Join our museum’s Gallery Guides for a “drop-in” tour that explores the vital impacts made by engaged communities on scientific discovery, environmental justice, and public health.

Our Science & Activism Tour invites visitors to consider these questions: Who is a scientist? Who is an activist? How does each bring about change?

Stories include the influential book Silent Spring by conservationist Rachel Carson and the rise of the environmental movement; ACT UP, the AIDS crisis, and the development of the patients’ bill of rights; the Black Panthers’ lead role in community testing for sickle cell anemia; and the community-led research conducted by neighborhood coalition groups fighting to make government and industry accountable for environmental injustice.

This tour offers a broad picture of the ways activists have reshaped our understanding of science and how visitors can become engaged today through community science.


Drop-in tours are free and no reservations are necessary.

PLEASE NOTE: Our museum will be temporarily closed December 22, 2024, through March 7, 2025, for renovations.

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journal with notes and sketch of an antelope
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Science on Tap

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Academy of Natural Sciences librarian Briana Giasullo will discuss her organization’s use of artificial intelligence and crowdsourcing to extract text from field journals and notebooks.

cover of a notebook
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Stories of Science: CollegeFest 2026

All Philadelphia-area college students are invited to visit us during CollegeFest, Campus Philly’s annual “Welcome to Philadelphia” celebration!

Color graphic with the title, Gender Minorities in the Sciences Panel
September 16, 2026
Programs, Lectures & Talks

Gender Minorities in the Sciences Panel

Scientists share their experiences and strategies for advancing equity and inclusion in STEM across gender-diverse communities.

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