The Mysterie of Mysteries: tracing Charles Darwin and the origin of species in South Africa

The year 2009 is an important year in the history of natural sciences. It is 200 years after the birth of Charles Darwin, one of the most influential scientists in this field. It is also 150 years after the publication of Darwin's influential work, 'The Origin of Species' and 130 years after his master piece on human evolution, 'The Descent of Man'. On his 5-year voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle, Darwin spent a full 19 days in the Cape. This is where he gained insight on the origin of mankind that have dramatically altered and enriched our understanding of ourselves and our surroundings.

The year 2009 is an important year in the history of natural sciences. It is 200 years after the birth of Charles Darwin, one of the most influential scientists in this field. It is also 150 years after the publication of Darwin's influential work, 'The Origin of Species' and 130 years after his master piece on human evolution, 'The Descent of Man'. On his 5-year voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle, Darwin spent a full 19 days in the Cape. This is where he gained insight on the origin of mankind that have dramatically altered and enriched our understanding of ourselves and our surroundings.

Plenty of reasons therefore to celebrate and to create more awareness of the important role of science in society. This September a 3-mast clipper 'De Stad Amsterdam' will depart from Plymouth, United Kingdom, and sail in the nautical footsteps of the H.M.S. Beagle. The Platform Beta Techniek, mandated to promote science and technology in The Netherlands, will invite experts, scientists and learners to join 'De Stad Amsterdam' in the ports where Darwin once moored off in order to explore the role and impact of science and technology. One of the ports is Cape Town, where the clipper will arrive in April 2010. Dutch broadcaster VARA will produce 41 tv-series on the voyage. BKB Africa is local partner in South Africa and assisting with the programme.

To honour Darwin's work, the Africa Genome Institute is currently putting the finishing touch on the Darwin Trail, a unique trail along the sites that Darwin visited 173 years ago. Darwin's observations in the Cape further confirmed his developing theory on natural selection. He spent time in Bantry Bay, Lion's Rump and Sir Lowry's Pass observing the geological sandstone and granite stone formations; stayed in Simon's Town and traveled to Paarl and the Franschhoek valley.

Already in 1836 and long before the first hominid fossils were discovered in South Africa in the World Heritage Site, a.k.a. 'The Cradle of Humankind', Darwin predicted that it would be proven that Africa is the place where humans originate from. The discovery of 'Mrs Ples' in Sterkfontein in 1947, a fossil skull of the homanid 'Australophithecus Africanus', proved him right.