Science Sizzles in July
Philadelphia,
June 25, 2012
Science sizzles in July with the sights and sounds of cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians and warm-blooded mammals at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
There’s always something for science lovers of all ages at the Academy, which is celebrating its Bicentennial with special programming and the exhibit The Academy at 200 all year long. In July the focus is on those three groups of animals that include some favorite pets, such as turtles and mice, and their more exotic relatives, such as crocodiles and elephants. Visitors will learn the differences through live animal shows, a new sound installation, special specimen displays, behind-the-scenes tours, craft-making, and more. Here are some things to look for:
Mammal, Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15
- During this family-friendly weekend, visitors can compete in a frog-calling contest, play animal matching games, meet Academy scientists, enjoy live-animal shows, touch animal skulls and skins, and make an animal mask to take home. Auditorium shows are at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. More details are at ansp.org.
Special Animal Displays through July
- Display cases will be set up around the museum to showcase a wide sampling of furry, scaly and slimy specimens from the Academy’s Herpetology and Mammalogy Collections. Visitors will get a close-up look at a range of toothy alligator, crocodile and caiman skulls, the amazing diversity of squirrel species, and more.
Sound Art Installation through the summer
- A cacophony of animal sounds will fill North American Hall, where, normally, the moose reigns majestically and the grizzly bear ogles its fresh kill—in dead silence. An art installation called “Unfrozen in Time: Collective Voices of North American Hall” will bring the dioramas to life with roaring, braying, running, calling, chirping and all manner of sounds animals use to communicate. The sound composition was created by artist Lydia Hunn, who teaches four-dimensional design at Drexel University, and local musician John Avarese.
- Enjoy the rare opportunity to take a scientist-led tour of two research collections. Highlights of the mammal collection, totaling 23,000 specimens, include skulls of whales, large gliding squirrels, bats and aquatic opossums, the remains of the famous circus elephant “Bolivar,” and skulls acquired by physician-scientist Samuel G. Morton. Highlights of the Herpetology Collection of 36,000 specimens include a large hellbender salamander, vipers, a goliath frog, snakes, lizards and turtles.Tours are offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays. Tickets can be purchased at the admissions desk on the day of your visit. Fee is $7.50 for nonmembers, $5 for members. Ages 8 and up. For more information, call 215-299-1167.
Admission Discount on July 21
- Enjoy 2-for-the-price-of-1 admission on July 21 for the Bicentennial.
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