"A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life"
Charles Darwin

Throughout the 19th century there was a transformation in thought that still reverberates today. The workings of nature and the variety of life were re-imagined in ways that underlie all modern biology. The wider implications of these ideas still provoke controversy. One man, and one book, came to symbolise the new biology of evolution. Charles Darwin, born in 1809, was 50 when he published perhaps the most famous scientific work ever written. Therefore, 2009 marked both the bicentenary of his birth and 150 years since the first appearance of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.

The British Council's Darwin Now programme provides the global opportunity to explore questions about the origin, nature and distribution of life; and inspire debate about science, religion and society.

Darwin Now is an integrated series of events; exhibitions, workshops, conferences and symposiums, which use the 2009 Darwin celebrations as a springboard. These initiatives will be supported by material and activities delivered by web, broadcast and public talks.

The Darwin Now exhibition explores the origins of Darwin's book, outlines his central ideas, and explains how they remain at the core of contemporary research in biology and medicine.

In Portugal, the exhibition can be seen in several venues. The first will the the Museu Nacional de História Natural, in Lisbon, where it will be open to the public between 30 April and 26 September 2010.

If you're interested in science and in Charles Darwin, we invite you to come to the opening of the exhibition at the Natural History Museum in Lisbon, where you will be able to meet Darwin's great great grandson Randal Keynes, who will give a lecture on "Darwin and his value for Today".

Besides Professor Randal Keynes, you can also meet Professor Nuno Ferrand, Director of CIBIO, University of Porto, who will deliver a lecture on "Charles Darwin and the Rabbits of Porto Santo".

The opening will take place on 29 April at 17:00.

Exhibition opening times:
Tuesday to Friday, 1000 to 1700
Weekends, 1100 to 1800
Closed on Mondays and national holidays

Venue:
Museu Nacional de História Natural
Rua da Escola Politécnica, 56-58
1250-102 Lisboa
T: 213 921 808
E: geral@museus.ul.pt
W: www.mnhn.ul.pt

The exhibition will be later shown at several Ciência Viva science centres around Portugal.