As Wednesday night evolved into Thursday morning, so began the 200th birthday celebration of Charles Darwin.
Although science and art sometimes differ, today they will unite in a celebration of Darwin’s life and legacy, over 126 years after his death in 1882.
Recognized for his research on species evolution, Darwin will have distinguished poets, activities, displays, music and refreshments at his UA-sponsored birthday festivities.
The celebration will begin at noon today with a performance by the musical group “”Charlie Darwin and His Natural Selections”” on the UA Mall stage, said Megan Coe, poet and program assistant at the UA poetry center.
Following the music, Coe said, there will be a Darwin look-a-like contest where students are encouraged to dress like him to win a $100 bookstore gift card.
At 2:45 p.m., poet Simons Buntin will offer the first reading of the day in the South Ballroom of the Student Union Memorial Center. He will be followed by readings from Wendy Burk and Eric Magrane, Tony Luebbermann, Elizabeth Bernays and Megan Coe.
“”We wanted poetry to be a part of the event to bring art into Darwin’s birthday. He was a very good writer and a very cultured man,”” Coe said.
Featured poets Wendy Burk and Eric Magrane wrote their poems collaboratively. Burk, a poet and library specialist at the poetry center, said both she and Magrane share a common interest in ecology and wilderness. She said the poems being read will be on environmental and evolutionary subjects, including alligators and large birds.
“”Charles Darwin is known for his writing, people still read him today,”” Burk said. “”Many of his ideas appeal to poets; poets are interested in how things came to be the way they are and how things change over time.””
Other activities and displays include a 3-D Tree of Life, original books written by Darwin, a live bumblebee colony and single-celled organisms, which will be able to be viewed through a microscope.
“”We hope people come, it’s going to be a great event. And, there’s free cake!”” Burk said.
