Darwin in context: Track 1

Just how controversial was Charles Darwin? Was he a reluctant revolutionary? And how did he reconcile his religious convictions with his scientific values? When Darwin's theories were first published in the nineteenth century, he initially felt that the whole scientific establishment was against him. It took many years for Darwin to finally pluck up the courage to reveal his revolutionary theories and he only did so when a fellow scientist seemed to be about publish something remarkably, and coincidentally, very similar. This album puts Charles Darwin into context and explores the complex moral environment in which he worked, and in particular the perceived clash between evolutionary theory and traditional creationist beliefs. Jim Moore, Professor of the History of Science at The Open University, leads this exploration of Darwin and his times. The tracks on this album were produced by The Open University in collaboration with the British Council. They form part of Darwin Now, a global initiative celebrating the life and work of Charles Darwin and the impact his ideas about evolution continue to have on today’s world. © The British Council 2009.