Darwin Day

Darwin Day 2026
2026-04-12 | Università degli Studi di Bari – Sistema Museale di Ateneo, Via Celso Ulpiani, 27 (presso Villa la Rocca), Bari, BA, 70125, Italy
Il Sistema Museale di Ateneo dell’Università degli Studi di Bari è lieto di invitarvi a partecipare, giovedì 12 febbraio all’International Darwin Day, giornata di studi dedicata al naturalista Charles Darwin.
Un’occasione per comprendere meglio il lavoro e il pensiero scientifico del padre della teoria dell’evoluzione nonché per ricordarne le intuizioni, gli studi e i dibattiti dell’epoca e come la sua teoria abbia portato allo sviluppo di discipline scientifiche che contribuiscono alla nostra conoscenza della natura.
Programma della giornata https://www.uniba.it/it/ateneo/sedi-strutture/sima/eventi/eventi-2026/darwin-day-2026
12 febbraio
ORE 10:00 attività teorico – pratica
• Il miglior attacco è la difesa: l’evoluzione delle corazze negli esseri viventi
A cura di Giovanni SCILLITANI – Museo di Zoologia L. Liaci
Università degli Studi di Bari A. Moro
Aula 1° ex Istituti Biologici presso Campus Quagliariello – Via Orabona, 4 – Bari
ORE 11:00 visita guidata
• Museo Faunistico Bernardo Terio
A cura di Letizia PASSANTINO – Museo Faunistico B. Terio
Università degli Studi di Bari A. Moro
Campus di Medicina Veterinaria – Strada Provinciale 62 – Valenzano (BA)

Iowa City Darwin Day: Science Fest
2026-04-10 - 2026-04-11 | University of Iowa, 210 East Iowa Ave, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
Welcome to Iowa City Darwin Day: Science Fest, a grand celebration of science and its many contributions to humanity!
We will welcome our speakers for talks on Friday, April 10th and Saturday, April 11th, 2026.
All events are free and open to the public

Ethical Society Mid Rivers Darwin Day Celebration
2026-03-01 10:30 - 23:30 (America/Chicago) | Ethical Society Mid Rivers, ​117 Triad Center West, O'Fallon, 63366, United States
SUNDAY, MARCH 1 | 10:30 AM | SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN WELL-BEING
We will enjoy a fun day of interactive learning and celebration of science. It will be a great time for humans 1 to 100!
International Darwin Day is celebrated on February 12th to inspire people throughout the globe to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity and learning, scientific exploration, and hunger for truth. Darwin Day is a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being.
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To learn more about Charles Darwin, his involvement in the abolitionist movement, and understand what he risked by publishing On the Origin of Species, we recommend the following, well-researched book, Darwin’s Sacred Cause: Race, Slavery and the Quest for Human Origins by renowned Darwin scholars, Adrian Desmond and James Moore. Darwin’s belief in human unity was in direct contrast to many of his contemporaries.

Darwin Day Celebration at Ethical Society Mid Rivers
2026-03-01 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Ethical Society Mid Rivers, ​117 Triad Center West, O'Fallon, 63366, United States
SUNDAY, MARCH 1 | 10:30 AM | SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN WELL-BEING
We will enjoy a fun day of interactive learning and celebration of science. It will be a great time for humans 1 to 100!
International Darwin Day is celebrated on February 12th to inspire people throughout the globe to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity and learning, scientific exploration, and hunger for truth. Darwin Day is a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being.
This event is free and all are welcome at the Ethical Society Mid Rivers.
​
To learn more about Charles Darwin, his involvement in the abolitionist movement, and understand what he risked by publishing On the Origin of Species, we recommend the following, well-researched book, “Darwin’s Sacred Cause: Race, Slavery and the Quest for Human Origins” by renowned Darwin scholars, Adrian Desmond and James Moore. Darwin’s belief in human unity was in direct contrast to many of his contemporaries.

Darwin Day at Texas A&M University
2026-02-27 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | The Gardens at TAMU, 556 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX, 77843, United States
An Annual Celebration of All Things Biology!

WHEN: Friday February 27th from 5 – 8 pm
WHERE: The Gardens at Texas A&M University
Darwin Day is is a FREE event open to TAMU students, faculty and staff and their families, and the public.

Darwin Day is an annual event organized by Texas A&M’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) program and EEBISO to coincide with the birthday of Charles Darwin, the father of evolutionary biology, and preeminent thinker whose insights on the natural world lead to new discoveries to this day. The EEB program enjoys the good fortune of a diversity of biologists – who study everything from Anthozoans to Zooplankton. These researchers are driven by a fascination for the natural world and their discoveries help propel science forward.

Come and explore our Darwin Day event to see how TAMU researchers and their science are illuminating fundamental aspects of biology and making a difference in the real world.

The vision of 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. It will be a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being.” – DarwinDay.org

Science Night Live: Annual Darwin Day Celebration – Ancient Trees Bring New Knowledge in Our Rapidly Changing World
2026-02-24 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Helene Fortunoff Theater, 127 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, United States
Hofstra Cultural Center and the Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability present Science Night Live
Join Us for Our Annual Darwin Day Celebration: Ancient Trees Bring New Knowledge in Our Rapidly Changing World
Dr. Neil Pederson will describe how scientists access the memories of trees using a process called tree-ring analysis or dendrochronology. Tree-ring analysis might be one of the most flexible implements in the scientific toolbox, especially in understanding the impacts of global environmental change. Trees are helping us better document the presence of old-growth forests as the rapid pace of environment change blurs these distinctions. Studying old-growth forests has revealed how much we need to learn about the lives of trees. Trees have also born witness to early human events, including the rise of the Mongol Empire, to add nuance in ways that can befuddle human historians. Ancient trees offer new insights into our world by expanding human knowledge.
Location: The Helene Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center, California Avenue, South Campus
Admission is FREE and open to the public. Advance registration is required.
For more information, please call the Hofstra Cultural Center at 516-463-5669.

2026 Darwin Day Lecture: Michael Lynch
2026-02-18 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, United States
Michael Lynch, Pioneer of Evolutionary Cell Biology, to Deliver 2026 Darwin Day Lecture
Michael Lynch, a leading evolutionary biologist whose groundbreaking work integrates population genetics with cell biology, will deliver the 2026 Darwin Day Lecture on Wednesday, February 18. Lynch’s talk, Evolutionary Cell Biology: Rethinking the Origins of Cellular Architecture (placeholder title), part of Vanderbilt University’s Evolutionary Studies Initiative International Darwin Day celebrations, will begin at 3:00 pm in MRB III 1220. The event is free and open to the public.
Lynch is director of the Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution at Arizona State University and a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has served as president of four major scientific societies: the Genetics Society of America, the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, the Society for the Study of Evolution, and the American Genetic Association. In 2022, Lynch received the prestigious Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal from the Genetics Society of America for his exceptional lifetime contributions to the field.
A central question in evolutionary biology is understanding what limits natural selection’s ability to perfect organisms. Lynch has pioneered the “drift-barrier hypothesis,” which proposes that random genetic drift—the stochastic fluctuation of gene frequencies in finite populations—imposes fundamental constraints on molecular refinement. This work has challenged the widespread assumption that all cellular features are optimally designed by natural selection.
Lynch’s research demonstrates that population size plays a critical role in evolution at every scale, from mutation rates to genome architecture to cellular complexity. His 2007 book The Origins of Genome Architecture revolutionized how scientists think about genome evolution by showing that many genomic features arise not through adaptive selection, but through the varying power of drift in different lineages. More recently, Lynch has extended these insights to cellular evolution, establishing the emerging field of evolutionary cell biology.
Among Lynch’s most influential contributions is his work showing that eukaryotes are not more bioenergetically efficient than prokaryotes, contrary to longstanding claims that mitochondria provided an energetic boost driving eukaryotic complexity. His quantitative analyses across the tree of life reveal that organism size, population genetics, and bioenergetic constraints interact in complex ways to shape cellular evolution.
Lynch earned his B.S. in Biology from St. Bonaventure University (1973) and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (1977). He held faculty positions at the University of Illinois, University of Oregon, and Indiana University before joining Arizona State University. He has authored more than 300 papers and four influential books, including two volumes on quantitative genetics with Bruce Walsh, The Origins of Genome Architecture (2007) and Evolutionary Cell Biology: The Origins of Cellular Architecture (2024).
The Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative was established in August 2019 with the aim of uniting a remarkably diverse array of scholars from a variety of disciplines with broad interests and expertise in evolution-related fields.

If we only had a brain!: anatomy and evolution in extinct dinosaurs
2026-02-16 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 1 Hairpin Dr, Edwardsville, IL, 62026, United States
Each year, the Department of Biological Sciences celebrates Darwin Day by hosting a speaker in our Ralph W. Axtell Lecture Series. The event takes place around the birthday of Charles Darwin (February 12) and celebrates his enormous contribution to science, particularly the theory of evolution by natural selection (published jointly with Alfred Russel Wallace) that underpins all aspects of modern biology. The lecture series is named in honor of the late Dr. Ralph Axtell in recognition of his many contributions to the University and to science.
For this coming year’s Darwin Day celebrations – on Monday, February 16, 2026 – we are happy to announce that our speaker is Dr. Ashley Morhardt (WashU). She will give a technical talk at 3pm in SE3126 (upper lecture hall) titled “Reconstruction and assessment of brain size, shape, function, and evolution in extinct tetrapods” and a general public talk at 6pm in SE1136 (lower lecture hall) titled “If we only had a brain!: anatomy and evolution in extinct dinosaurs.”

Darwin Day Kids Fest
2026-02-15 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Carroll College, 1601 N Benton Ave., Helena, MT, 59625, United States
This event is a family-friendly educational event for elementary-aged kids and their families. Head over to Carroll’s campus to learn about biodiversity, natural selection, adaptation, evolution, and other central concepts in modern biology. Join us for an afternoon of evolution-themed activities, games, crafts, and snacks. Hosted by Seniors in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences. Carroll students can bring family and friends. All are invited to various rooms in Simperman Hall on Sunday, February 15 from 2-4 p.m.
Hosted by the Carroll College Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences.

Darwin Day: Valentine’s Edition
2026-02-14 13:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | KU Natural History Museum, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Join us for a unique museum mashup: celebrate Valentine’s Day at the same time as Charles Darwin’s birthday! Learn about Darwin’s life, colleagues & contemporaries, and their scientific discoveries. And explore the wild world of animal courtship, mating, and reproduction. This is a family-friendly* drop-in event, complete with birthday cake!
Note: Animal reproduction, including specimens such as sex organs, will be discussed during this program.

Darwin Day 2026
2026-02-14 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Greene Geological Gallery (Lapham 168), 3209 North Maryland Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Darwin Day is a public outreach event celebrating the life and times of one of the most brilliant and influential Victorian naturalists, Charles R. Darwin. Darwin was an avid geologist and biologist who most famously developed the theory of natural selection—one of the driving mechanisms behind biological evolution—published in his seminal work: On the Origin of Species. Today, this theory forms the foundation for many of our natural sciences. Darwin Day is a national celebration of Darwin’s scientific legacy typically held on (or near) his birthday.
This event is free and open to guests of all ages. Many wonderful geological and biological specimens will be available to observe, with volunteers on hand to explain their fascinating histories. Learning tables will focus on the natural history of Wisconsin and the contributions of the Thomas A. Greene to our understanding of local geology, with many rare and beautiful samples on display in the Greene Geological Museum. Other activities will be available throughout the day, including scientific lectures presented by UWM scientists and guest speakers, coloring and crafts for young kids, and free planetarium shows. See the activities list and schedule of events below for more information.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Event Activities
Greene Geological Museum:
Our small but mighty museum of rocks, minerals, and fossils will be open for guests to tour throughout the event. The Greene Geological Museum houses specimens collected by the prolific collector and namesake, Thomas A. Greene, throughout the mid-to-late 19th century from both Wisconsin and other locales. Many of the mineralogical specimens on display are one-of-a-kind, and originate from localities no longer accessible to modern geologists! The Museum is also highly valuable for paleontological research, and houses the single best collection of marine Silurian invertebrate fossils in North America. If you have never had the opportunity to visit the Museum, now is a great time!
Learning Tables:
See and learn about your own Wisconsin natural heritage! Numerous tables will be set up throughout the first floor of Lapham Hall displaying a wide assortment of specimens including rocks, minerals, fossils, and even animals! Volunteers—our very own UWM students and staff—will be available all day to teach you about these fascinating objects, their importance to the natural sciences, and their value to our local communities.
Lectures:
Three lectures will be presented throughout the day by UWM scientists and guest speakers. Lectures will cover topics related to Wisconsin geology, biology, and Milwaukee history. These lectures will be short, digestible, and accessible to a general audience. Our keynote lecture will discuss modern Antarctic exploration and the natural sciences of Antarctica!
Student Research Showcase:
UWM is a leading national research institution, and our students will make sure you don’t forget it! Stop by our student research showcase table throughout the day to learn what our very own geoscience and biological science graduate students are working on. Students will cycle in throughout the day, come by a few times and check out the groundbreaking research going on here at UWM!
Thomas A. Greene’s Glowing Cavern:
These minerals really glow! Come see our most impressive fluorescent minerals literally glow in the dark. A small, guided space will be available all day to experience minerals in a way few people ever do,
Children’s Activities Tables:
For parents, activities will be available their young children. This includes coloring, arts and crafts, and even an interactive sandbox. Remember, you’re never too young to start learning!
Touch Tables:
See, touch, and discover! Stop by and explore an array of fascinating specimens and models, all safe to touch. Experience natural history with all of your senses!

Darwin Day at Sabina (1st Edition)
2026-02-14 09:30 - 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sabina – Knowledge Park School, Juquiá Street, s/nº, Vila Eldízia, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil, Santo André, SP, 09181-730, Brazil
Darwin Day at Sabina is a celebration dedicated to the birth of Charles Darwin and his contributions to science, especially to the understanding of evolution. In its first edition, the event is part of the celebrations of the 19th anniversary of Sabina Escola Parque do Conhecimento. The program takes place on February 14, 15, 21, 22, and 28, 2026, and includes hands-on and educational activities that explore the principles of natural selection and adaptation.
The main activities include:
• Exhibition and Experiment “Beaks and Seeds”: An exhibit on the adaptation of bird beaks and a practical activity using tweezers that simulates survival in different environments.
• Evolutionary Theory Workshop: Visitors create camouflaged butterflies in different biomes, discussing survival strategies.
• Interactive Displays: Exploration of Darwin’s voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, with a focus on his passage through Brazil.
• Special Planetarium Session: The presentation “From Earth to the Cosmos: the Origins of Life” addresses astrobiology, from the Big Bang to the diversity of living beings on Earth.

Darwin Day with Dr. Matthew Morris
2026-02-13 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Phoenix) | St Mary’s University, 14500 Bannister Road, Calgary, Alberta, T2X 3J3, Canada
Darwin famously wrote “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” This risky prediction generated two different sorts of debate: the first among biologists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who debated whether Darwin’s claim was correct – must evolution be gradual? – and the other from present-day creationists who argue that certain complex traits refute Darwin’s claim. Yet a partial solution to both was already hinted at by Darwin: organismal bodies are flexible. Phenotypes can change under different environmental stimuli, and this can happen rapidly, dramatically, and in a coordinated fashion. Dr. Morris will introduce the concept of phenotypic plasticity, the capacity of a single genotype to produce multiple environmentally determined phenotypes, and suggest that some modern critiques of Darwin can be put to rest through an understanding of what Darwin called that “most perplexing subject.”

Darwin Day 2026: Innovations In Science
2026-02-13 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Innovations in Science
The Department of Biological Sciences and the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University present:
Innovations in Science – An Educational One-Day Lecture Event Highlighting Science Innovations
Faculty Speakers:
Dr. Phil Novack-Gottshall
Dr. Rob McCarthy
Dr. Cheryl Heinz
The Dr. Alfred Martin Distinguished Keynote Address:
Thomas Sanger, PhD, Associate Professor of Evolutionary and Developmental Biology, Loyola University Chicago
“The Hidden (and not so hidden) world of Sexual Diversity”
*Sponsored by the Father Cyprian Tomecko Endowment for Natural Science Lectures

Darwin Day: Wehner Research Symposium
2026-02-13 08:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ, 07043, United States
Join us for a day celebrating the life of Charles Darwin. There will be a keynote address, student talks and posters. More information as the event approaches! Students interested in presenting can submit their information through the Darwin Day: Wehner Research Symposium Participation form (to be posted soon).
Schedule of Events – Coming Soon
More information can be found on the symposium website.

Evolution Day 2026 at the Essig Museum
2026-02-13 - 2026-02-14 | UC Berkeley Essig Museum, 1170 Valley Life Science Building, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States
Each year, the Essig Museum celebrates the birthdays of Charles Darwin (February 12th, 1809), Alfred Russel Wallace (January 8th, 1823), and Henry Bates (February 8th, 1825) with special behind-the-scenes tours of our collection in the Valley Life Sciences Building (VLSB). Join us for a special look at our collections featuring beetles collected by Darwin during his Voyage of the Beagle. We will also take a closer look at adaptations – traits that evolved over millions of years to help insects obtain food, avoid predators, and find mates.
Museum Tours will begin at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm from the foot of the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in VLSB.
We will be limiting the number of people in our small exhibit space, so reserve your free tickets with Eventbrite. Note: There are multiple tour times – check the Select Date and Time options on Eventbrite to choose a time slot.

The Genetic Book of the Dead with Richard Dawkins
2026-02-12 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath, 4 East South, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
Richard Dawkins will be in conversation about his latest book on evolution for the Milner Centre for Evolution’s Darwin Day event.

Richard Dawkins Live Event at the University of Bath
Get ready for the Milner Centre for Evolution’s Darwin Day event! This will be an unforgettable evening with Richard Dawkins in conversation with Milner Centre for Evolution Director, Professor Turi King, where he will be discussing his latest book on evolution: The Genetic Book of the Dead. This is an opportunity to hear from one of the world’s leading scientific figures about the power of Darwinian evolution and how examining organisms of today can tell us about past worlds. Grab your spot!
We are collecting questions ahead of the event to form the public question and answer session at the end. If you’d like to ask Richard Dawkins a question, please do email it to: milnerdirector@bath.ac.uk with the subject line: Richard Dawkins event question.
We do expect this event to sell out quickly so if you book a ticket, if you find you you aren’t able to attend, then please return your ticket so that they can go to the next person on the waiting list.
Please note there will be a bag search on the door.

The genetic age: who shapes evolution now? with Professor Matthew Cobb
2026-02-12 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL, United Kingdom
Like all species, humans have been inadvertently shaping the genomes of other species – predators and prey – throughout our history. And with the development of agriculture, we began to specifically, deliberately alter plants and animals through selective breeding. But in the second half of the 20th century, that ability has taken on a new form. Not only do we have a far more precise understanding of how selection and heredity interact in agriculture, but the invention of genetic engineering in the 1970s has changed things completely.
We can now change species at will. Not only has this transformed the pharmaceutical industry – allowing the cheap manufacture of drugs like insulin – it has also altered agriculture and now, in the 21st century, threatens to change ecosystems and even humanity itself.
Evolution appears to be under our control, but – as the molecular biologist Leslie Orgel warned us – evolution is smarter than we are. Looking at the past, present, and future of genetics, we can glimpse both the promises and perils that await us.

In this 2026 Darwin Day Lecture, Matthew Cobb will confront the shadow cast by our own ingenuity. Tracing the path from simple selective breeding to the ignition of a biological revolution, he will explore a modern Promethean moment where the power to reshape life is no longer theoretical – but operational.
As the pace of discovery accelerates into a competitive sprint, we’re challenged to consider whether we have merely stolen the fire of evolution, or if we have sparked a chain reaction that we can no longer extinguish.

About Professor Matthew Cobb
Matthew Cobb is Professor Emeritus at the University of Manchester. His recent books include Crick: A Mind in Motion, from DNA to the Brain and The Genetic Age: Our Perilous Quest to Edit Life. He was the presenter of the BBC Radio series Genetic Dreams, Genetic Nightmares. In 2024 he won the Royal Society’s Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal, and in 2021 was awarded the J. B. S. Haldane Lecture by the Genetics Society.
About the Darwin Day Lecture series
The Darwin Day Lecture explores humanism and humanist thought as related to science and evolution, Charles Darwin, or his works. The Darwin medallist has made a significant contribution in one of these fields.
The lecture and medal are named and held to mark the annual global celebration of the birth of Charles Darwin, held every 12 February.

Evolution Gone Wrong: The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work (Or Don’t)
2026-02-12 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online, United States
Evolution Gone Wrong: The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work (Or Don’t)

Evolution Gone Wrong describes why the human body is uniquely prone to aches and pains. From poorly fitting teeth to blurry vision, torn menisci to difficult births, the history of our imperfections is rooted in our past. To understand our anatomy, we take a tour around the animal kingdom from slimy hagfish to great apes and everything in between. Along the way, we learn how we ended up with our brilliant, jury-rigged, and error-prone bodies.
Alex Bezzerides is a biology professor and writer. He got hooked on biology during a two-week summer outdoor field class in the mountains of Colorado during high school. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in biology and a minor in music. Graduate school sent him east where he earned a PhD from Cornell University in neurobiology and behavior with research focused on the chemical ecology of insects. His first academic job was at a small college in northern Wisconsin. He eventually moved back west for a faculty position at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho where he teaches a wide range of classes and writes about the evolution of the human body.
Alex’s broad training in biology and life spills over into his writing. His first book, Evolution Gone Wrong, is about the aches and pains of human anatomy and how they evolved. When he’s not teaching or writing, he can often be found paddleboarding down the Snake and Clearwater rivers with his wife and daughter.
Join us! This is a free event brought to you by Bay Area Skeptics. All are welcome.

Science Lounge – Darwin Day Valentine’s Soirée
2026-02-12 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Phoenix) | The Denver Museum of Science and Nature, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, United States
Join us as we honor Charles Darwin, the father of evolutionary theory, with a night of romance and discovery. Tickets are on-sale — grab yours now!
Dive into a lively mini-lecture with Dr. Paula Cushing, senior curator of invertebrate zoology, and Andrew Doll, zoology collections manager, as they reveal the wild world of animal mating rituals — a playful, steamy look at love in nature.
Create your own Darwinian love letters! Inspired by Darwin’s famous “pros and cons” list before his proposal, craft clever, heartfelt Valentine’s gifts in our arts and crafts studio. Sip themed cocktails and mocktails, explore science activations, stargaze (weather permitting) and enjoy a night full of fun, fascination and Valentine’s vibes. Don’t miss this unforgettable Science Lounge!

Today’s Junk, Tomorrow’s Triumph: Lessons on Evolutionary Contingency, Inertia, and Innovation from the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with E. coli
2026-02-12 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Fountain Street Church – Chapel, 24 Fountain NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Please join us for a lecture, Today’s Junk, Tomorrow’s Triumph: Lessons on Evolutionary Contingency, Inertia, and Innovation from the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with E. coli presented by Evolutionary Biologist, Dr. Zachary Blount.
Dr. Zachary Blount, Evolutionary Biologist at Michigan State University, is a principal researcher on the longest running evolutionary experiment in history. Dr. Blount has been a part of the experiment for over 20 years, while the experiment, began by Dr. Richard Lenski, has been ongoing for almost 38 years.
The venue for this month’s lecture is the Fountain Street Church – Chapel.
Join us after the lecture for food and conversation! We will reconvene at Palace of India: 138 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
Parking Information
Metered street parking is free after 7 PM.
The nearby GRCC Parking structure is available to the public.
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Michigan Humanists values the participation of all guests — requests for reasonable accommodation may be made by contacting the event host at least three days prior to the event.
Michigan Humanists expects all guests to engage in respectful discussion. Please visit the Michigan Humanist Culture and Expectations page for more information. Speak to the event host or contact info@michiganhumanists.org if you feel these expectations are being violated.
Events are made possible by your financial support. Michigan Humanists is a 501(c)3 non-profit. All donations are tax-deductible as provided by law. Donations to Michigan Humanists can be made at https://www.michiganhumanists.org/donate/

Journey into Darkness: The Allegory of the Cave
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Webinar, NY, United States
NABT and NCSE are proud to present an encore presentation of the 2025 Evolution Symposium, presented at the NABT Conference in St. Louis.
Plan to join us on Thursday, February 12th at 7:00 PM ET (6:00 PM CT, 5:00 PM MT, and 4:00 PM PT) for this free webinar featuring Rick and Lindsay Hunter.
Rick Hunter will share the amazing story of his co-discovery of the first-known fossils of Homo naledi. Rick Hunter is a caver and small-space specialist who, along with Steven Tucker, discovered the Dinaledi Chamber in the Rising Star cave system in the Cradle of Humankind in South Africa in 2013.
K. Lindsay Hunter was one of six Advance Cave Archaeologists (known popularly as the “Underground Astronauts”) selected to excavate within the Rising Star cave system. She is an anthropologist and National Geographic Explorer for the National Geographic Society.Lindsay will discuss her participation in the initial excavation and how a diminutive human ancestor challenged established paleoanthropological views and practices in a big way.

An email will be sent to those registered when the recording of this webinar is available on the NABT website.

'Damned beastly devilment:' Charles Darwin's dalliance with vertebrate fossils during the voyage of the Beagle
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | North Carolina Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, 27517, United States
Join the North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Carolina Biodiversity Collaborative for our annual Darwin Day Lecture!
‘Damned beastly devilment:’ Charles Darwin’s dalliance with vertebrate fossils during the voyage of the Beagle
with Paul Brinkman, Environmental Humanities Research Lab Head and Curator of Special Collections, NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Moderated by Damon Waitt, NCBG Director.

Thursday, February 12, 2026 7:00 PM-8:00 PM ET; followed by a reception (featuring cake in honor of Darwin’s birthday!)
In-person and on Zoom
Free; preregistration required. Register here >

Charles Darwin, with the help of his shipmates and a local network of landowners, merchants, and guides, made an important collection of vertebrate fossils in South America during the voyage of HMS Beagle (1831-1836). At first, Darwin doubted the usefulness of his fossils. Eventually, however, these specimens would prove to be the most satisfying as well as one of the most scientifically significant collections Darwin made during the voyage. This presentation will explore Darwin’s brief dalliance with vertebrate paleontology.
About the Speaker
Paul D. Brinkman is a museum curator with overlapping interests in the sciences and the humanities. He graduated from Augustana College with a B.A. degree in history and a minor in geology. In 2005, he completed a Ph.D. in history of science at the University of Minnesota. A bibliophile and an avid traveler, he is equally at home in the library or in the field. His research interest is in history of nineteenth-century natural sciences, especially geology and paleontology. He has published a number of articles on Charles Darwin, on museum history, and on history of American vertebrate paleontology. His latest book, Now is the Time to Collect: Daniel Elliot, Carl Akeley, & the Field Columbian Museum Zoological Expedition to Africa in 1896, was published by the University of Alabama Press in 2024. He works at the N. C. Museum of Natural Sciences and teaches part-time in the History Department at N. C. State University.

Humanists Celebrate Darwin Day
2026-02-12 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Wings Etc, 2139 SW Fairlawn Plaza Dr, Topeka, KS 66614, 2139 SW Fairlawn Palaza Dr, Topeka, KS, 66614, United States
We are celebrating the 217th birthday of Charles Darwin the best way we know how: with community, curiosity, and local flavor.
Date: Feb 12, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Wings Etc. (Meeting Room) – 2139 SW Fairlawn Plaza Dr, Topeka, KS 66614
Plus One: Bring a guest! We’re building a movement, and the more brains, the better.
Families: This is a kid-friendly event. Let’s inspire the next generation of skeptics and scientists.
Come for the wings, stay for the humanistic perspective.

"Passenger Pigeon De-extinction: the Revolution of America's Forest Engineering bird"
2026-02-12 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Stony Brook University, 100 Circle Rd, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States
Celebrate Darwin Day 2026 with Ben Novak
We are honored to welcome Ben Novak, Lead Scientist at Revive & Restore, as our distinguished guest speaker for Darwin Day 2026. A pioneer in the field of genetic rescue and de-extinction, Novak is at the forefront of using 21st-century biotechnology to restore lost biodiversity.
His groundbreaking work focuses on the intersection of paleogenomics and ecology, specifically the ambitious mission to bring the passenger pigeon back from extinction. By bridging the gap between historical DNA and modern conservation, Novak’s research explores how we can “re-evolve” species to restore the health of North America’s forest ecosystems.

When: Thursday, February 12th, 2026
Where: Union Auditorium
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Talk Title:“Passenger Pigeon De-extinction: The Re-evolution of America’s Forest Engineering Bird”

Presented in collaboration with Ecology & Evolution (E&E) and the Collaboarative for the Earth (C4E), Novak’s insights into genomic engineering and the future of evolutionary biology promise to be both enlightening and thought-provoking. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to learn from a leading authority on the future of de-extinction!

Charles Darwin in the Galapagos Islands
2026-02-12 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Gwinnett County Public Library, 4817 Church St NW, Lilburn, GA, 30047, United States
Join us to learn about Charles Darwin’s journey to the Galapagos Islands and his theory of natural selection.

"The Ocean’s Methuselahs - Genomic Signatures of Exceptional Longevity and Negligible Aging in Sea Urchins"
2026-02-12 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | University of Alabama – Birmingham, 1200 10th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, United States
The UAB Department of Biology presents 2026 Darwin Day.
Events:
Poster Session and Reception: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Join the Department of Biology for a public poster session highlighting current research.
Keynote Lecture by Andrea Bodnar, Ph.D.: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Topic: “The Ocean’s Methuselahs – Genomic Signatures of Exceptional Longevity and Negligible Aging in Sea Urchins”
About the presenter: Dr. Andrea Bodnar is the Science Director at the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, where she works at the intersection of marine biology and human health. She has a unique background, with formal training in biochemistry and neuroscience that led her to a position as a Senior Scientist at the Molecular Discovery Lab at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), where she conducted research using sea urchins to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying longevity. Her current work takes advantage of the close genetic relationship between humans and urchins to understand the molecular and cellular pathways controlling lifespan and disease resistance, searching for novel strategies for combating age-related diseases.
Event Sponsors
UAB Department of Psychology, Evelyn M. & Harold C. Martin Endowed Support Fund, and UAB Honors College

Darwin Day Gathering
2026-02-12 17:00 - 22:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial Church, 110 Grey St, Melbourne, VI, Australia
Darwin Day Gathering
12 February 2026 17:00 – 22:00
Celebrate Darwin Day by joining a friendly gathering including atheists, skeptics and humanists from around Melbourne with a BBQ from 5pm, followed by an evening lecture and discussion hosted by the Atheist Society.

The lecture explores ‘The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals’, examining how emotional expression links humans with the rest of the animal world. The session will be led by Robert Bender, with time for discussion and questions. The event will be held in person at the Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial Church, East Melbourne, with a Zoom option available for those who prefer to attend online.
To learn more about the event, please use the link below:
Book Here

Darwin Week Research Symposium
2026-02-12 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | College of Charleston, 66 George St, Charleston, SC, 29424, United States
This year when we celebrate Charles Darwin’s birthday on campus, we would like to also celebrate all the amazing science research that is taking place on campus. The Darwin Week Research Symposium will feature lightning talks (5 minutes) from students and professors.

University of Delaware's 2026 Darwin Day Lecture & Interactive Panel
2026-02-12 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | 110 Orchard Road, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA, 110 Orchard Road, Newark, DE, 19711, United States
Join us at the University of Delaware’s Darwin Day event on February 12, 2026 to celebrate Darwin’s explorations in the diversity of life and life sciences. Darwin Day is an international event honoring the naturalist’s birthday, and we will be exploring the lasting impact of his work through an interdisciplinary lens.
Our College of Arts & Sciences Dean Caleb Everett will give the keynote address, including information from his research. UD Faculty, with expertise directly related to Darwin’s research, will participate in a panel discussion. Audience questions are encouraged formally during the program and informally after the program concludes.
This event is at 4 p.m. on February 12, 2026 in the Roselle Center for the Arts, Gore Recital Hall (Orchard Road, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA).
Event Schedule
3:40 p.m. Gore Recital Hall opens for General Admission Seating
4:00 p.m. Event Begins
4:45 p.m. Panel Discussion
5:15 p.m. Audience Q & A
5:30 p.m. Event Concludes
We look forward to celebrating International Darwin Day with you here at the University of Delaware!
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged: https://ud.alumniq.com/index.cfm/events:register/home/eventId/9322
More information about our past UD Darwin Day celebrations: https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/cas/news-events/annual-lectures-and-symposia/darwin-day/
Darwin Day is sponsored by the University of Delaware’s College of Arts & Sciences and the CAPE Committee.
