Darwin Day 2025 Celebration at the McClung
2025-02-23 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Drive, Knoxville, Tennesee
Mark your calendars, Charles Darwin is turning 216! Join museum educators and UT scientists at the McClung’s annual celebration of Darwin Day. Visitors are welcome to engage in family-friendly activity stations exploring themes of deep time, evolution, and adaptation. It will be a party. Come get ready to take pictures with a giant Darwin puppet!
Guests may also bring their personal rock collections to be identified by experts.
The event if free but participants must register in advance.
Date: Sunday, February 23
Time: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
**Tickets available starting February 10 **

The Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Program at Texas A&M University presents: An Annual Celebration of All Things Biology
2025-02-28 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | The Gardens at TAMU, 556 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX, 77843, United States
Although Monday, February 12th is the 216th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, we will officially celebrate our Darwin Day event this year on February 28th. Family friendly, food trucks, scavenger hunt, local artists, and more!
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.”

Darwin Day 2025: Celebrating a Century of Change Since the Scopes Monkey Trial
2025-03-17 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, United States
2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the so-called Scopes “Monkey” Trial. In July 1925 in tiny Dayton, Tennessee, first-year coach and math/physics teacher John Scopes was put on trial for violating Tennessee’s newly passed law criminalizing the teaching of human evolution in public schools. Scopes’s trial became a sensational global news story and stoked a national debate about evolution and who controls the curriculum of public schools. During his trial, Scopes was largely forgotten, as religious leader (and former progressive politician) William Jennings Bryan faced off against famed defense attorney and agnostic Clarence Darrow.
Although Scopes’s conviction was overturned 18 months later, the echoes from the cultural divide exposed at the Scopes Trial continue to reverberate in American society. Come and hear about the famed “Monkey Trial,” the varied fates of its participants, and why the Scopes Trial still matters today.
This event is free and open to the public. Register Now!

Iowa City Darwin Day: Science Fest
2025-04-04 - 2025-04-05
Welcome to Iowa City Darwin Day: Science Fest, a grand celebration of science and its many contributions to humanity!
We will welcome three speakers for talks on Friday April 4th and Saturday April 5th, 2025
All events are free and open to the public

Central New York Humanist Association's Darwin Day Celebration 2026
2026-02-01 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | North Syracuse Public Library, 100 Trolley Barn Lane, North Syracuse, NY, 13212, United States
Please join us to celebrate the birthday of Charles Darwin. We’ll watch a video about a timely science-related topic, and have time for discussion and science-themed snacks before wrapping up with a Darwin-themed trivia game, created by Amy, our trivia master!
If you’re feeling inspired, please bring a science-themed baked good or snack to share! We will be in the Community Room, to the right after you enter the library.​
Link to RSVP (optional): https://actionnetwork.org/events/darwin-day-celebration-2025?source=direct_link&

Darwin Day Tyler 2026
2026-02-05 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Phoenix) | Tyler Junior College, 1327 S. Baxter Ave, Tyler, TX, TX, 757011, United States
Join us in the Apache Rooms for Darwin Day Tyler 2026
Keynote Speaker is Dr. David DeGregori. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics in the School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz

Darwin Day Trivia
2026-02-06 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | University of Louisville, 2100 S. Floyd Street, Louisville, KY, 40208, United States
Celebrate science, curiosity, and the legacy of Charles Darwin with an evening of fun and friendly competition! Join us for a fast-paced trivia event featuring questions about evolution, natural history, famous discoveries, and surprising facts from across the biological world. Whether you’re a seasoned science buff or just love learning new things, come test your knowledge, enjoy good company, and honor the spirit of discovery that defines Darwin Day.
Free snacks & stickers will be available!

Darwin Day Speaker and Hub Anniversary Party
2026-02-07 16:30 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Secular Hub, 3100 Downing St. #C, Denver, CO, 80246, United States
Where:
Secular Hub
254 Knox Ct
Denver, CO, 80205

13 Years of The Hub & The Fight for Science! Celebrate two milestones in one night!

The Talk: Nick Schweitzer explores the fascinating (and often controversial) history of evolution in our legal and education systems.
The Milestone: It’s our 13th Birthday! We’re celebrating over a decade of skeptical inquiry and community.
The Fun: After the Q&A, we’re throwing an anniversary bash you won’t want to miss.

Come for the science, stay for the celebration. Doors Open at 5:30, talk at 6:00 with Q & A to follow and anniversary celebration after that wraps up
Speaker
Nick Schweitzer John Nicholas (“Nick”) Schweitzer is a retired attorney living in Madison, Wisconsin. His legal field was professional ethics, serving as an administrative law judge for the state agency that issued and regulated licenses for scores of professions. He also taught legal ethics as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and conducted attorney discipline hearings for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Utterly unrelated to that professional focus, he fancies himself an “amateur scientist”, promoting science and reason in various ways:

1. He has inveigled the Madison Parks Commission into letting him install various scientific exhibits in city parks over the past 20 years. These include – the solar system at an appropriate scale for objects and distances; – a geological and evolutionary timeline using distance as an analog for time; – an anthropological timeline from Australopithecus to modern humans; – the electromagnetic spectrum from sound to gamma rays; – the size of the constituents of the classical model of an atom; and – the layers of the earth.
2. In response to a creationist booth he encountered at the Dane County Fair, for 3 years he countered it on the other side of the exhibit hall with a “science and reason” booth using exhibits borrowed from many departments at the local university.
3. This past year (April – November), with the help of the local Humanist and Skeptics groups, he set up and staffed an atheist/agnostic/humanist/skeptic/freethinker table at the weekly farmers’ market in Madison.
4. He leads a monthly discussion group at his freethought congregation titled “What I Believe Now”.
5. He has presented this “Evolution in the Courts” lecture at least half a dozen times to students in the local university’s genetics program.

6. He was at one time the co-chair of the Wisconsin chapter of the Secular Coalition before the national organization disbanded its state chapters.

Hosted by: Pete Haines

18th Annual Darwin Day Dinner - Celebrating curiosity, science and scientists
2026-02-07 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s, 2748 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT, 06820, United States
Evolution in Darwin’s Tangled Bank: Tree, Coral or Web of Life? In the final paragraph of The Origin of Species, Darwin contemplates a bank of land and all of the differing life forms that dwell on that bank—plants, birds, worms, etc. All of these various life forms were produced by the same set of natural laws. While the life forms are widely different from each other, they are also “dependent on each other in so complex a manner.”
Our guest of honor, University of Connecticut’s Distinguished Professor Dr. J. Peter Gogarten, will explore the symbiotic relationships and genetic exchange between different organisms in his presentation, followed by a fireside chat moderated by Kira Dineen (founder and host of DNA Today) and audience Q&A.
Join us on February 7th, 2026 for cocktail hour, dinner, science quiz (with prizes!), and a presentation by Distinguished Professor J. Peter Gogarten.

ESNW Darwin Day
2026-02-08 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Ethical Society of Northern Westchester, 108 Pinesbridge Road, Ossining, NY, United States
“ESNW Darwin Day” Join in Celebration of Science, Nature and the Theory of Evolution

Attend In-Person at 108 Pinesbridge Road • Ossining, NY
OR
Click here to attend the platform meeting via Zoom
Sunday, February 8th at 11:00 AM:
It’s been a rough year for science, so our annual Darwin Day platform is the perfect antidote.
Come join Katrine Bangsgaard and Bill Kline for stories of some good news in science, a consideration of Darwin and ethics, some inspiration, and of course songs, featuring new original music by member, poet, and songwriter Adam Stockman.

Darwin Day 2026 at the McClung Museum
2026-02-08 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Drive, Knoxville, Tennesee
Darwin Day 2026!

Come celebrate Charles Darwin’s birthday at the McClung Museum!
Mark your calendars, Charles Darwin is turning 217! Join museum educators and UT scientists at the McClung’s annual celebration of Darwin Day. Visitors are welcome to engage in family-friendly activity stations exploring themes of deep time, evolution, and adaptation. It will be a party. Come ready to take pictures with a giant Darwin puppet!
The event if free but participants must register in advance.
Date: Sunday, February 8
Time: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Support for Darwin Day provided by:
UT Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UT Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences
Funding for the McClung Museum’s educational programming has been provided by the Knox County Tourism Consortium.

Darwin Day at A-State Museum
2026-02-09 08:00 - 2026-02-28 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Arkansas State University, 101 North Caraway Road, Jonesboro, AR, 72401, United States
The Darwin Day activities at Arkansas State University kick off with an exhibit at A-State Museum, located at 320 University Loop, inside Dean B. Ellis Library.
JONESBORO – This year, the Darwin Day activities at Arkansas State University kick off with an exhibit at A-State Museum, located at 320 University Loop, inside Dean B. Ellis Library.
“The exhibit will feature fossils and specimens of different plants and animals that no longer live in Arkansas, and in some cases, no longer live anywhere on earth,” said Dr. Drew Sweet, associate professor of evolutionary biology.
Sweet said that Arkansas once looked very different from what it does now, and the exhibit will showcase how both plant and animal life have changed.
“The exhibit will also focus on some plants and animals that are not extinct yet, but are not doing very well. We still have time to save them, but we need people to be aware,” added Sweet.
The exhibit will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, through Saturday, Feb. 28.
A panel discussion, Darwin Day: Extinction and De-Extinction, will be held from 4 – 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in room 157 of A-State Museum.
“Organisms have been going extinct at an increasingly faster rate over the last several centuries,” Sweet continued. “One approach to counteracting high extinction rates is ‘de-extinction,’ which seeks to use cutting-edge biotechnology to resurrect previously extinct species. However, some approaches to de-extinction are controversial, and it is important to have discussions about the ethics of these approaches.”
This panel discussion will feature experts from the A-State community, including biologists and philosophers.
On Thursday, Feb. 12, the keynote speaker for the Darwin Day events will speak on “The Elephant from Heaven and the Chicken from Hell: Does De-extinction Make Sense?” This event will be held from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of A-State Museum.
Dr. Gregory Kaebnick, director of the research department and editor of the Hastings Center Report at the Hastings Center for Bioethics, will speak about ethical issues surrounding the resurrection of previously extinct species.
Those who cannot attend the event in person can still attend online: https://RedWolv.es/DeExtinct.

Darwin Week 2026
2026-02-09 08:00 - 2026-04-15 17:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Indian INstitute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81 SAS Nagar Knowledge City, Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India
This is a weeklong event where various biology-related events are organized such as,
1. Connections – this is a game type event related to biology
2. Biology quiz – this is a themed biology quiz
3. WHO-MUN – this is a mun taken WHO as its setting and Biological problems are the agenda
4. treasure hunt – this is a campus wide treasure hunt which has questions having a biological twist to them
5. guest talk – we have guest talk from an esteemed professor in india for the students
6. movie screening – a movie is screened for the students which have a biological angle
7. bio-hackathon – a hackathon is organized which have biological questions

Darwin Day at UVU 2026
2026-02-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Utah Valley University Science Building 134, 800 W University Parkway, Orem, 84058, United States
We celebrate Darwin Day at Utah Valley University every year! This year our keynote Is Dr. Jessica Ware from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. She will be speaking on the “Insect evolution: dragonflies and damselflies through space and time”. We also will have activities happening in the Atrium area, and birthday cake immediately following the talk at 1:00

DIA de DARWIN na Livraria da Travessa
2026-02-09 18:00 (America/Sao_Paulo) | Livraria da Travessa Shopping Leblon, Av. Afranio de Melo Franco, 290 - loja 205 A, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Talkshow presented by science journalist Sergio M C Brandão at the Travessa bookshop, at the Shopping Leblon mall in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sergio discusses “The evolution of Evolution” with 2 scientists, Ricardo Campos da Paz (Biologist and Lecturer at UNIRIO) and Diógenes A. Campos (Paleontologist and Curator of the Earth Sciences Museum).

2026 Darwin Festival
2026-02-10 - 2026-02-13 | Salem State University, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Salem State’s annual Darwin FestivalSM is a weeklong event that celebrates the work of Charles Darwin, with sessions from leading researchers celebrating the field of biology and its impact on today’s world.
2026 Darwin Festival
The 2025 Darwin FestivalSM will take place Tuesday, February 10 through Friday, February 13.
All in-person talks will be held in Vets Hall, Ellison Campus Center, North Campus. One talk is webinar only. Events are free and open to the public.
Students and guests who anticipate needing accommodations due to a disability or who have questions about access may contact the Center for Accessible Academic Resources at access@salemstate.edu or Ryan Fisher for more information.

Tuesday, February 10

10:50 am

David Shiffman (webinar), Interdisciplinary marine conservation biologist, David Shiffman Scientific and Environmental Consulting, Washington, DC
“Why everything you know about shark conservation is wrong: an interdisciplinary look at public misunderstanding of conservation science”
Sharks are some of the most ecologically important, most threatened, and most misunderstood animals on Earth. If we are to avoid extinction of animals that have been around since before trees existed on land, strong conservation protections based on evidence and data are an urgent necessity. Fortunately, more people care about the environment and want to help than ever before. Unfortunately, ocean conservation discussions are plagued by misinformation, pseudoscience, and extremism. In this talk, Dr. David Shiffman will present some key results from his decade of work trying to understand the causes and consequences of public misunderstanding of ocean conservation threats and their solutions. Where did so many people learn wrong information about these important topics, and what can experts do to get things moving in the right way?
Sponsored by the Biology Department.

12:15 pm
Shaina Sadai (Geography and Sustainability Speaker), Climate Scientist and Critical Physical Geographer, Five College Associate, MA
“Sea Level Rise and Multispecies Climate Justice”
Climate change is causing sea levels to rise at an accelerating rate, impacting shorelines around the world. The long-term impacts will occur over generations and will be highly spatially variable along coastlines. Sea level rise impacts and adaptation responses vary geographically and affect all who dwell in or move through coastal spaces. The emerging lens of multispecies climate justice allows us to look deeper into the interrelated ecologies of climate impacts by considering a broad assessment of interrelated beings and ecosystems. This talk will discuss research on the global impacts of sea level rise on nonhuman animals, and implications for advancing multispecies climate justice. This work was a collaborative project with my former undergraduate students Ava Sharpe, Rory Crisfield, Libby Rankin, and Caitlin Bolzan.
Sponsored by the Charles Albert Read Trust.

Wednesday, February 11

9:25 am
Jayne Yack (BioSociety Speaker–webinar), Professor, Carleton University
“The Final Frontier: Exploring the Vibratory Worlds of Insects”
Insects live in a vibratory world, where substrate-borne vibrations are a key component of their sensory ecology. Historically considered a private and specialized communication channel, vibratory sensing and communication is now recognized as widespread and ecologically relevant to many organisms. Insects inhabit complex vibroscapes where they experience substrate-borne vibrations arising from multiple biotic and abiotic sources, which together create a rich and dynamic vibratory landscape. I will talk about my laboratory’s research on the complex vibroscapes of birch trees, and specifically, their caterpillar residents. Although previously thought to be primarily deaf and mute, we now have burgeoning evidence that caterpillars and other larval insects employ a wide range of complex sounds and vibrations in their daily activities. I will talk about how caterpillars use vibrations to engage in territorial ‘rap’ battles, coordinate social activities, and fend off enemies. I will also discuss unexpected insights we have gained from studying these unassuming creatures in their vibratory worlds, including the evolutionary origins of animal communication signals and proximate mechanisms underlying sociality. It can be concluded that the vibroacoustic landscape of insects remains unchartered territory ripe for further exploration and discovery!
Sponsored by the Charles Albert Read Trust.

12:15 pm
Dana Reuter (Geological Sciences speaker), Visting Lecturer, Department of Geological Sciences, Salem State University
“Investigating the influence of diet on mammalian evolution: are you what you eat?”
Darwin well knew that climate and its effects on food availability in the environment played a major role in natural selection. In the almost 200 years since his writings, we have learned much more about how an animal’s diet is linked to almost every other aspect of its ecology and evolution. As a paleontologist, I use a variety of methods to test hypotheses about the ecological links among extinct taxa and their environment. By both looking at the fossil record and modern animals, we can better understand the processes that govern organismal diet, ecological diversity, and changes in ecological communities. In this talk, I will discuss insights from several projects that have aimed to answer the question: how has diet influenced mammalian evolution and extinction through time?
Sponsored by the Charles Albert Read Trust.

Thursday, February 12

9:25 am
Lynn Fletcher, Professor, Department of Biology, Salem State University
“Evolving Worldviews and their Impacts: Bringing in Indigenous Perspectives”
Worldviews shape our relationship to the life around us. Today’s ecological crisis is primarily driven by human activity, leaving us with the impression that humans inherently have a negative impact on the planet. However, indigenous cultures have persisted for millennia, living in ways that promote biodiversity and create conditions of mutual thriving. We’ll discuss some of the values held in Indigenous worldviews and see how humans can have a positive impact on the world around them!
Sponsored by the Charles Albert Read Trust.

10:50 am
Leigh Ann Henion (webinar), New York Times Bestselling Author, Journalist & Award Winner, Author of Night Magic
“Appreciating the Magic of Natural Night”
Leigh Ann Henion is the New York Times bestselling author of Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark (2024) and Phenomenal: A Hesitant Adventurer’s Search for Wonder in the Natural World (2015). Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Smithsonian, Backpacker, Garden & Gun, National Geographic, Men’s Journal, and a variety of other publications. Her essays and articles have been cited as notable in The Best American Essays, The Best American Travel Writing, The Best American Sports Writing, and The Best American Science & Nature Writing. She is a former Alicia Patterson Fellow, and her work has been supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Night Magic was, in part, inspired by an article Henion wrote for The Washington Post Magazine about synchronous fireflies. After that piece ran, many readers reached out to let her know that they’d started turning off their porch lights more often, and she was amazed that her story had inspired real-world action that led to reduced light pollution. Henion subsequently spent several years in the company of owls, moths, salamanders, and other nocturnal creatures to explore the importance of natural darkness in an age of increasing artificial light.
The Wall Street Journal called Night Magic, “lovely…truly inspired…and very clever.” In a starred review, Kirkus said, “Henion writes with poetic grace.” And Publishers Weekly reported, “Henion’s greatest gift is her ability to evoke the sense of wonder that follows from tuning in to the natural world. This will fill readers with awe.” Henion aims to continually inspire awe, both in person and on the page.
Sponsored by the Biology Department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Charles Albert Read Trust.

1:40 pm
Erica Polleys, Ph.D. (Sigma Xi Speaker) Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Endicott College
“A genomic threat: How repetitive DNAs cause DNA damage and mutations”
Sponsored by the Biology Department.

Alumni-Student Social
Please consider joining us for an alumni-student evening from 6:30-9 pm Thursday evening in the commuter lounge of the Ellison Campus Center. For questions and to RSVP, please contact Ryan Fisher.

Friday, February 13

9:25 am
Lindsay Green-Gavrielidis, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Salem State University
“Evolving Ecosystems: Seaweeds in a Changing Climate”
When most people visit the seashore and decide to poke around to look at organisms, they are typically focused on the animals and especially the ones they see moving. While seaweeds might be overlooked by many, they form the base of most marine ecosystems. Habitat-forming seaweeds are those that form the three-dimensional structure of coastal habitats and include many species of rockweeds and kelps. Due to the combined effects of climate change, especially increased sea surface temperature, the abundance and distribution of habitat-forming seaweeds have been changing. These changes are likely to cause ripple effects through entire coastal marine ecosystems that may affect which species are present and in what quantities. In this talk, Dr. Green-Gavrielidis will share research on how habitat-forming seaweeds in the northwest Atlantic are changing, and offer a glimpse at what may be local adaptation in seaweed populations to changing conditions. Dr. Green-Gavrielidis will also highlight findings from other temperate regions and propose future research areas to better understand the complexity of the response of seaweeds to climate change stressors.
Sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific.

10:50 am
James Elliott (Alumni Speaker) Process Development Scientist, New England Biolabs
“Of Moose and Men: Evolutionary Threads in Wildlife Disease and Vaccine Manufacturing”
Moose calves (Alces alces americana) in northern climates face substantial nutritional stress during winter, and many carry extraordinary winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) burdens—sometimes exceeding 90,000 ticks per animal. To date, nearly 400 collared calves and 51 adult cows in northern Maine have been examined for how co-infection with an uncharacterized Anaplasma bacteria and varying winter tick loads influences survival and fitness. Calves experiencing both Anaplasma blood infection and moderate to heavy tick loads showed a marked reduction in overwinter survival probability. Physiological indicators suggest that Anaplasma infection contributes to anemia and may alter immune function. These findings highlight how co-infecting parasites compound stress in a population already challenged by climate-driven tick proliferation, underscoring the importance of genetic and ecological monitoring for a species of major cultural, ecological, and economic significance in Maine.
The second section part of the talk shifts to the molecular manufacturing landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing an Alumni’s journey to being a part of how New England Biolabs mobilized to support Moderna’s mRNA vaccine program. I describe the rapid scaling and manufacturing process development of critical enzymatic reagents and the collaborative problem-solving required to maintain uninterrupted access to high-quality raw materials essential for vaccine production. This high level behind-the-scenes view illustrates how industrial biotechnology can respond with speed and precision when the stakes are global.
Sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Founded in 1980 by Philip A. DePalma and Virginia F. Keville.
Questions?
Students and guests who anticipate needing accommodations due to a disability or who have questions about access may contact the Center for Accessible Academic Resources at access@salemstate.edu.
Interested in the 2025 Darwin FestivalSM? Contact Ryan Fisher for more information.
Past Darwin Festival Recordings
Video recordings of Darwin FestivalSM presentations are available in the Salem State Digital Repository.
Thank You to Our Supporters
Major support for the Darwin FestivalSM comes from the Charles Albert Read Trust and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Darwin Days 2026
2026-02-10 - 2026-02-14 | Paleontological Research Institution, 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Darwin Days 2026 explores the marvelous world of mollusks, evolution education, and more!
February 10th – 14th
Darwin Day is an annual, international commemoration of the birthday and ideas of Charles Darwin, a British naturalist born February 12, 1809, and author of the seminal book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
The first organized Darwin Day events took place in 1995, and were organized by the Humanist Community of Palo Alto, California. The years since have seen Darwin Day celebrations around the world increasing annually at a steady rate.
In 2006, the Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth, in collaboration with Cornell University and Ithaca College, celebrated the first official Darwin Days in Ithaca, New York, with a five-day series of panel discussions, film screenings, speakers, and workshops, aimed at increasing awareness of Darwin’s theory and its relevance today, in the Ithaca community and beyond.
Join us this year from February 10- 14 to celebrate the work of Charles Darwin and the study of evolution. In 2026, Darwin Days dives into the remarkable story of mollusk evolution, inspired by PRI’s special exhibition at the Museum of the Earth, Marvellous Mollusks: The Secret World of Shells.
From film and conversation to hands-on family fun, join us as we explore how these extraordinary animals have adapted, diversified, and thrived for hundreds of millions of years.

UND Darwin Day
2026-02-11 11:15 - 12:15 (America/Chicago) | University of North Dakota, 3051 University Ave, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, United States
Chester Fritz Library, 406 View map

Evolution Students will be celebrating the 217th birthday of Charles Darwin, who discovered evolution by natural selection, changing the course of biological thought. Students will present posters that highlight research by faculty and graduate students in the Department of Biology. Light refreshments will be served.

3051 University Ave, Grand Forks, ND 58202

Taste of ISM: The Human Family Tree (and you!)
2026-02-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Illinois State Museum, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL, 62703, United States
ISM Curator Alex Ruger will guide you through the story of human evolution, how we’ve understood (and misunderstood!) our place on the tree of life, and what exactly it means to be Homo sapiens!

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
12:00 PM to 01:00 PM CST

Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83095927473

Research and Collections Center

1011 East Ash Street
Springfield, Illinois 62703

Who are we, and where do we come from? Lots of people have tried to answer that question. The fossil record tells us a thing or two, but how scientists and popular culture have portrayed human evolution have impacted how we understand it. Curator of Science Education Alex Ruger will take you through what we know about evolution, how we know it, and the various ways the hard science has been misinterpreted and misconstrued. Celebrate Darwin Day with ISM and attend this free lecture from ISM!

For more information, please contact dnr.ism.events@illinois.gov.

Darwin Day at Edelman Fossil Park & Museum
2026-02-12 | Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University, 66 Million Mosasaur Way, Mantua, NJ, 08080, United States
Celebrate Darwin Day, an international event held each year on February 12 to honor the life and legacy of Charles Darwin. Darwin Day recognizes Darwin’s groundbreaking work in science and his theory of evolution by natural selection: the idea that living things change over time as they adapt to their environments. Today, Darwin Day is about curiosity, discovery, and understanding how all life on Earth is connected.
Who was Charles Darwin? Charles Darwin was a 19th-century naturalist whose observations of plants and animals, especially during his travels to places like the Galápagos Islands, helped shape our modern understanding of biology. His work showed how species evolve over generations, inspiring scientific exploration that continues to this day.
Darwin Day Activities Throughout the Museum
Explore evolution in action with hands-on activities and storytelling designed for curious minds of all ages:
Finch Beak Activity
Inspired by Darwin’s famous finch studies, this interactive station challenges kids to pick up different “foods” — like seeds, nuts, beans, pipe cleaners, and marbles — using a variety of tools such as tweezers, clothespins, chopsticks, and binder clips. By experimenting with different tools, visitors discover how beak shapes affect how animals eat. Photos of real finches highlight the incredible diversity of beak shapes found in nature.
Darwin’s Finches Scavenger Hunt
Search the museum for clues in our Darwin’s Finches Secret Message Scavenger Hunt, a fun, self-guided activity. As visitors explore exhibits, they’ll uncover hidden messages that reinforce key ideas about adaptation, observation, and evolution.
Storytime from the Galápagos
Join us for special storytimes featuring books from the Galápagos Conservation Trust:
• Tessa the Giant Tortoise
• Marti the Hammerhead Shark
• Alberto the Waved Albatross
These stories introduce young learners to unique species and habitats while reinforcing themes of conservation, biodiversity, and our connection to the natural world.
Darwin Day at the museum is a celebration of science, storytelling, and hands-on learning – a chance to explore how life evolves and why curiosity matters. Come discover how small differences can make a big impact!
Darwin Day activities are included in Museum admission.

Darwin Day Fun at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum
2026-02-12 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, 75 North Water Street, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, United States
Celebrate Darwin Day with a story and hands-on science!
At 10 a.m., children ages 2-5 will enjoy a storybook reading of Grandmother Fish and the science of evolution. Then, kids of all ages can participate in a STEAM Lab about evolution and Darwin’s finches. Kids will experiment with different “beaks” to see how shape and size affect how birds gather food, discovering how small changes can make a big difference over time.
Included with museum admission.

Ecology and evolution of Amazonian fishes: Assembling the most diverse continental vertebrate assemblage
2026-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Stephen F. Austin State University, 1936 North St, Nacogdoches, TX, 75965, United States
Join the Department of Biology in celebrating Darwin Day Feb. 12 with special guest speaker Dr. James Albert, a distinguished biologist and evolutionary ecologist from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Albert will give his featured talk titled “Ecology and evolution of Amazonian fishes: Assembling the most diverse continental vertebrate assemblage.”

Lunch & Learn: Charles Darwin
2026-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join us for a special Darwin Day Lunch & Learn as we celebrate the birthday of the pioneering naturalist.
This event is at the Vermillion Public Library – 18 Church Street, Vermillion, SD

Lunch & Learn: Charles Darwin
2026-02-12 12:00 - 13:30 (America/North_Dakota/Center) | Vermillion Public Library, 18 Church St., Vermillion, SD, 57069, United States
Join us for a special Darwin Day Lunch & Learn as we celebrate the birthday of the pioneering naturalist.
Widely known as the scientist who wrote The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, join Holly Straub, as she explores Charles Darwin’s legacy.
Whether you’re a science enthusiast or simply curious, this bite-sized session offers a fun way to honor a man who was a great scientist, naturalist, and humanitarian.
Oh, and there will be cake!

"Extreme Weapons: A Natural History" with Dr. Douglas J. Emlen
2026-02-12 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Phoenix) | J.F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 500 Lincoln Dr., Genetics/Biotech Room 1111, Madison, 53706, United States
Wisconsin Evolution
J.F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution
Darwin Day Lecture
Spring 2026

Extreme Weapons: A Natural History
Dr. Douglas Emlen
Montana Regents Professor of Biology, University of Montana
Every animal has a weapon of one sort or another, but the overwhelming majority of weapons stay small. Yet, sprinkled through the tree of life are species where weapons become extreme. Occasionally, human manufactured weapons also evolve to extremes. Dr. Emlen reveals that the same critical conditions trigger arms races in both cases, and the most crucial prerequisite is duels. A journey that begins with biology becomes the story of all weapons, as Dr. Emlen discusses beetles and battleships, crabs and the Cold War.

Virtual viewing information: evolution.wisc.edu/seminars

Co-sponsored by the Center for Ecology and the Environment, the Department of Entomology, and the Department of Integrative Biology.

Darwin Day at the UH Insect Museum
2026-02-12 13:30 - 17:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | University of Hawaii Insect Museum, 3050 Maile Way, Gilmore 607, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
Get ready to celebrate science at Darwin Day 2026! Explore an amazing variety of displays, from the Chong Lab’s planthoppers to mantis shrimps from the Porter Vision Lab and marine critters from the Kewalo Marine Lab. The excitement doesn’t stop with insects; you can also check out birds from Luke Campillo, plants from the Lyon Arboretum, snails from the Bishop Museum, and fascinating biofacts from the Honolulu Zoo Society! Come for the amazing exhibits, and stay to enjoy refreshments and the chance to win prizes!

Ticket Information
Free
Event Sponsor
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Mānoa Campus
More Information
Dan Rubinoff, 808-956-8432, rubinoff@hawaii.edu, https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/insectmuseum/

Darwin Day 2026: Understanding the Diversity of Life Through the Lens of Evolution
2026-02-12 14:15 - 20:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | American College of Greece, Gravias 6, Ag. Paraskevi, 153 42, Greece
Event Details

Darwin Day 2026: Understanding the Diversity of Life Through the Lens of Evolution
When:
Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 14:15 – 20:00
Where:
DC-7th level auditorium – Aghia Paraskevi Campus
Organized by:
Department of Science and Mathematics – The American College of Greece

About the event
On Charles Darwin’s birthday, we join events around the world to celebrate Darwin’s contributions, our understanding of the fact of Evolution, and scientific thinking in general. This exciting, open and free event will feature talks accessible to everyone, taking us from the origins of the first cells to the astounding diversity of complex life on Earth today. The speakers are top experts from the Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid, the Natural History Museum of Basel, the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in Crete and the Hellenic Pasteur Institute, together with scientists from the Science and Mathematics Department of the ACG. Come learn and discuss about evolution and biodiversity in a friendly and informal atmosphere!

Agenda/Program
14:15-14:30
Welcome note and opening remarks
Dr Vasiliki Koutsouveli Part-time instructor, Deree – The American College of Greece
14:30-14:50
“Evolution by natural selection: the greatest innovator of all”
Dr Nikolaos Vakirlis
Group Leader, Hellenic Pasteur Institute and part-time instructor, Deree – The American College of Greece
14:50-15:30
“Snail evolution, climate and Deep Time: from Earth’s Hothouse to Icehouse”
Dr Danae Thivaiou
Researcher, Department of Geosciences, Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Basel, Switzerland
15:30-15:50
“Searching for the Deep Time origins of Darwin’s living fossils: a paleontological perspective”
Dr Thodoris Argyriou
Assistant Professor, Deree – The American College of Greece

15:50-16:10
Coffee break
16:10-16:30
“Searching for the Deep Time origins of Darwin’s living fossils: a paleontological perspective”
Dr Michalis Valahas
Assistant Professor, Deree – The American College of Greece
16:30-17:10
“Evolution of the Cell: from bacteria to neurons”
Dr Alexandros Pittis
Group Leader, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH)
17:10-18:10
KEYNOTE TALK: Evolution of animal sexual reproduction: a perspective from sponges
Dr Ana Riesgo
Tenured Researcher – PI, Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid, Spain
18:10-20:00
Discussion and Networking

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Ana Riesgo
Tenured Researcher – PI, Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid, Spain
Dr. Ana Riesgo is a marine biologist and evolutionary zoologist whose research focuses on the origin and evolution of animal diversity, with a particular emphasis on sponges (Porifera). She graduated from the Complutense University in Madrid (Spain), and then obtained her doctoral degree at the University in Barcelona. She did several postdocs at University of Alberta in Canada and Harvard University in the US, until she landed a permanent position at the Natural History Museum in London. After 5 years, she moved to the Natural Sciences Museum in Madrid, where she now leads a laboratory studying evolution and ecology in marine invertebrates. She combines omics techniques, developmental biology, and molecular ecology to address fundamental questions about early animal evolution, symbiosis, and morphological innovation. Her work has significantly contributed to resolving sponge evolutionary relationships, understanding the evolution of key traits such as skeletons and reproductive strategies, and clarifying the role of microbial associations in sponge biology. Dr. Riesgo has led and participated in numerous national and international research projects and oceanographic expeditions, and her work is widely recognized for bridging classical zoology with modern genomic approaches.

Invited Speakers

Dr. Alexandros Pittis
Group Leader, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH)
Dr. Alexandros Pittis has been a group leader (Researcher C) at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB-FORTH) since early 2024, where he leads the Comparative Genomics Lab. He earned his Biology degree from the University of Athens and completed his Ph.D. at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, under the supervision of Toni Gabaldon. Dr. Pittis’s postdoctoral work includes positions at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the University of British Columbia as an EMBO fellow, the Berlin Institute for Advanced Studies (WIKO) as a fellow of the College for Life Sciences, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) as a Research Associate. His research interests encompass computational biology, protein family evolution, and genomics, with a focus on the molecular complexity and diversity of eukaryotic cell types, and the animal nervous system.

Dr. Danae Thivaiou
Researcher, Department of Geosciences, Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Dr. Danae Thivaiou is a paleobiologist, specialist of Cenozoic molluscs. She studied Biology at the Sorbonne University (formerly Pierre et Marie Curie Paris VI) and specialized in Paleontology through master’s programs on Systematics, Evolution, Paleontology (Sorbonne University and Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France) and Stratigraphy and Paleontology (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece). Her doctoral research focused on molluscs, including their taxonomy, biogeography, and diversity through time, themes that are still central in her research. Since 2023, she has been Curator of Paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Basel, Switzerland, Department of Geosciences, becoming the first woman to hold this position at the institution.

Short Talks

Dr. Thodoris Argyriou
Assistant Professor, Department of Science and Mathematics, Deree – The American College of Greece

Dr. Nikolaos Vakirlis
Group Leader, Hellenic Pasteur Institute and part-time instructor, Deree – The American College of Greece

Dr. Michalis Valahas
Assistant Professor, Department of Science and Mathematics, Deree – The American College of Greece

The event is free and open to the public.
For further clarifications, please contact mfragkos@acg.edu

Darwin Day 2026
2026-02-12 14:30 - 15:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pacific Lutheran University – Rieke Science Center, 12180 Park Ave S, Parkland, WA, 98447, United States
The Biology & Psychology departments will celebrate Darwin Day with science-themed activities – we’d love to have you join us! Darwin Day honors scientific inquiry, persistence, and curiosity. Held every February 12th – marking the birth of Charles Darwin on that day in 1809 – universities and scientific communities around the world commemorate the impact of Darwin’s work, celebrate the interaction of scientific disciplines, and encourage and inspire everyone to get involved in science.

Explore plant and animal specimens from our natural science collections
Learn about the evolution of plants, animals, and language
Play a natural selection game
Ask real-live biologists and psychologists your questions
Enjoy a slice of cake for Darwin’s birthday
Pick up some free science-themed Valentine’s Day cards, Darwin buttons and Darwin stickers

Workshop "Darwin's Turtle"
2026-02-12 14:30 - 17:00 (Europe/Lisbon) | Fábrica Science Centre of Aveiro, Rua dos Santos Mártires, 1A, Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810, Portugal
We’ve all grown fond of the Galapagos Turtle, thanks to Charles Darwin and the years of study he dedicated to it! It’s “obligatory” to pay homage to this extraordinary scientist, and that can be a lot of fun at the Makerspace of Fábrica Science Centre of Aveiro! Come build a friendly modern reptile: with an electrical circuit, top-notch decoration on its shell… and friends nearby!
And because it’s Darwin Day, we’ll have a very special guest: Xana Sá-Pinto, researcher at CIDTFF, University of Aveiro, and member of APBE and the EvoKE network. With her, we’ll hunt for gems to discover what natural selection is and how the evolution of species occurs.
We’re counting on you!

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.
