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CHARLES ROBERT DARWIN
February 12, 1809 to April 19, 1882

A Global Celebration

Darwin Day is an international celebration of science and humanity held on or around February 12, the day that Charles Darwin was born on in 1809. Specifically, it celebrates the discoveries and life of Charles Darwin -- the man who first described biological evolution via natural selection with scientific rigor. 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.

The Darwin Day Celebration website provides resources and publicity for individuals and institutions across the world to celebrate science and humanity every year, on, or near, February 12, Darwin's birthday. In addition to information about the life and legacy of Charles Darwin, this website provides practical examples, advice and templates for organizing and publicizing Darwin Day events. It also provides a directory of events where you can find celebrations taking place near you or register your own event for others to find.

Recognizing science as an international language accessible to all individuals and societies, the Darwin Day Celebration provides a new global holiday that transcends separate nationalities and cultures. Darwin Day can be celebrated in many different ways: civic ceremonies with official proclamations, educational symposia, birthday parties, art shows, book discussions, lobby days, games, protests, and dinner parties. Organizers may include: academic societies, science organizations, freethought groups, religious congregations, libraries, museums, galleries, teachers and students, families and friends. In Darwin Day, we are able to recognize the diversity among us, while celebrating our common humanity and the universal understanding we share.

Click here for more on Charles Darwin as the symbol for a global celebration of science and humanity.

Here are ways you can participate:

1. Sponsor and produce a annual Darwin Day EVENT and register it.
2. Issue a Darwin Day Press Release: Use our Press Release Template
3. Download these materials to help organize and promote Darwin Day:
   (Option/Right-Click and choose "Save Target As" to save a file on your computer)
   • Darwin Day Flyer (.rtf)
   • Understanding Darwinian Evolution (.rtf)
   • Bookmarks (.rtf)
   From our partners at the Secular Student Alliance.
   
4. Browse these Links to Darwin Day (DDC) related Websites for ideas on how to create an Event.
5. Provide your e-mail address for our mailing list to receive future communications.
6. Add your name and email address to our list of Supporters and for future communications.
7. Plan to produce a special EVENT for Darwin's Bicentennial birthday and register it for 2009!