Darwin Day

What Is Darwin Day?

Every year on February 12th, the world celebrates "Darwin Day." The date marks the birthday (February 12, 1809) of Charles Darwin, the British naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution. Darwin Day honors his scientific achievements while celebrating curiosity, rational inquiry, and the shared intellectual heritage of humanity. From the mid-1990s, universities and humanist groups in the United States and Britain began holding commemorative events, and today lectures and other events are held around the world.

On the Origin of Species and the Shift in Scientific Thinking

Published in 1859, On the Origin of Species had a profound impact not only on biology but also on philosophy and religious thought. Darwin showed that living things are not fixed and unchanging, but evolve over long stretches of time through "natural selection" -- a process in which individuals best suited to their environment survive and reproduce. This idea was supported by the vast collection of specimens and observations Darwin gathered in the Galapagos Islands and elsewhere around the world.

Discoveries from the Voyage of the Beagle

Darwin's scientific journey began at age 22, when he set off on a five-year voyage around the world aboard the survey ship HMS Beagle. The diverse plants and animals, fossils, and rock formations he observed in South America and across the Pacific islands became the foundation for his later theory of evolution. His account of the voyage was later published as "The Voyage of the Beagle" and was widely read as a travel book as well.

Building Ideas on Careful Observation

Darwin Day is not only about honoring one great figure -- it's also a day to remember the value of building ideas on accumulated observation. Darwin continued experimenting, observing, and corresponding with scientists around the world right up until his death, always testing and refining his ideas. His habit of anticipating objections and gathering example after example to explain his ideas has something in common with good work habits today.

A Remarkable Coincidence: Sharing a Birthday with Lincoln

February 12, 1809 is also the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. One man unraveled the laws of the natural world, while the other achieved a sweeping social transformation (the abolition of slavery). This coincidence is a popular piece of February 12 trivia.

Darwin's Legacy and the Evolution of Science

• Natural Selection: Explaining the process by which individuals with advantageous traits leave more offspring in the next generation.
• Common Ancestry: The sweeping idea that all living things, traced far enough back, share a common ancestor.
• Coral Reef Formation Theory: A pioneering theory important not only to biology but also to geology.
• Studies of Earthworms and Plants: Observing for many years how earthworms form soil, and summarizing it in a book late in life.
• Careful Research Approach: Anticipating criticism and presenting many observed examples to explain his ideas.

Darwin Trivia

Although Darwin is best known today as a biologist, during his lifetime he is said to have called himself a geologist. After his death he became one of the few non-royals in 19th-century Britain to receive a state funeral, and he was buried in Westminster Abbey in London, near Isaac Newton and others. In 2009, when his 200th birthday coincided with the 150th anniversary of On the Origin of Species, commemorative events were held around the world. November 24, the day the first edition of On the Origin of Species was published, is known as "Evolution Day."

Ideas for Celebrating Darwin Day

• Visit a science museum or natural history museum and explore the history of evolution through fossils and specimens
• Read Darwin's writings or an introductory book on modern evolutionary biology
• Take a closer look at the plants and animals around you and think about what "adaptations" shaped their forms
• Watch a documentary about the unique ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands and current conservation efforts

Setting Sail With a Compass of Curiosity

Darwin Day is a day to spark the intellectual adventurous spirit that seeks out truth. Look at the facts, ask questions, and think for yourself. Just as Darwin set sail into unknown waters aboard the Beagle, we too should have the courage to step beyond familiar ideas and into new seas of knowledge. Let February 12th be a day to deeply appreciate, by the light of science, the astonishing diversity and order of our world.