Happy Birthday Darwin!

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, naturalist and the 'father' of modern evolutionary theory. 2009 also sees the 15oth anniversary of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species', Darwin's seminal work, setting out his exploration of evolution by the process of natural selection.

Celebrating Darwin's achievements, his detailed observations of animals and plants through his voyage on the Beagle and the crystallisation of the theory of evolution on his return to England, should give us pause to consider the situation which the organisms which he so carefully examined, collected and recorded, now find themselves. Conservationists have warned, reported the BBC this morning, that the Galapagos face irreparable damage if tourism to the islands is not curbed. The number of visitors to the Galapagos has quadrupled over the past 20 years, threatening established organisms through the transport of invasive alien species, including the pervasive fire ant, which threatens birds and tortoises, and a species of parasitic fly.

Speaking to the BBC, the director of the Galapagos National Park, Edgar Munoz, acknowledges the challenge but says the Ecuadorian government's actions will tackle the problem. He is hopeful that the threat can be reduced within the next '50 years'. Conservationists have expressed concern however that tackling these insects will not be easy.

Along with many others organising festivals and events around the country to mark these important anniversaries, the BES is celebrating Darwin's life and work by staging two productions of 'Re:Design', a play commissioned by the Darwin Correspondence Project, written by the playwright Craig Baxter, and performed by the Menagerie theatre company in Cambridge. You will be able to see 'Re:Design' either at our Annual Meeting (9 September) or at the British Science Festival (5 September - tbc).

Darwin Exhibition Launches in London

The biggest ever exhibition on the life and work of Charles Darwin has today opened at the Natural History Museum in London.

Highlights of the exhibition, which is on until 19 April 2009, include rare specimens of Galapagos mockingbirds, never before displayed, which were instrumental in the development of Darwin's thinking on the theory of evolution whilst on the HMS Beagle. Other exhibits include live specimens and a recreation of Darwin's study at Down House in Kent.

2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species', and this is the first of a number of events which will run over the course of the next year marking these important milestones. Find out more about these at the 'Darwin 200' website.

New Darwin Initiative Launched

The UK Research Councils and 'Darwin 200', a collection of organisations across the UK planning events and activities to celebrate Darwin's 200th birthday in 2009, have today launched a new website which aims to connect Darwin's work and evolutionary research with the public.

2009 marks both the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, 'On the Origin of Species.' In preparation, the new website will allow the public to contribute podcasts, vodcasts and pose questions to researchers about evolution. The aim is to find out what the public find fascinating, puzzling or difficult about Darwin's work and evolutionary theory in a modern context. This will allow RCUK to gauge what the public would like to see as part of next year's celebratory events.

Access the new website 'Darwin Today: Celebrating Modern Evolutionary Research'