About the Year of Darwin Events
In 2007 an ad hoc group of Case faculty began developing plans for a Case-wide celebration of Darwin and evolution to begin in 2008 and extend into 2009. This celebration will include a series of special events relating to Charles Darwin and evolution as well as school- and department-sponsored events on related topics.
Charles Darwin was born in 1809 (February 12, same day as Abraham Lincoln), making 2009 the 200th anniversary of his birth. In addition, 2009 is the 150th anniversary of the publication (November 24, 1859) of "On the Origin of Species." We have chosen to begin our celebration in 2008 at the beginning of the 2008-2009 academic year to commemorate the 170th anniversary of Darwin's conceiving of natural selection, which occurs on September 28, 2008.
Mission and Vision
The primary rationale for proposing a series of events to commemorate these anniversaries, in some cases for an academic audience and in other cases for a general audience, is to make apparent to all the full breadth and depth of the evidence for evolution and the profound importance and wide applicability of evolutionary ideas and approaches in varied spheres of intellectual and practical endeavor.
This mission is all the more necessary in light of the recent controversies relating to the teaching of evolution versus a putative alternative. That debate was often focused on matters of minimal scientific interest and importance. Furthermore, the clashes pertaining to the teaching of evolution frequently had the effect of diverting attention from the enormous advances in evolutionary studies and the substance of real controversies in the academic evolution community. Finally, the discussions pertaining to putative alternatives to biological evolution often promulgated misapprehensions regarding the nature and mechanisms of evolution.
Speakers and Events
In support of this mission, more than fifteen faculty members, drawn from several schools (Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine) at Case, have assembled a list of individuals whom they have invited to speak at the university for a core series of events beginning in the fall of 2008 and extending into 2009. All of the speakers are noted for their contributions to the understanding of evolution or to the public appreciation of evolution. Current plans are to tie existing annual events to the Darwin theme and to hold other lectures and performances throughout the year with a goal of having at least one thematic event per month. As plans are finalized we'll begin listing the event details on this site.