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Darwin bicentenary marked at University of Cambridge
12 February 2009
The 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth has been celebrated at Cambridge University today with his alma mater, Christ’s College, taking centre stage.
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, the University's Chancellor, unveiled a stunning bronze statue of Darwin as an undergraduate at Christ's during a visit this morning.
Sculpted by Anthony Smith, a Christ's graduate, the statue will soon take pride of place in the college's new Darwin Garden.
Meanwhile, Christ's will this evening host a gala dinner held to raise funds for the Galapagos Conservation Trust.
Preceding the dinner will be a lecture featuring broadcaster Andrew Marr and Sir David Attenborough, both vociferous champions of Darwin's world-changing ideas.
Mr Marr is so concerned that the Galapagos habitats face ruination unless tourism and development are managed sustainably, he has promised never to return to the place that inspired the brilliant young Darwin.
He said: "The Galapagos islands are truly astonishing - home to many unique species. But they are very delicate, and there is huge pressure on them because of tourism, development and the introduction of invasive species. That is why, having been to the islands once, I promise never to go back."
Some 60 gala dinner guests have each donated £4,750 towards a fund - held by the college - that will go towards promoting scientific understanding, conservation and long-term welfare of the islands.
The pre-dinner lecture is chaired by Mr Marr and will involve Felipe Cruz, technical director of the Charles Darwin Foundation. This will provide both a scientific and historical background to Darwin and the Galapagos, as well as current challenges facing the archipelago.
The discussion will be followed by a dinner hosted by the Master of Christ's College, Frank Kelly and GCT's chairman, Richard Robinson. Darwin's great-great grandchildren, Randal Keynes and Sara Darwin, will also be present.
Professor Frank Kelly, Master of Christ's College, said: "I am delighted that Christ's is working with the Galapagos Conservation Trust to set up a much-needed research link between the college and the Galapagos Islands to continue the work of the young Darwin."
Also at Christ's, the restoration of Darwin's former living quarters while a students at the college, were finished in
time for today's bicentenary.
Opening to the public later this month, dinner guests were allowed a sneak peek at the rooms this afternoon. John van Wyhe, who led the restoration project, was on hand with some expert insight into the process.
He said: "Never before has it been possible to experience such a sense of Darwin's time as a student at Christ's - his
large, elegant rooms, richly furnished and complete with what may be his original beetle cabinet - as well as other
scientific objects - give it a feel of a private natural history museum."
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