The Humanist Community Blog

Half of all Americans, including three of the Republican candidates for President, reject the theory of evolution, believing instead in Creationism or its thinly disguised clone, Intelligent Design. The theory of evolution has been under attack since On the Origin of Species was published in 1859 because it changed the world and our place in it as well as the whole field of biology. Its opponents have correctly understood that and have been unrelenting in their attempts to refute it. So who was this Charles Darwin who developed this theory that upset the world? He was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on the 12th of February, in 1809. In this small town he developed his enthusiasm for plants, animals and geology. From here he went off to university in 1825 and on his voyage on the Beagle in 1831. Peter Boyd, Museum Collections Manager for Shrewsbury Museum Service, will present an illustrated talk to provide an account of the Darwin-Shrewsbury connection and aspects of social history that influenced the Darwin family’s lives. Prior to taking his current position, Mr. Boyd trained as a geologist and biologist and did post-graduate research in palaeoecology as well as teaching for several years. Some of Mr. Boyd’s other work can be found on his website, http://www.peterboyd.com , including work on his passion: Scots Roses.

Filed under: Discussion, Events, HC Committees, Science, Sunday Forum