Charles Darwin was a practising believer, enrolled in the faculty of theology, until, at the age of twenty-two, he decided to board the brig Beagle. That voyage changed his life and the very concept of "life". Following that experience, Darwin formulated the theory of evolution, set out in his celebrated 1859 work On the Origin of Species, according to which living species modify themselves through natural selection.

Through his thinking, Darwin revolutionised the conception of humanity's place in the universe — a species believed to have been created by God in his own image and likeness — knocking it from the pedestal it had built for itself and placing it on a par with the other animal species.

Charles Darwin's theory

The Galápagos Islands played a major role in the development of the British naturalist's theory: in this Pacific archipelago he observed thirteen endemic species of finches, later renamed "Darwin's finches", which were very similar to one another. All these birds evolved from a recent common ancestor, and the various species subsequently diversified rapidly in their morphological and ecological characteristics.

Fringuello delle Galapagos — Darwin's finches are a group of passerine birds comprising 14–17 species, depending on the classification, endemic to the Galápagos Islands

Darwin therefore hypothesised that a population of an original species emigrated from the coasts of South America to settle on one of the islands, where it gradually modified itself to adapt to the new environment, giving rise to a new species. According to Darwin, if a species differentiates it is in order to adapt to a new ecological niche; this adaptation occurs in individuals that possess an advantage over their fellows, such as a larger beak.

Why this date

On 12 February, the birthday of the great British naturalist and biologist, Darwin Day is celebrated to commemorate his work and the curiosity that drives our species to question its own nature and the surrounding environment. In Great Britain, the occasion has been marked for years with lectures, meetings, debates and events that highlight the importance of the values of scientific research and rational thought.

Galapagos — The stay on the Galápagos Islands proved fundamental to the development of Darwin's theories

Darwin Day in Italy

In Italy, Darwin Day has been celebrated since 2003, thanks to the Uaar, the Union of Atheists and Rationalist Agnostics, which has been organising events with scientists, academics and science journalists for years. There are numerous events organised across the country to deepen knowledge of evolution, dinosaurs, animals, fossils and microorganisms.

Darwin Day, evolution and science celebrated on 12 February