Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday is to be celebrated with a series of free events at London’s Natural History Museum.
The highlight of the day will be exclusive screenings of two artist films which reflect both the scientific and social concerns of Darwin’s theory, these will be followed by a discussion with the artists. Museum visitors can also spend some of their lunch break listening to a a free public talk about Darwin’s relevance today by the Museum’s Dr Sandy Knapp.
Other events at the Museum include Annie’s Box, a free puppet performance available in the galleries inspired by Charles Darwin’s daughter, Annie, and her writing box. Annie’s Box uses puppetry to convey some of the stories relating to the Darwin children and young people who had conversations with him in and around his home village of Downe.
Darwin himself will join the celebrations when his gallery character walks the Museum enabling visitors talk to the birthday boy and find out about his life and some of his theories.
The series of event are part of Darwin200, a national programme to celebrate Charles Darwin’s scientific ideas, impact and influence, around the two-hundredth anniversary of his birth.
The Museum is at the centre of the celebrations and launched its first Darwin200 events in July 2008, when a statue of Charles Darwin was moved to overlook the iconic Central Hall.
The celebrations continue with the current blockbuster exhibition Darwin.
Website: www.nhm.ac.uk
