Darwin Day Festivities

February 12th is the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. Two hundred candles for him tomorrow. Here is a website with events and what not, Darwin Day Celebration. Near our mountain Darwin Day is being celebrated at the Gray Fossil Site. You can meet Darwin "in the flesh" at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

Throughout the day on Thursday and continuing through Saturday, a popular video series on the topic of evolution will be shown in Eastman Credit Union Multi-Media Classroom. Additional informational handouts concerning Charles Darwin and his work will be available for visitors interested in natural selection, the scientific process, and the legacy that Darwin left.

Darwin Day will conclude with a visit from the noted scientist Himself. That’s right-- Charles Darwin will make an appearance at the Museum at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday to speak with visitors about his personal reflections on the period in which he formulated his theory of Natural Selection. Of course, we have learned much about the mechanics of Natural Selection in the 150 years since the publishing of Darwin’s life’s work, “On the Origin of Species”. Luckily, ETSU professor, Dr. Lev Yampolsky will act as a modern interpreter, expanding on Darwin’s theories to include modern breakthroughs in genetics which serve to better explain the complex process of evolution by natural selection.

Visitors on Saturday will also be able to join in the festivities of Darwin Day with videos, activities, and two free public talks. ETSU professor in Biological Sciences, Dr. Foster Levy, will speak on the role of disease in Southern Appalachian Trees and Forests at 2:00 p.m., while visitors will once again get the chance to see Darwin in the “flesh” at 3:00 p.m.

The ETSU and GSB Natural History Museum and Visitor Center at the Gray Fossil Site is located less than two miles from Exit 13 on I-26. The museum is open from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. seven days a week. For additional information, call the museum toll-free at 1-866-202-6223 or visit www.grayfossilmuseum.org.

Enjoy!!