Once again Darwin Day in the U.S. is centered in Connecticut! Thanks to the hard work of our friends at the American Humanist Association, Connecticut Senator Blumenthal and Connecticut Representative Himes have sponsored resolutions in the House and Senate calling for the recognition of February 12th as Darwin Day again this year. In addition, our friends at the Secular Coalition for Connecticut have asked for and received a Darwin Day proclamation from Governor Lamont!
There will be a number of Darwin Day celebrations throughout the state:
On the evening of February 8th, the Southern Connecticut Darwin Day dinner, co-sponsored by our friends at the Humanists and Free Thinkers of airfield County, kicks off at the Italian Center in Stamford with a cocktail hour at 6:00pm. The cost this year is only $64 per person ($69 if you respond after February 1st). After the cocktail hour, attendees will enjoy a full sit-down dinner, cash bar, a science quiz (with fabulous prizes!), a presentation by Dr. Steven Novella, a clinical neurologist and assistant professor in Neurological Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine on “Science Denial, Darwin, and Evolutionary Theory” and possibly brief talks by Senator Blumenthal and Representative Himes on the importance of science and reason.
Also each year the Southern CT Darwin Day Dinner Committee invites local high school and junior college students who are passionate about science to join the celebration (and to help their tables with the Science Quiz!). Their attendance is paid for by attendees and committee benefactors so please consider making a donation of any amount to facilitate this effort when you purchase your tickets. Better: bring your own high school students!
The Rational Association of Free Thinkers and the History department at Fairfield University have a standing exhibit up now until February 15 with books by or about Darwin from the Library’s collection in the inner lobby at the DiMenna-Nyselius Library. This year they are highlighting the Beagle’s stops in Australia. At 5:00 p.m. on the 12th, there will be a small ceremony with a big birthday cake in the outer lobby of DiMenna-Nyselius Library. And who doesn’t like a cake decorated with a platypus?
On February 22, the Connecticut Valley Atheists will be having a gathering in South Windsor. They will be having a Darwin and freethinker trivia contest and a best atheist joke contest. Snacks, pizza, and soft drinks served.
DARWIN DAY is an international celebration of science and humanity held on or around Charles Darwin’s February 12th birthday. It celebrates the discoveries and life of the man and expresses gratitude for the enormous benefits that scientific knowledge, acquired through human curiosity and ingenuity, has contributed to the advancement of humanity.
