First Friday: Take Note

Get a glimpse into what students of the past left behind in their laboratory notebooks. Love notes, doodles, mysterious scribbles, clever quotes: what do you take note of in class?

School is back in session, so make your first field trip to the Science History Institute this First Friday! Flip through history with a selection of historical lab notebooks filled with scientific discoveries, unexpected artwork, and a few lingering mysteries. Then take a page from the past and create your own lab notebook! There will be hands-on crafts and activities for all ages.

Ever taken a science class? What experiment—or lab mishap—has stuck with you over the years? Drop by the museum and share your favorite classroom memories. We’d love to compare notes!

Science has been taught in countless ways through the ages. From children’s chemistry sets to building block models of molecules. Explore the many tools people have used to understand the world around them through our handling collection.

Many of the artifacts on display tonight will be featured in the upcoming Closer Read exhibit on historical laboratory notebooks. At 6pm, curator Taylor Bailey will offer a brief preview of the exhibition and highlight a few fascinating stories hidden in the margins.

Be sure to pencil this event into your calendar. (Don’t worry, there won’t be a pop quiz!)

Othmer Library Tours

Did you know? We are giving public tours of our research library every First Friday! Come by at 5:15pm to get a behind-the-scenes look upstairs at the resources and archives available to all scientifically curious minds. Registration is not required, but space is limited. Learn more here.

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.

Featured image from Cours d’histoire naturelle, de physique, et de chimie fait par M. Monfrin, October 1899–July 1900.