Neighborhood Naturalists exhibited the role that everyday people have played in science throughout history by observing and documenting the natural world.

The exhibition showcased historical and contemporary community science projects including the annual Philadelphia City Nature Challenge, a community-driven event that invites people of all ages to explore the natural world. By recording biodiversity, these community efforts help scientists track environmental changes and generate data that support scientific research, inform policy and empower communities to take action.

Neighborhood Naturalists encouraged the science to continue outside of the walls of the Academy’s museum, with events like Nature at Noon and City Nature Challenge meetups that brought communities together to explore the natural world in their own backyards.