“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.”—T. Dobzhansky (The American Biology Teacher, 1973).

Like thousands annual events that commemorate the birthday of Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882), the founder of evolutionary biology, NOVA Darwin Day symposium celebrates the science that had fundamentally changed the notion of our perceived place in the universe. Open to all interested, a series of presentations by NOVA faculty in an informal atmosphere over coffee and cookies presents an amalgam of research notes, historical sketches, philosophical expose, and just ideas and opinions, all united by a common thread of evolution. Organized by a biology professors Dr. Ilya Temkin and Dr. Paul Fitzgerald in 2013, NOVA Darwin Day has seen a continuous growth in attendance by both faculty and students, and included participants from across the MSE disciplines. A representative sample of topics featured in NOVA Darwin Day since its inception includes