Darwin aged 9

Devon Humanists have launched this website to celebrate Darwin 200 and are looking for articles relating to Charles Darwin’s discoveries and his impact on the world.

2009 sees two major anniversaries relating to Darwin, one of the greatest scientists that ever lived. His 200th birthday falls on 12 February, and on 24 November it will be 150 years since the publication of his greatest work. February 12 is celebrated throughout the world as Darwin Day.

Darwin’s ideas – stimulated by his participation in the influential voyage of HMS Beagle which sailed from Plymouth in 1831 – were finally published in 1859 as On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.

Darwin showed that evolution – the idea that living organisms change form over time and that the process could be controlled by natural selection – explains the origin of the varied species of animals and plants that inhabit the Earth. The implication that humans are related to the rest of the animal kingdom transformed the way we see ourselves, and his theories had great implications for the fields of theology, history, literature, environmental science, archaeology and the visual arts.

Darwin in 1880

In 1861, Darwin stayed in Torquay at Meadfoot House for six weeks. In addition, evidence about the antiquity of humanity – which challenged Biblical ideas of the age of the earth – was found in Torquay’s Kent’s Cavern.

Devon Humanists encourage you to join us in celebrating Darwin’s life and work, and are inviting contributions of up to 1,500 words on Darwin-related themes to include on the website. To submit an article, please email it to:

submissions@darwin200devon.org.uk