International Darwin Day
Vision
International Darwin Day will inspire people throughout the globe
to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual
curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth as embodied in
Charles Darwin. It will be a day of celebration, activism, and
international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and
human well-being.
Local and state governments will close in commemoration of the
Day, and organizations and businesses will celebrate by engaging in
community outreach centered around science as a tool for the betterment
of humanity.
Darwin Day will be observed by the United Nations and its members
as an opportunity for international partnerships through the common
language of science for the common good of all.
On the Origin of the Celebration
Ever since Charles Darwin published his radically insightful book, On the Origin of Species,
Darwin has been the focus of commemorations and tributes by scientists,
artists, scholars, and freethinkers throughout the world. From the
early gatherings after his death at his own Downe House, to bicentennial
events all over the globe, celebrating science and humanity within our
various cultures internationally has been a resonant and transcendent
pursuit.
In 1909, on the 100th anniversary of his birth, large celebrations
honoring Darwin’s contributions to science and humanity were held in
Cambridge, New York and New Zealand. The University of Chicago
commemorated the 100th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species
in 1959 with a series of notable events from November 24 through the
28th. The 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth saw an entire season of
BBC programming on Charles Darwin himself as well as evolution and
natural selection. Salem State University has successfully held an
annual Darwin Festival since 1980.
History of the Foundation
The organized movement to establish an annual International Darwin Day Celebration
began with three Darwin enthusiasts: Dr. Robert Stephens, who motivated
the Humanist Community in Silicon Valley to initiate an annual Darwin
Day Celebration in 1995; Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, who similarly
organized annual Darwin Day events at the University of Tennessee
beginning in 1997; and Amanda Chesworth, who joined Stephens to
officially incorporate the Darwin Day Program in New Mexico in 2000.
The Darwin Day Program was reincorporated two years later in California as the Darwin Day Celebration,
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational corporation promoting public
education about science—and encouraging the celebration of science and
humanity throughout the global community. The Darwin Day Celebration
also established an Advisory Board of prominent scientists to provide
assistance on questions of scientific importance. The original website
for Darwin Day was created in 2003 and can be accessed here.
In anticipation of Darwin's bicentennial birthday on Feb.12th,
2009, the Darwin Day Celebration paired with the American Humanist
Association to support the growth of Darwin Day activities. The American
Humanist Association remains the lead agency charged with amplifying
the International Darwin Day Foundation’s call for celebration,
activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science,
education, and human well-being.
Please register to create your event with us, and find out what you can do to help make Darwin Day an officially recognized holiday!
Mission
The mission of International Darwin Day is to inspire people
throughout the globe to reflect and act on the principles of
intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and
hunger for truth as embodied in Charles Darwin.
