Darwin Celebration/Information Station 2009

Galapagos · 09-09-2009

More dramatized Darwin is airing on PBS: NOVA and National Geographic in the form of "Darwin's Darkest Hour":

Quote:

NOVA | Becoming Human | Other Evolution Programs | PBS
NOVA and National Geographic Television present the extraordinary human drama that led to the birth of the most influential scientific theory of all time. In this two-hour special, acclaimed screenwriter John Goldsmith (David Copperfield, Victoria and Albert) brings to life Charles Darwin's greatest personal crisis: the anguishing decision over whether to "go public" with his theory of evolution. Darwin, portrayed by Henry Ian Cusick (Lost), spent years refining his ideas and penning his "Big Book," On the Origin of Species. Yet, daunted by looming conflict with the orthodox religious values of his day, he resisted publishing—until a letter from naturalist Alfred Wallace forced his hand. In 1858, Darwin learned that Wallace was on the brink of publishing ideas very similar to his own. In a sickened panic, Darwin grasped his dilemma: To delay publishing any longer would be to condemn all of his work to obscurity—his voyage on the Beagle, his adventures in the Andes, the gauchos and bizarre fossils of Patagonia, the finches and giant tortoises of the Galapagos. But to come forward with his ideas risked the fury of the Church and perhaps a rift with his own devoted wife, Emma, portrayed by Frances O'Connor (Mansfield Park, The Importance of Being Earnest, Steven Spielberg's Artificial Intelligence), who clung to a devout, orthodox view of creation. "Darwin's Darkest Hour" is a moving drama about the birth of a great idea seen through the inspiration and personal sufferings of its brilliant originator.

YouTube - Darwin's Darkest Hour

As with the other upcoming Darwin Drama, "Creation", it looks like it may be a bit corny, but I shall reserve further judgment until it airs.

Galapagos · 09-13-2009

The makers of the film "Creation" have apparently been unable to find a distributor in the U.S.. A bit disappointing that Ben Stein's pernicious propaganda piece "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" can find a distributor, and a film about the historic life of Darwin cannot due to the 'controversial' nature of the subject matter.

Eugenie Scott of the NCSE has a review of the film, and a few comments on the inability to find distributor over at the Panda's Thumb. A review by film critic Roger Ebert can be found here.

And here is a BBC2 show called Newsnight Review about Darwin/The Origin of Species, featuring Richard Dawkins among others:

Quote:

On a special Newsnight Review, eminent scientist Richard Dawkins, Man Booker prize-winning author Margaret Atwood, Reverend Richard Coles, and poet and descendant of Charles Darwin Ruth Padel, join Martha Kearney to discuss the cultural and philosophical legacy of the seminal work On the Origin of Species.

YouTube - Newsnight Review: Darwin Special (1/4)

Galapagos · 09-14-2009

I'm not sure how this slipped by me, but Nature Physics had a special on Darwin a couple months back:

Quote:

What's the big idea? : Article : Nature Physics

It is not obviously the business of a physics journal to mark the anniversary of a major development in biology. But the repercussions of Darwin's theory of evolution are relevant to all.
Introduction

It is 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species, and 200 years since the birth of its author, Charles Darwin. This coincidence of anniversaries is being widely celebrated, even in the pages of Nature Physics. In this issue, in amongst the regular diet of superconductors, cold gases and quantum dots, there are several articles about Darwinism — from its original incarnation, through ongoing controversy, to modern interpretations in overtly physics contexts. The story of Darwinism, we believe, has something for everyone, including physicists.

Darwin and physics : Nature Physics

And NOVA video put up another preview of the NOVA/NATGEO Darwin drama: