Paleontological Research Institution Celebrates Darwin Days 2023 with a Series of Special Events

Paleontological Research Institution Celebrates Darwin Days 2023 with a Series of Special Events

ITHACA, NY, February 1, 2023- The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) will celebrate Darwin Days, an annual and international celebration of the birthday and ideas of British naturalist Charles Darwin, with a series of free virtual and in-person events beginning February 6 through February 12.

Darwin was born on February 12, 1809, and was the author of the seminal book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. The first Darwin Day events were organized by the Humanist Community of Palo Alto in 1995. In 2006, PRI, in partnership with Cornell University and Ithaca College, first celebrated Darwin Days in Ithaca, NY to increase awareness of Darwin’s theory and its relevance in the Ithaca community and beyond.

PRI’s Associate Director for Philanthropy and Communications Amanda Schmitt Piha shared, “Charles Darwin is a pivotal icon in the study and understanding of the Earth’s natural history. His contributions have been invaluable to the world of science and we are thankful to be able to share some of his findings with the world through the various educational programs and resources we have at PRI, one of which is Darwin Days. We are thrilled to celebrate his life and legacy with these exciting events and welcome the community to celebrate along with us.”

The 2023 calendar of events will include a variety of in-person and virtual events including a keynote presentation by Dr. Ted Daeschler Associate Curator, Academy of Natural Sciences on February 6, a discussion of the evolution and ecology of lungfishes by Cornell Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Willy Bemis at the Tompkins County Public Library on February 8, a virtual panel discussion of Devonian fishes on February 9, a science and nature-based trivia night at Ithaca Bakery on February 10, as well as in-person family days at the Museum of the Earth on February 11 and Cayuga Nature Center on February 12.

While the events are free, contributions to PRI’s educational programs are appreciated. For a list of the upcoming Darwin Days events or more information about PRI, please visit
www.priweb.org/event/darwin-days.

About the Paleontological Research Institution

The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) pursues and integrates education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life, to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth. PRI and its two public venues for education, the Museum of the Earth and the Cayuga Nature Center, are separate from, but formally affiliated with Cornell University, and interact closely with numerous University departments in research, teaching, and public outreach. To learn more, visit www.priweb.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.