Charles Darwin and The Tree of Life (BBC Documentary)
David Attenborough asks three key questions: how and why did Darwin come up with his theory of evolution? Why do we think he was right? And why is it more important now than ever before?
Celebrating Science & Humanity
Darwin Day is a global celebration of science and reason held on or around Feb. 12, the birthday anniversary of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin.
On this website you can find all sorts of information about Charles Darwin and the International Darwin Day Foundation. If you are hosting a Darwin Day event, you can post information about it on our events listing. You can also locate Darwin Day programs near you by searching our events section.
We also have resources for hosting Darwin Day events, including promotional support and a list of potential Darwin Day presenters.
Click here to read more about the history of the International Darwin Day Foundation.
Darwin Day Profile: Dr. Robert Stephens
Dr. Robert Stephens came up with the idea for Darwin Day in 1993 and co-founded the Darwin Day Program. Read his interview with Humanist Network News editor Maggie Ardiente on the early days of Darwin Day.
Darwin Day News
Video: Julia Sweeney, Dr. Frank Brown and Dr. Valerie Tarico speak at Darwin on the Palouse
The Palouse Coalition of Reason and AHA teamed up to bring three speakers to the area.
Southern CT Darwin Day Dinner Receives Local News Coverage
News 12 Connecticut covered a Darwin Day celebration thrown by the Southern Connecticut Darwin Day Committee in Norwalk, CT.
San Diego, CA, Issues Darwin Day Proclamation
San Diego joins a growing list of cities that have officially recognized the birthday of the father of evolutionary biology, Charles Darwin. Mayor Bob Filner issued the proclamation.
Why do YOU celebrate Darwin Day?
We want to know why and how YOU celebrate Darwin Day. Make a video and send it in to us!
Darwin’s Darkest Hour (NOVA special)
This two-hour scripted drama tells the remarkable story behind the unveiling of the most influential scientific theory of all time, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.
Intelligent Design on Trial (NOVA Special)
Science is “exhibit A” in a landmark trial on the teaching of evolution.
More Information on Darwin
Learn about Darwin’s Life, from his Birthplace and Childhood, College Years, Voyage of the Beagle, London, to Down House.
More Information on Evolution
In 1842 Charles Darwin penned his first sketch of what became On the Origin of Species.
MIT Video Courses on Evolution
Ten years ago, the MIT faculty made a bold decision to support global education by openly sharing their intellectual resources at no charge to anyone anywhere in the world. Over these ten years, OCW content has reached 100 million individuals and MIT has helped to spark an open education revolution that now includes hundreds of universities and organizations sharing courseware, text books and other digital learning resources.
Lecture 1: The Nature of Evolution: Selection, Inheritance, and History
The lecture presents an overview of evolutionary biology and its two major components, microevolution and macroevolution. The idea of evolution goes back before Darwin, although Darwin thought of natural selection. Evolution is driven by natural selection, the correlation between organism traits and reproductive success, as well as random drift. The history of life goes back approximately 3.7 billion years to a common ancestor, and is marked with key events that affect all life.
Lecture 2: Basic Transmission Genetics
Genetic transmission is the mechanism that drives evolution. DNA encodes all the information necessary to make an organism. Every organism
Lecture 3: Adaptive Evolution: Natural Selection
Adaptive Evolution is driven by natural selection. Natural selection is not “survival of the fittest,” but rather “reproduction of the fittest.” Evolution can occur at many different speeds based on the strength of the selection driving it. These types of selection can result in directional, stabilizing, and disruptive outcomes. They can be driven by frequency-dependent selection and sexual selection, in addition to more standard types of selection.
