The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

The Academy is advancing research, education, and
public engagement in biodiversity and environmental science.

PLACEHOLDER - Illustration of animal bones

At the Academy

From hands-on science workshops and engaging lectures to family-friendly weekend and evening events, the Academy offers a dynamic range of experiences that inspire curiosity and connect people of all ages with the natural world.

A T-rex skeleton being illuminated by pink and green lights.

A group of school children looking at a fossil being shown to them by two educators.

Event

Dinos After Dark

Enjoy pay-what-you-wish admission (recommended donation amount is $10), a festive, family-friendly atmosphere and the Dino Drafts Beer Garden in Dinosaur Hall.

See Dinos After Dark

ANS

Field Trips for Schools, Camps and Community Groups

Whether you prefer a structured visit, or you’d like time to explore the museum on your own, we promise that our interactive field trip ideas will make your experience memorable.

Take a field trip

ANS

Host Your Event at the Academy

Treat your guests to a spectacular event they won’t forget. Enjoy a memorable evening paired with amazing food, superior service and a setting unlike any other in Philadelphia.

Imagine your event

Exhibit

Spotlight Gallery: Neighborhood Naturalists

Neighborhood Naturalists explores how community scientists document nature, track environmental change, and support research through hands‑on observation.

Experience Neighborhood Naturalists

From our Journal

I want to learn more about

Reuse, Rewear, Repair

Find new uses for the old items in your closets, bins and baskets.

A needle and thread with multiple flowers hand sewed with a variety of colors.

Why and How to Grow Native Gardens

Gardens can be a sanctuary for those who plant them. But why stop there? They can also be a sanctuary for local pollinators and fauna and a boon to the local ecosystem, if you include native plants.

A monarch butterfly sitting on a flower stem.

Recollections: Camas and Botany of Nations

Behind the scenes, the Academy of Natural Sciences is preparing for Botany of Nations: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery, rooted in one of the Academy’s most iconic collections, the Lewis & Clark Herbarium.

A vast field with flowers in the foreground and trees in the background of the Weippe Prairie.

How to Have a Green and Sustainable Holiday Season

It’s that time of year to celebrate winter, gather with family, friends and loved ones and think about all the good you’ll do in the new year.

Several orange and white pumpkins sit on a wooden table in front of a wood house.

A Force for Nature

The Academy of Natural Sciences advances scientific understanding of the natural world through original research, stewardship of one of the world’s most significant scientific collections and sharing our discoveries through exhibits and educational programs. Our work connects past and present evidence to address today’s environmental challenges and inform the future of life on Earth.

19

million specimens

and archival treasures studied and cared for by Academy staff
2+

centuries

of research and discovery since the Academy's founding in 1812
80+

years

of leading critical research for water conservation efforts

A group of moths pinned in a collection.

Make a Difference

Support Our Research

You can be a force for nature with a donation to Academy research.

Become A Member

Your membership supports our efforts to ensure a healthy, sustainable and equitable planet.

A force for nature

A force for nature since 1812. Home to over 19 million scientific specimens, cutting-edge research & exhibits that inspire care for our natural world.

@acadnatsci

Spotlight Gallery: Neighborhood Naturalists

At the Academy

From our Journal

Volunteers Needed to Transcribe Field Journals

10 Hikes to Explore Our Watershed