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Considered a world authority on barnacles and earthworms, also known for his research and theory of natural selection. Charles Darwin was an English naturalist, who travelled thousands of miles to get hold of factual evidence to support the theory of evolution. Charles Darwin came from a prosperous family. Charles Darwin’s father ,Robert Darwin was a doctor in Shrewsbury. His grandfathers were Erasmus Darwin, who was an author, philosopher and scientist and Josiah Wedgwood the famous potter. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Edinburgh University where he read medicine. Darwin did not complete his studies at Edinburgh and went to Cambridge to read theology. While he was at Edinburgh he developed an interest in natural history which was to continue during his time at Cambridge and for the rest of his life. In 1831 he obtained his degree from Cambridge and in the same year set out as a naturalist on a survey ship called the Beagle. He did not return home until 1836. Charles Darwin is seen as the scientist who developed the modern theory of evolution and together with Alfred Russel Wallace proposed the principle of natural selection. Darwin eventually published his findings in, The Origin of the Species by Natural Selection. What is this book, natural selection? According to Charles Darwin, animals with variations better suited to their environment would have a better chance of survival and ability to breed. They would then pass on the favorable characteristics to their offspring. This publication caused a great deal of controversy at the time, because it disagreed with the literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis in the Bible. Charles Darwin found out about natural selection due to him sailing, from Plymouth on the 27 December 1831 on a journey that was to take him many thousands of miles. He sailed in a ship called the Beagle. The Beagle was not a big ship, it was only about 28 metres long and had to be home to 74 people for the whole voyage. Darwin took with him a copy of the bible and books by Milton, Humboldt as well as a copy of Lyell's first volume on Principles Of Geology. He also took binoculars, a geological magnifying glass and jars of spirit for preserving specimens. He was equipped for the journey, of research and experience. They reached the Galapagos Islands in September 1835 and stayed for two months. These isolated islands had only a very small human population and life had stayed unchanged for thousands of years. On the islands Darwin found huge turtles, tortoises and lizards. He discovered that the animals on the Galapagos Islands had different features, then the animals in South America. They had similarities, but many differences. Darwin also observed this to be the same with the many different types of finches on the islands, also different to the ones he had seen in South America. Darwin’s observed that by looking at the shell of a tortoise or the beak of a finch you could tell which island it had come from. The similarities were that all the finches had dull colored feathers and short tails. They all laid four pink and white eggs in nests with small roofs The differences were that all of the finches had different beaks. On one island they had strong thick beaks for cracking open nuts and seeds, on another island eighty kilometers away they had long thin beaks for catching insects. On returning to England, Darwin and an ornithologist associate identified 13 species of finches that he had collected on the Galápagos Islands. To sum up his research on the Galápagos finches , these species provide information concluding that among the birds that ended up in arid environments, the ones with beaks better suited for eating cactus got more food. As a result, they were in better condition to mate. Similarly, those with beak shapes that were better suited to getting nectar from flowers or eating hard seeds in other environments were at an advantage there. In a very real sense, nature selected the best adapted varieties to survive and to reproduce. This process has come to be known as natural selection, which Darwin wrote about in his book, origin of species. Nineteenth century critics of Darwin thought that he had misinterpreted the Galápagos finch data. They said that God had created the 13 different species as they are and that no evolution in beak shape has ever occurred. It was difficult to conclusively refute such counter arguments at that time. However, extensive field research since the early 1970's has proven Darwin to be correct. With the creation of his books, and of his research going viral, one could conclude that Darwin, was indeed a ‘radical, trouble maker’. This close minded, two worded phrase, could be stretched out into more defined context. Yes, Darwin did spark controversial events, riots and prosecutions, but he educated the world on this origin of species, and his theories on natural selection. Without knowing this evolutionary knowledge, what we think, learn and address humanity with could be different, as could are perspectives and beliefs on human existence. Without his research, we wouldn’t know what theories to be against, or what options there are besides Christianity. We wouldn’t know what theories to disagree about, and we wouldn’t know or have a finalized outlook on the evolution of mankind. Yes, evolution was discussed before Darwin, but there wasn’t research to back up previous theories. Without Darwin, we wouldn’t have any evidence on human species or evolution, therefore there wouldn’t be any continued research on mankind, because all we would have been exposed to was the Bible’s theories, and views. In my opinion, Charles Darwin is a scientific genius who exposed us to the world of evolution, and without controversy, and troublemaking, there wouldn’t be things to follow, we would all follow the same information and evidence. With that, the world wouldn’t be as knowledgeable, and us humans wouldn’t know about where our species originated from. Charles Darwin never intended on causing controversy, but intended on educating us. Timeline: On poster Cartoon- Interviewer- Charles, what are your views on evolution? Charles- You know my views on the human species, and how we were created, through the evolving of man; but I do have a view on the word evolution itself and it is that I want to educate you and tell you that when you are thinking about evolution, it is important to take a further step and ask, 'What is evolving?', and with this question in mind, make sure you understand what you’re asking, and what your learning from this question. Interviewer- Oh , so your views are to always be open-minded, when learning about evolution? Charles- Yes, of course. Without a open-mind, you are not learning or hearing anything, except for what you want to learn and hear. Don’t just learn about what interests you, learn about what has made and created you, and with that, you will learn about evolution. Interviewer- that’s interesting, so are you saying, that we have all evolved from something? Charles- Yes, and that topic is brought up, in my book ‘Origin of Species.’ We all evolve from something, it’s your choice to believe what it is. Based on many years of research in the fields of biology and comparative anatomy, that anatomically similar species such as humans, apes, and monkeys probably evolved, over a period of many thousands of years, from a common, ape-like ancestor, now extinct. Interviewer- Wow, well I’ll look into that theory, and question mine; because you really do have the evidence! Charles- Yes, I do have lots of evidence, due to my five year journey around the world and my experiences after, too! You should also read my book, for more information!