Charles Darwin's 197th birthday is this Sunday, and Penn Philosophy professor Michael Weisberg is ready to celebrate.
To honor the father of evolution, Weisberg is coordinating the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology's first Darwin Day celebration, an event complete with birthday cake, guest speakers and friendly games of badminton -- Darwin's favorite sport.
Weisberg primarily studies the philosophy of science. And as an advocate for more evolution education in America's schools, Weisberg has had a busy year.
A court case last fall over the role of Darwinism in Pennsylvania public schools cast a media spotlight on the issue, and Weisberg says it is his obligation to weigh in.
The judge in that case ruled against the reading in science classrooms of a brief statement indicating that evolution is only a theory and that intelligent design -- the idea that life is so complex that it must be the work of an unspecified creator -- is a possible alternative. Weisberg said that there remains significant "anti-evolution" sentiment, and his long-term goal is to "understand the source of this resistance."
Weisberg feels that not enough time is devoted to teaching evolution in schools and that evolution should be a "central focus" of high school curricula; instead of only being discussed briefly in high school biology classes, it should be "taught at age-appropriate levels throughout the curriculum," he added
And Darwin Day, Weisberg hopes, will promote knowledge of Darwin's theory of evolution.
Throughout the day, professors will host short "teach-in" talks on the theories of evolution and natural selection, as well as on broader topics like the evolution of culture.
As part of the Evolution Project at the University Museum -- a wider endeavor to encourage evolution education -- Darwin Day is "a good first step in bringing these scientific ideas to the public's attention," Weisberg said.
The event will also feature public readings of Darwin's works, and the first 25 to participate will receive a copy of On the Origin of Species, Darwin's seminal work.
"For me, it's the ideas that are worth celebrating," Weisberg said. "We can't really understand who we are without them."
In addition to his work on Darwin Day, Weisberg hopes to help with public school teacher training in evolutionary science.
Mainly, he hopes that people will "identify" with Darwin's ideas and find reasons to celebrate them.
Darwin Day is the University Museum's first large event focusing on evolution and is part of an International Darwin Day movement, which includes Darwin-related events around the world.
