Press release

The Natural History Museum celebrates the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth with a day of special events.

Charles Darwin’s contribution to understanding nature has forever changed the way we view our world and his observations continue to inspire current research. To celebrate the 195th anniversary of his birth, visitors to the Natural History Museum can join free Darwin-related activities on Thursday 12 February.

Darwin Day Tour, 11.00 and 13.00
Learn about Darwin’s life, his work and his professional rivals on two special tours showing Darwin’s influence on our view of the natural world. These free hour-long tours will give visitors a rare opportunity to see Darwin’s letters and books, including his Origin of the Species manuscript. The tour will also show some of the specimens he collected on his 1831 Beagle voyage, now housed in the new Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, in his honour.

Darwin Day: The Theory of Evolution Explained, 14.30
Discover the theory of evolution for yourself in a lively discussion tracing how Darwin developed the idea, from observation to eureka. Talk with Museum scientists and find out how current research is taking forward his work. This event forms part of the spring programme of Darwin Centre Live events – a daily free informal events where you can meet curators and researchers to find out about their work, recent scientific discoveries and the Museum’s vast collections. Visit www.nhm.ac.uk/darwincentre for full listings.

• Places on the free Darwin Day Tours are restricted in number and should be booked at the Natural History Museum’s information desk or in advance on 020 7942 5011.

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EDITORS NOTES

Darwin Tours Visitor information
Venue: Darwin Centre, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
Date and time: Thursday 12 February 2004,
11.00-12.00 and 13.00-14.00
Public enquiries: 020 7942 5011
Entry: free
Nearest tube: South Kensington
Website: www.nhm.ac.uk/darwincentre

• Places on Darwin Day tours can be booked at the Life Galleries Information Desk or in advance on 020 7942 5011.
• The Darwin Day Organisation, which was founded in the United States, aims to create global celebrations on Charles Darwin’s birthday (12 February) building up to 2009, the bicentennial of Darwin's birth. Supporters include Richard Dawkins FRS, Honorary President of the organisation and Simonyi Professor of Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University.
• Images of Charles Darwin and Darwin specimens collected on the Beagle voyage are available on request from the Natural History Museum press office.

VISITOR INFORMATION

• The Natural History Museum is open
  Monday - Saturday 10.00-17.50, Sunday-11.00-17.50
• The Natural History Museum's public enquiries telephone number is 020 7942 5000
• The Museum is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. For access details telephone 020 7942 5000

CONTACT INFORMATION
If you would like to request images or further information, please contact:

Chloe Kembery or Joanna Glyde, Science Communications PR
Tel: 020 7942 5880/5881
Email: chlk@nhm.ac.uk/joag@nhm.ac.uk (not for publication)

Issued: 21 January 2004