The fourth annual Darwin Day celebration attracted record numbers to the Microbial Sciences Building Saturday, where evolution enthusiasts celebrated the bicentennial year of the famous biologist’s birth.
“This year was a blockbuster year for us,” said planning committee member Brooke Norsted. “We had over 550 people here this morning and hundreds of people in the afternoon.”
Norsted added this year was especially special because it marked the 200th birthday of Darwin, which generated large public interest.
The day began with three evolution-centered presentations by featured speakers Sean Carroll, a University of Wisconsin professor, Patricia McConnell, a dog specialist and Jeremy Jackson, a scientist at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
Later, six UW researchers presented their recent findings that contributed to the field of evolution. “Interactive exploration stations” were also set up to educate and entertain those in attendance.
“Darwin Day is partially to honor Darwin and the contributions he made, but it’s also just a day to choose to promote evolution and evolution research on campus,” Norsted said. “It’s an opportunity to educate the public about evolution.”
The day ended with a panel on science and the media, where Jackson, Steve Paulson of Wisconsin Public Radio and UW professors Molly Jahn and James Crow discussed the often-strained relationship between scientists and the press.
“In a sound byte world, it’s essential that we be able to say what we think. It’s something you have to work at because it isn’t something you get for free,” Jackson said.
Jahn said the theoretical nature of evolution makes it difficult to approach in the media.
She said people reading newspapers crave certainty, and the nature of evolution makes it a problematic and frustrating topic to read about.
Also discussed by the panel was the deep divide between those who support the theory of evolution and those who do not.
“There is an arrogance on all sides that means my way is the right way; my values are formed by the correct intellectual construct,” Jahn said. “I think that is where a lot of scientific discussion in the media does break down.”
Paulson agreed and said there are too few scientists who are able to skillfully communicate with the general public.
He said people are subject to the same scientific voices in newspapers over and over, and these sources are not necessarily the most effective.
On a broad scale, Crow said it is important for scientists to tackle philosophical issues even if communication troubles exist.
“There are some profound issues that exist, and these are problems to wrestle with,” he said.
Norsted said she believed Darwin Day was a success.
“Madison is a fairly tolerant community, so I can imagine if you were having this event somewhere else you might have more problems,” she said.
