ABC Radio National on Darwin

CELEBRATE WITH RADIO NATIONAL Darwin’s theory of evolution radically redefined life as we know it, reaching far beyond the discipline of biology to penetrate our thinking about what it is to be human. Science and biology, art and literature, economics and commerce, medicine, religion, politics, and education – they’ve all been touched in powerful ways. Tune into Radio National as the world celebrates the extraordinary legacy of the ‘godfather’ of evolution. You’ll be surprised, challenged and engaged. LISTEN  to these enticing interviews and features on ABC Radio National Meet the Darwins (360 – 31 Jan 2009) In this unique radio documentary, Charles Darwin's family gives an intimate and personal account of their famous ancestor. Some of his descendants have been profoundly influenced by him, while others are shamelessly milking the legend for all it's worth. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/360/stories/2009/2472931.htm

The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin  (First Person – 9-13th Feb 2009) To commemorate the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth, First Person is presenting extracts from his account of his five-year voyage around the globe. The fruits of the research he conducted during the Beagle’s voyage inspired many of the ideas in On the Origin of Species http://www.abc.net.au/rn/firstperson/stories/2009/2441284.htm

Steve Jones on Darwin (Life Matters – 29 Jan 2009) The beginnings of understanding autism go back to the 19th century, and they were worked out by a man who married his cousin and had ten children with her. He also came up with the theory of evolution by natural selection, and so invented biology.  Acclaimed geneticist Steve Jones, author of Darwin's Island: The Galapagos in the Garden of England, discusses Darwin’s extraordinary legacy. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2009/2475999.htm

Did young Charles tell fibs? (Science Show - 9th Feb 2009) There are two sides to evolution: deeply serious – and jolly good fun. The fun is provided by Dame Edna Everage who displays the immense variety of everything in the natural world. She also illustrates the way Darwinism hit the Music Hall stage in the 19th century giving rise to many kinds of outrageous acts, hoaxes and impersonations. Queensland-based writer Jane Goodall takes us on a tour of the razzmatazz - and along the way shows how Charles Darwin the boy was often given to deceptions and tease. And the serious part of this Science Show shows how the modern science of epigenetics and embryology maintain the wonder of Darwin’s ideas. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/

Darwin’s Room (Science Show 13 Dec 2008) John van Wyhe takes us on a tour of Darwin's student quarters at Christ's College. He describes college life when Charles Darwin was a student and debunks some of the myths that have arisen around Darwin's life. And Rob Morrison reads a verse from his own poem, celebrating the life and achievements of Charles Darwin. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2008/2445244.htm

Darwin Year (Science Show 29 Nov 2008) Convenor of a festival in Australia, Professor Philip Batterham describes the significance of Darwin's work, and why so much effort is being put into celebrating Darwin's life and achievements. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2008/2432906.htm

The Science Show, All in the Mind and the Philosophers Zone present a joint Darwin special  (Saturday 14th Feb 12-2pm) 2009 marks 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin. With no knowledge of the gene or genetics, his theory of evolution by natural selection has formed the basis of a whole branch of science and our thinking of how the world works. The Science Show’s Robyn Williams speaks with his relatives as they reflect on Darwin’s work, and we hear from  science’s great thinkers, Richard Dawkins and the late Stephen Jay Gould who discuss their visions of the evolutionary process. And All in the Mind and the Philosophers Zone ponder the human animal.  It’s a complex beast - we mate, fight, emote, and socialise in such curious ways. Charles Darwin’s theories continue to provoke controversy over how and why we behave the way we do. Join leading evolutionary scientists and philosophers as Alan Saunders and Natasha Mitchell consider how Darwin radically influenced the life of the mind.   http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/ http://abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind http://abc.net.au/rn/philosopherszone

GENE Pool  Coming soon to Pool –  YOUR chance to evolve, make and mutate! It might be a poem or story. A photo or a tribute. A home movie. A mini-documentary. A piece of music. A field recording, or a futuristic imagining. Real or imaginary - be as lateral as you like! You might be a scientist, an artist, a gardener, a student, a retiree or a zookeeper. We want you to go digital and make something for the ABC’s exciting new initiative, Pool in Darwin Year. Be in it to win! http://pool.org.au