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City dignitaries and Darwin’s descendants attend the launch of the BRLSI’s Darwin and Beyond programme.

Fri 14th November 2008 Bath’s Mayor and Lady Mayoress joined two descendants of Charles Darwin as guests at a launch reception held by Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) for Darwin and Beyond, its year-long programme of lectures, exhibitions and other events to mark the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth, and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On The Origin Of Species. Also among those present were the many BRLSI volunteers who are involved in organising the series.

After an introduction by Prof Julian Vincent, BRLSI’s Chair of Trustees, the writer William Pryor, Darwin's great-great grandson (pictured right), gave an entertaining speech full of insights into life as a member of the Darwin clan, a large group which has included, among others, the composer Ralph Vaughan-Williams. Mr Pryor was accompanied by his mother, Sophie Raverat, Darwin's great-granddaughter, and the Darwinian presence was completed by a first edition of On The Origin Of Species, signed by Darwin hinself, on display from the BRLSI Collection.

Next, Darwin and Beyond Programme Manager Martin Sturge gave an overview of the programme, which includes lectures by the eminent geneticist Prof Steve Jones and writer/broadcaster Susan Blackmore, examinations of Darwin's impact on literature and the visual arts, a 'design a creature' competition and an theatre performance, entitled Darwin's Worms, which promises 'accessible science and compelling drama' (click here to read the full text of Martin’s address).

Publicity Manager Jude Harris described the exhibitions which will run throughout the year, including Darwin's Bookshelf, a collection of volumes from the library of Darwin's friend and collaborator Leonard Jenyns, which had opened that day in the Jenyns Room.

Darwin and Beyond events start on Tuesday 16th December 2008 with the Victor Suchar Christmas Lecture (Prof Brian Charlesworth FRS on What Do We Now Know About The Causes Of Evolution?), and ends with next year's Suchar Lecture on Friday 11th December 2009, when Prof Steve Jones will ask Is Evolution Over?

In between there are over 50 events and exhibitions at the BRLSI, most of them organised by the BRLSI’s Programme groups, who run a permanent series of lectures and events at the Institution.

The biggest contributor to Darwin and Beyond is, appropriately, the Science group, led by group convenor David Cunliffe-Jones, but there are also significant contributions from, among others,  Dr Don Cameron’s Philosophy group and the Botany Group organised by Martin Sturge. You can see the Darwin evens from each group by choosing them from the menu bar at the top of this page, or click here to see all the events at the BRLSI over the next few weeks. •

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Also at the launch event: