Instructify

Two great historical figures (both with equally great beards) were born on February 12th, 1809. One of them was a well-known “Honest” politician from Illinois named Abe. The other was a British scientist named Charles Darwin, whose theory of natural selection changed our understanding of every living creature on the planet.

This Thursday, February 12th, would have been Mr. Darwin’s 200th birthday. Despite the role that natural selection plays in favoring characteristics that give a species its best chance for survival, no one expected Charles to live to be 200 years old. But that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate his birthday!

In fact, the Darwin Day Celebration website lists nearly 600 Darwin-related events scheduled in 40 different countries. Teachers and students can find events in their area by simply typing in an address. If you’ve organized your own Darwin Day event, the event registration page allows you to share it with the world. And of course, the website also provides information about the theory of natural selection and how it relates to the mechanisms of evolution.

“More generally, Darwin Day expresses gratitude for the enormous benefits that scientific knowledge, acquired through human curiosity and ingenuity, has contributed to the advancement of humanity.” So this Thursday, take off that top hat, put the Emancipation Proclamation back on the shelf, and show how highly evolved you are by throwing a birthday party for Mr. Charles Darwin. –JIMI RADABAUGH

Darwin Day