Information on Loughborough

Discover Like Darwin

Posted on 17/11/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

16 November 2009

Discover Like Darwin

The Chairman of Leicestershire County Council will be hosting the final Discover like Darwin event and a celebratory review of the year’s programme on Wednesday November 25th at County Hall, Glenfield.

Celebrating Charles Darwin’s 200th anniversary, the Discover like Darwin programme has run nearly 100 sessions throughout the year to encourage naturalists of all ages to learn more about the natural world, with events taking place in Leicestershire museums, country parks and libraries.

The final event will be a lecture, by local naturalist Dr Anthony Fletcher, which will celebrate Darwin’s unique contributions to natural history. His theory of the evolution of species by natural selection is recognised as giving a new understanding of man’s place in nature and provides the foundation of modern biology. Darwin did not work alone though, and lived in an age when natural history was at the cutting edge of science. A brief mention will be made of his scientific companions, correspondents and helpers, and their Leicestershire connections.

Roger Wilson, the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, said: “This event honours the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth and will be given only one day before the 150th anniversary of the publication of his masterpiece ‘On the Origin of Species’. This lecture is the culmination of an exciting programme.”

Ernie White, Cabinet Member for museums said “As part of the evening we will also be celebrating the work of local naturalists, who have helped us deliver this year’s Leicestershire Discover Like Darwin programme, as well as the work of volunteers who are helping to enhance the natural history collections and their availability to modern nature detectives and the public alike.”

The lecture is being held at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 25th November in the Council Chamber at County Hall. Booking for the event is essential as places are limited.

For further information or to book a place, contact the Museums Collection team telephone: 0116 305 4102 or 0116 305 3726, email museums@leics.gov.uk or visit www.leics.gov.uk/darwin

There will be a photo opportunity for the media at 7pm.