What is Darwin 200?
Darwin200 plans to celebrate the impact that Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolution, as well as his approach to the understanding of the natural world and his outstanding example as a scientist, continue to have on our lives.
The Darwin200 initiative is a group of organisations across the world celebrating the life and legacy of Charles Darwin. The celebrations are centred on Darwin’s 200th birthday in February 2009, but will begin in July 2008 by commemorating 150 years since Darwin first presented his theory to fellow scientists. Darwin200 events will build up to November 2009, which is the 150th anniversary of the first publication of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
A Charles Darwin anniversary unique to the Northern Territory of Australia is the 170th anniversary of the naming of the ‘Port of Darwin’ and the landing of the Beagle on Darwin’s coastline.
Why is Darwin still relevant today?
Darwin is now a household name whose ideas over the last 150 years have revolutionised our understanding of nature and our place within it.
Darwin challenged the thinking of the day because his observations — that every living thing is related and belongs to one big family — placed humans firmly within the natural world.
Partners
Many organisations are planning events to celebrate the life and legacy of Charles Darwin. Find out more If your organisation is planning events to celebrate Darwin's bicentenary on Partners >>