Nightlife at the Academy of Sciences Begins with Darwin’s Selection, Naturally

The tall, airy, “green” building of the California Academy of Sciences was abuzz last Thursday with a double celebration: Charles Darwin’s 200th anniversary and the launch of weekly “Nightlife” events. These extended Thursday nights at the Academy are designed to provide additional access to museum exhibits in a convivial atmosphere of “provocative science, music, mingling, and cocktails,” and what an enlightened way to mingle this is! On the night of February 12, the first day of the citywide celebration of Darwin and his revolutionary discoveries, youthful crowds were forming lines to the Islands of Evolution exhibit and to the makeshift presentation of sculls, fossils, butterflies and finches by the scientific staff in the African Hall. While studying the distribution and evolution of life on Earth, visitors were encouraged to participate in the orchid pollinator game, finding impromptu matches and starting fascinating discussions about natural selection. Evolve 2009, a series of programs dedicated to Darwin, includes special lectures and tours at the Academy throughout the spring, while Nightlife events will be presented every Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m., introducing visitors to modern science and cutting edge research in an informal, social environment. California Academy of Sciences is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. More info at: www.calacademy.org/nightlife. Photography by Yuri Krasov.