Darwin Discovery Day



Special Report:
Discovering Darwin - MSU marks 200th anniversary of his birth




2008 Highlights


2006 Highlights


Darwin Discovery Day
and Annual Natural History Identification Day
at the MSU Museum

Sunday, February 14, 2010
from 1-5 p.m. - Free




Darwin Takes Wing

This year, the Michigan State University Museum opens a new exhibition featuring specimens from its natural science collections -- and inspired by Charles Darwin's observations and research with birds. Bird is the word for Darwin Discovery Day activities:

  • NEW In the West Gallery: "'Avelution:' Birds in the Development of Darwin's Theory on Evolution" http://museum.msu.edu/Exhibitions/Current/BirdsintheDevelopment.html
  • NEW Live chickens and pigeons -- showing special breeds.
  • NEW Bird skeletons from MSU Museum's Natural Science collections, as well as other interesting and unusual museum specimens.
  • NEW Meet the Scientist Lecture: MSU Museum Assistant Curator of Mammalogy and Ornithology Pamela C. Rasmussen, "AVEntures: Ornithological Discovery and Rediscovery."
  • NEW Darwin at his desk--Rich Bellon, MSU Darwin scholar will answer questions about Darwin's life and work.
  • NEW Live critters with the MSU Herpetology Club and MSU Museum's naturalist, Jim Harding the Critterguy.
  • NEW Tours of the MSU Museum's "Bug Room," where beetles help prepare animal skeletons for inclusion in the collections as they clean away flesh from tiny crevices in bone that human hands and tools can never reach.
  • Rare, behind-the-scenes tours of MSU Museum research collections.
  • Dinosaur casts in Habitat Hall, showing recent finds from museum fieldwork and research in Tanzania, on the African continent.
  • Hands-on activities for kids with MSU 4-H Children's Garden and Department of Horticulture.
  • Books and educational resources at the Museum Store and giveaways for educators.

*The MSU Museum cannot provide estimates on the commercial value of any specimen nor provide expertise on human-made artifacts at this program.

The Michigan State University Museum joins natural history museums and science centers around the world in observing naturalist Charles Darwin's birthday with special programs. Science institutions worldwide have created special programs around Darwin's birthday that help promote an appreciation for the benefits of scientific knowledge acquired through human curiosity and ingenuity. Learn more at http://darwinday.org.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Also of interest on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfeaDIoUmz4


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