Darwin's Birthday Celebration

"The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognize that we ought to control our thoughts." These are the words of Charles Darwin as read by Dr. Arthur Dobrin, leader emeritus of Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island (EHSLI) in the opening remarks of the day's celebration.

Darwin was a naturalist whose well known scientific theory included evolution and natural selection of species. "On the Origin of Species" was published over 150 years ago, with evidence of his theory.

Darwin Day-Stand Up For Science is celebrated by many ethical societies worldwide, but it is the Long Island society's 2^nd annual celebration in connection with Darwin's birthday.

"We started this project last year with the focus on the children," said Sharon Stanley, director of the Children's Ethics Program at EHSLI. "Kids love science."

Tracy Marcus of Cornell Cooperative Extension gave a lesson in live local marine life, including starfish, a horseshoe crab and more. The children were engaged in the main presentation, asking questions and even having a chance to touch the animals.

"These kids will never look at a horseshoe crab the same way, they know something now that they didn't now before," said Lyn Dobrin, member of the EHSLI since 1967. "We're trying to teach them about the world and how to respect it."

This year's focus was on ecology. The children created their own science projects that were on display. Each child gave demonstrations, with clear scientific explanations of their project's concept.

With assistance from his father, Khiron Anderson performed the "Egg in a Bottle" science project in which he placed a lit match inside a glass jar topped with a hardboiled egg. The lit match burns the trapped oxygen, creating a vacuum and eventually sucks the entire egg inside the glass jar.

"I am a scientist, it's important to be able to come to conclusions based on science and reason, something other than blind faith. You don't have to believe in something just because someone tells you to believe," Dr. Joan Peterson, biology professor at Queensborough Community College, said. 

Dr. Peterson conducted a hands on dissection of owl pellets. The children pulled apart each pellet with their hands, chopsticks and other tools to identify nails, teeth, bones and other undigested animal remains.

Lorraine Agostino, transformation artist of Agostino Arts decorated dozens of faces with ecology facepaintings. Lyn Dobrin was the first to have her face painted.

"We are people who care about life on this earth, how we live and trying to live ethical lives and that involves how we treat each other and the world around us," said Dobrin. "That's why Darwin Day is a natural connection for us."

Other activities included shell and rock painting, impression art, games and a graffiti wall. More than 50 members and visitors participated in the day's events.

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