Continuously subjected to the tests of experiment and observation, Evolution is as much a scientific fact as atoms or the Earth’s movement around the Sun. Today, Evolution is crucial to our understanding of such diverse disciplines as pharmacology, agricultural improvement and sustainable development.
Darwin's theory of evolution concluded that every species had a common point of origin and that natural selection allowed the strongest to survive. This scientist's theories have changed both our concept of the world and our ideas about evolution like few others.
The exhibition illustrates the life of the paradigmatic naturalist, geologist and thinker whose ideas about evolution through natural selection meant drastic change for science and culture. It is organized into five main sections:
- The scientific context prior to the 18th century
- Darwin's precursors
- Darwin's history and biography
- Genetics
- Darwinism in Spain
In order to show the scientific bases and principles of Darwinian theory in an up-to-date manner, the museum is displaying a reconstruction of Dr Ole Worm's 1655 cabinet of curiosities, pages from herbal and botanical books from the 18th century, audio-visual material, letters in Darwin's handwriting, facsimiles and an Egyptian ibis mummy.
There are various examples of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates in the exhibition, such as corals, okapi skeletons, ospreys and several fossils. There is also a special place for botany with more than 20 specimens of flowers from the 19th century that allow detailed study of their structure and splendor.
The exhibition is co-organized by the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian in Portugal and the American Museum of Natural History in New York.