Darwin’s Evolution

2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin, founder of the Theory of Evolution. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation joins research institutes, museums and organisations from all areas of society, across the globe, in celebrating Darwin’s birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his masterpiece, The Origin of Species, which includes his revolutionary theory of evolution by natural selection.

On 12th February 2009, the Darwin’s Evolution exhibition opens at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon, to coincide with Darwin’s actual birthday, and promises to be a blockbuster.

But the celebrations go beyond the exhibition. The lecture series: Darwin: on the road to evolution brings to Lisbon some of the leading evolutionary biologists of today, and experts on Darwin and his scientific heritage.

The Educational programme, introduces teachers and students to the exhibition, and provides follow-up material, to be used in the classroom, after the visit, including an invitation from the IGC.

There is also a blog, where everyone is invited to comment on the legacy of Charles Darwin, including that of the cumbersome but best-selling tome On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life.

Here at the IGC several research groups dedicate their research to Darwin’s legacy: the study of the genetic bases of variation and adaptive evolution. Click here to find out who they are and more about their research.

If you are a teacher or are interested in our Darwin-inspired experiments for 5-17 year olds read more here.