ESF Celebrates Darwin Day Feb. 17

02/12/2016

ESF will host its annual celebration of International Darwin Day Wednesday, Feb. 17, in F. Franklin Moon Library.

The event will feature posters, created by students, that highlight research in evolutionary biology.

"Given what active researchers Darwin and Wallace were, the students' work is a fitting tribute," said Dr. Rebecca Rundell, who teaches the class. "Darwin Day is a way of expressing our gratitude for the enormous benefits that scientific knowledge, acquired through human curiosity and ingenuity, has contributed to the advancement of humanity."

Students in the Principles of Evolution class are investigating some of the most compelling research in evolutionary biology from 2015 and 2016 and creating mini-posters to highlight that research. Posters will be on display for three weeks beginning Feb. 17 in the library's main reading room. During the College Hour, 12:45 to 1:40 p.m., the library will give away a permanent bookplate in honor of the occasion. The library also offers a display of books by and about Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

International Darwin Day is celebrated around the world each year in February to commemorate Darwin's birthday, Feb. 12. The ESF event is the only such observance in Syracuse.

Darwin and Wallace were the first to describe biological evolution via natural selection in a scientifically rigorous way. In 1859, Darwin published his famous book, On the Origin of Species.