200 years later, Darwin's curiosity enriches all

RELEASE: Feb. 27, 2009 – Volume XLI, No. 9

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, as well as the 150th anniversary of his infamous publication, On the Origin of Species. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the roots of Darwin’s work, and a testament to just how far one person can go with a healthy sense of curiosity, a talent for observation and a sense of the connectedness of the natural world – three qualities that still well serve nature lovers all over the planet.

Amazingly, Darwin was an amateur naturalist when he began his observations that would ultimately lead to one of the most important scientific theories of all time. He was headed for the simple life of a country pastor before being invited on what would become a voyage of scientific discovery aboard the H.M.S. Beagle.

The journey seems to have planted and watered seeds of doubt in his mind about the orthodox beliefs of his day regarding the genesis of plants and animals. In Darwin’s Anglican England, after all, there was no cohesive, secular alternative to the Bible’s literal account of creation. For 150 years since, scientists have built on Darwin’s framework - to the point where today many people of faith no longer see evolution as a threat to their beliefs, but rather as a means of deeper insight into the infinite mind of their Creator.

Darwin, however, didn’t have these decades of context. As he set sail on the Beagle, he had only his innate curiosity, keen observational skills and a sense that the components of the natural world were somehow related.

Along the Argentinean coast, Darwin found a treasure trove of fossils that resembled existing, local species of bird and armadillo. He also noted distinct species of similar wildlife in different habitats. He didn’t, however, immediately jump to the conclusion that species evolve over time through natural selection.

Still, the inspiration Darwin drew from nature was clear from his early writings on the voyage. As he wrote on February 20, 1832: "The day has passed delightfully. Delight itself, however, is a weak term to express the feelings of a naturalist who, for the first time, has wandered by himself in a Brazilian forest."

When the Beagle reached the Galapagos Islands three years later, Darwin’s awe of nature is still evident in his reaction to seeing tortoises. "Near the springs it was a curious spectacle to behold many of these huge creatures,” he wrote, “one set eagerly travelling onwards with outstretched necks, and another set returning, after having drunk their fill."

Perhaps the seeds planted in his South America journey had flowered into a new perspective by this time, and Darwin was observing with a more open mind. Whatever the reason, the giant tortoises and colorful finches of the Galapagos – distinguished by differences in the shapes of their shells and beaks – became the focus of his published works.

Back in England after the voyage, however, Darwin spent 20 years speculating privately about his observations and studying barnacles, among other species of interest. The threat of another author beating him to publication finally catalyzed Darwin to release On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859. By then, his theory had evolved in a process not unlike that which it spelled out: an evolution of thought, with the best elements demonstrating their superior adaptation to their environment by their validation in the observed natural world.

Since then, much of the theory of evolution ha been fortified by research and DNA analysis. An immense body of scientific work has strengthened the validity of his controversial theory. And today, thanks to Darwin, we all have a better understanding of and appreciation for the wonders of nature, and our connections to it.

I hope you will consult New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s website at www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org, if you would like more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources.

Return to SWI Columns