Secular Assembly - The evolution of the Darwin-Wallace story: from history to pop science mythology

Name: Secular Assembly - The evolution of the Darwin-Wallace story: from history to pop science mythology
Start: 2026-02-28T14:00:00+08:00
End: 2026-02-28T17:00:00+08:00
Location: Harmony in Diversity Gallery

Schedule

Sat Feb 28 2026 at 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm

UTC+08:00

Location

Harmony in Diversity Gallery | Singapore, SG

Humanists celebrate Darwin Day to honour curiosity, evidence, and the scientific spirit that helps us better understand our world. We’re excited to welcome Dr John back as he revisits Darwin with a fascinating talk that separates myth from historical reality. In an age of fake news and AI-generated content, learning how stories are shaped, distorted, and believed has never been more important—for all of us.
Secular Assembly by Humanist Society Singapore is a monthly gathering of humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics and other like-minded people.
This month's Assembly is held in collaboration with Harmony in Diversity Gallery (HDG). Before the Assembly, there will be a optional 45mins tour of HDG.
Registration is required, please register at eventbrite linked in here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/humanistsg-the-darwin-wallace-story-from-history-to-pop-science-mythology-tickets-1980802752354
Featured talk - The evolution of the Darwin-Wallace story: from history to pop science mythology
Speaker: Dr John van Wyhe (Historian of Science, Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore, and Director of Darwin Online https://darwin-online.org.uk/)
The story of Darwin and Wallace is often told as a tale of injustice, where Wallace was overshadowed by the more famous Darwin. However, this popular version only emerged in the late 20th century and is not supported by historical evidence. Recent research shows that the original account, accepted for over a century, was accurate and that Wallace was not treated unfairly. The myth persists because stories of overlooked outsiders resonate strongly with modern audiences. This reminds us how easily history can be reshaped to fit the values and emotions of different generations.
Schedule of Assembly on 28 Feb 2026 (Sat)
2pm-2:45pm: optional HDG gallery tour. Please arrive 10mins early to find your way to the gallery, instructions below.
2:30-3:00pm: we invite participants not attending the HDG gallery tour to bring their books to our open library / book exchange outside the seminar room and mingle.
3:00pm – 4:30pm: Assembly session. Please arrive early for registration and check-in.
4:30pm onwards: End of event, optional mingle in small groups at Lau Pa Sat. Follow our Telegram channel to see what we sit.
Assembly session brief
There will be: short sing alongs, a talk/sharing, community sharing of personal stories and experiences, moments for reflection and gratitude, and more.
Collaboration with Harmony in Diversity Gallery (HDG)
The Harmony in Diversity Gallery (HDG) was developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with community partners and organisations like the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO). The Gallery aims to promote an appreciation of Singapore’s rich religious diversity. It hopes this will foster a spirit of give and take, mutual respect and understanding, necessary to nurture and strengthen the religious peace and harmony we enjoy today [in Singapore].