The year 2009 marks two important anniversaries in the history of biology. It is the bicentennial of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150-year anniversary of the publication of his influential work, On the Origin of Species. Scientific communities worldwide are celebrating these anniversaries with special lectures, festivals and other events to honor Darwin’s work.

The city of Cambridge is home to the majority of Darwin’s work, including specimens from his voyage on the HMS Beagle, manuscripts, correspondences, working papers, notebooks and journals. It is also home to The University of Cambridge’s Darwin Festival from 5–10 July.

The core program includes over 40 events, from lectures to string quartets and street dance. Fringe festival events are also scheduled throughout the city. Attendees can enjoy free tours of Darwin’s old rooms in Christ’s College, or see manuscripts from his time on the Beagle at the university library exhibit ‘Voyage Round the World’. An art exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum illustrates how Darwin influenced the painting of great artists such as Cezanne and Monet.

Speakers and panelists attending the event include: authors Dame Gillian Beer, Richard Dawkins and Matt Ridley; science and nature broadcaster Sir David Attenborough; and Nobel prizewinning scientists Sir Paul Nurse, Sir John Sulston and Harold Varmus. For more information, visit the festival website at: www.darwin2009.cam.ac.uk.

2009