Penn Museum celebrates Darwin's 200th birthday

Despite cold weather and his death 127 years ago, Charles Darwin was in a festive mood yesterday at the University Museum.

Darwin's appearance was part of an "Evolutionary Teach-in" at the museum Sunday afternoon to celebrate Darwin's 200th birthday and his legacy of scientific thought and inquiry. Darwin greeted guests and participated in activities throughout the afternoon.

The event ties into a larger "Year of Evolution Celebration," sponsored by a number of regional organizations. Michael Weisberg, Evolution Project chairman, said in his opening remarks that Philadelphia is unique as "the only city to dedicate a year of study to scientific theory."

Among the offerings to the public yesterday were lectures aimed at both children and adults, exhibits from local organizations with science-related themes, birthday cake and two games - "Evolutionary Twister" and badminton, reportedly Darwin's favorite.

Several speakers discussed various aspects of Darwin's life and work, including Hermann Pfefferkorn, professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Pfefferkorn's lecture was primarily concerned with the concept of time and its implications for evolution, geology and the fossil record. He admitted that it is difficult to imagine what he referred to as "deep time" - the concept of time's vastness. He used a roll of toilet paper to demonstrate the idea, explaining that the time line of man's existence on Earth represented a fraction of one sheet.

Susan Lindee, from the Department of the History and Sociology of Science, provided biographical information and historical perspective to Darwin. In addition to noting his preoccupation with earthworms, she mentioned his academic record, which was in her words, "mediocre."

She also noted that the real triumph of his book On the Origins of Species was Darwin's ability not only to observe, but to persuade.

Also present was Steve Stough, a plaintiff in the case, Kitzmiller v. Dover School District, in which a Pennsylvania school's curriculum involving intelligent design was brought before a federal judge. The case lost, as "a relabeling of creationism," according to Stough.

Stough spoke yesterday about the ongoing controversy surrounding Darwin.

As a teacher of science himself, Stough said his own religious beliefs are harmonious with established scientific theorems. He added that he feels a "non-literal reading" of the Bible is reconcilable with Darwin's work.

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