The museum and library will be closed Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

This First Friday we launched Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race, a Distillations podcast and magazine project that examines the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine.

The Innate podcast season and accompanying articles uncover hidden histories, unpack age-old misconceptions, and highlight those making change today.

Our kick-off celebration featured a live listening party and Q&A with the Distillations podcast team: Lisa Berry Drago, Mariel CarrRigoberto Hernandez, and Alexis Pedrick, who is also the Innate project lead. Visitors could take a peek behind the scenes, hear clips and bonus audio, and join the conversation with our producers and hosts.

The evening also included light snacks, a scavenger hunt in our museum, a rare book display, and a button making craft activity.
 

This event was supported in part by:

Aetna Better Health Kids: A CHIP Health Plan

About First Fridays

Spark your curiosity while exploring the exhibits after hours! First Fridays bring together a myriad of activities covering everyday science, historical oddities, and everything in between. Grab your friends, and kick off an evening of discovery, surprise, and a little nerdy fun.

First Fridays at the Institute are always free and open to the public. Attendees will receive a 10% discount to National Mechanics restaurant.

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