Darwin Day, Dodos, Intelligent Design and Deity

The birthday of Charles Darwin, the man known as the father of evolution, will be celebrated nationwide this weekend. Darwin Day is the celebration of the birth of Charles Robert Darwin. Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England on February 12, 1809.

"The objective of Darwin Day Celebration is to encourage existing institutions worldwide, such as municipalities, public and private schools, colleges and universities, libraries, museums, churches, private organizations and individuals to celebrate Science and Humanity every year, on, or near, February 12, Darwin's birthday!" (www.darwinday.org)

Kansas University assistant research professor Steven Case, emphasizes that the purpose of the university's Darwin Day events scheduled for this weekend are not to "deify" Darwin, but to do a better job of explaining science to the public in an accessible way. Events will feature a person dressed as a giant dodo bird roaming the campus and, wrapping up the day, students can compete in a costume contest preceding the viewing of "Flock of the Dodos".

Randy Olson's hilarious documentary "Flock of Dodos" examines both sides of the controversy over the teaching of "intelligent design" in public schools, will also be shown at over fifteen museums across the country. Screenings are scheduled in Berkeley, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, St. Louis, and Tampa.

At Ohio State University, in a talk titled "Evolution vs. Intelligent Design in Court," Nicholas Matzke will discuss the 2005 trial and the ruling by federal Judge John Jones. A key question for the court was whether intelligent design is science or religion and whether it could be taught alongside evolution in public school biology classes.