive legacies still endure. Dr. Bob Stephens will discuss how Darwin Day Celebrations can enhance the legacies of these two Great Emancipators.
2005

What Would Darwin Say About Creationism?

Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, speaks on this topic.
2004

A Tour of Darwin's English Environment

Bob and Lola Stephens takes us on a tour, via slide show, of many locations in England significant in the life of Charles Darwin.
2003

Origins and History of Darwin Day, an International Celebration of Science and Humanity

Bob Stephens and Arthur Jackson (of our Humanist Community)
As some of you know, the first Darwin Day Celebration began right here with the Humanist Community back in 1994-95. Since then it has taken on a life of its own, an idea whose time has come, and the Community has been a part of this for nearly 10 years.
Darwin Day has evolved to become an International Celebration of Science and Humanity as well as a year-round educational website. The main activities occur on February 12, Darwin's birthday, and last year over 125 celebratory events took place across America and in several other countries. The Honorary President of Darwin Day is none other than Richard Dawkins; in addition many world-renowned scientists have joined our efforts.
Our short-term goal is to build the excitement each year, so that in 2009, Darwin's 200th birthday, we can all come together in a global celebration and show our appreciation for science and humanity. We hope you will enjoy hearing about the Past, the Present, and what we hope to be the Future of Darwin Day.
Various Darwin Day informational materials will be presented including Evolution Awareness ribbons, Darwin Day information cards suitable for sending to friends, information about the Darwin Day website: http://www.darwinday.org . Also, on Jan 26, Feb 2, and Feb 9, copies of "Darwin's Influence on Modern Thought", Ernst Mayr's article from the July 2000 Scientific American, will be provided to interested persons to help them get into the spirit of the occasion.
2002 We held no Darwin Day this year.
2001

Evolution vs. Creationism: The Anatomy of a Controversy
or Why People Have a Hard Time Accepting Darwin

Michael Shermer, founding publisher of Skeptic Magazine, director of the Skeptics Society, author of Why People Believe Weird Things, How We Believe, The Borderlands of Science, and Denying History, host of Skeptics Caltech Lecture Series,co-producer and co-host of the TV Series Exploring the Unknown, monthly columnist for Scientific American, and one of the world's foremost experts on the evolution-creationism controversy, presents both the history and science behind the debate, and shows that there is, in fact, no debate at all. Dr. Shermer will review in detail the history of creationism from Scopes to Kansas, present their best arguments against evolution and the rebuttals to these arguments, and explain the latest evolutionary mutation of creationism, "intelligent design".
2000 We held no Darwin Day this year.
1999

Bizarre Visions of Humanity's Ethereal Future

Douglas R. Hofstadter, polymath, Professor of Cognitive Science at Indiana University, director of the Center for Research on Concepts and Cognition, author of several books, notably Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid
1998

The Neurobiology of Religious Experience and Practice

Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology and neuroscience at Stanford, recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant, best-selling author.
1997

Emerging Genetics: Promising Opportunities and Nagging Concerns
-- including the Human Genome Project

Paul Berg, Cahill Professor in Cancer Research at Stanford University School of Medicine, Director of the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine; with Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger, awarded 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing methods to map the structure and of DNA.
1996

Universal Darwinism

Richard Dawkins, 1996 AHA Humanist of the Year, author of bestselling books River Out of Eden, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, widely regarded as the foremost proponent of Neo-Darwinism in modern times.
1995

Darwin and Human Origins

Donald Johanson, prime researcher in anthropology, discoverer of "Lucy", presents an exciting tale of his adventures finding "Lucy", and related matters including the importance of Darwin in his own life.

This was the Humanist Community's first Darwin Day celebration. It developed out of a 1994 brainstorming session when Bob Stephens suggested the idea of celebrating Darwin Day as a way to acknowledge the importance of science in the modern world. Sandy Gardner chaired the first Darwin Day planning committee. The program was adopted by the Board early in 1994. This Darwin Day event was aided by funds from a James Hervey Johnson Charitable Educational Trust grant.

For information on other sites and contacts supporting Darwin Day as An International Celebration of Science and Humanity, being coordinated by the Secular Student Alliance, visit http://www.darwinday.org. This latter site is probably the most supportive of Darwin Day in the world, and we recommend it.

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