Academy Town Square
Event
Information
Dates
Stay tuned for upcoming events!
6:00 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.
Location
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Cost
Pay-As-You-Wish
Academy Town Square convenes thought-provoking conversations inspired by the natural world and the challenges shaping our future. Through talks, panels and discussions, the program features scientists, educators, community leaders and other experts who explore topics such as biodiversity, climate, health, conservation and innovation.
Designed to be welcoming and intellectually engaging, Town Square fosters thoughtful exchange, critical inquiry and the sharing of diverse perspectives. The program encourages meaningful connections between science and society, inviting audiences to reflect, ask questions and consider how knowledge informs understanding and action in the world around them.
Past Academy Town Squares
Watch our previous Town Square Events.
Academy Town Square: Tending the Canopy
Trees line many Philadelphia streets and shade neighborhood parks and green spaces. The trees make our city more breathable and livable, help cool our neighborhoods during the warmest months and, according to studies, support both our mental and physical health.
Academy Town Square: Dinosaurs in Your Backyard
Haddy has returned! The new mount of Hadrosaurus foulkii, the first dinosaur skeleton ever publicly displayed in the world, is back on view in the Academy of Natural Science’s Dinosaur Hall.
And this dinosaur is significant for our region in more ways than one!
Academy Town Square: Birding Is for Everyone
Join the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) and the Academy of Natural Sciences in welcoming Dexter Patterson — also known as the Wisco Birder — for a heartfelt and inspiring session on the power of birdwatching to connect, heal and uplift. With his signature joy and dynamic storytelling, Dexter shares how discovering birds led him on a journey of healing, purpose and community building.
Academy Town Square: Stemming the Tide: How Philly Is Preparing for Floods in a Changing Climate
Join us for the next Academy Town Square, where WHYY’s Maiken Scott moderates a powerful conversation with city officials and community organizers who are working to build resilience plans to reduce the impacts of climate change in Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Academy Town Square: Reading the Rocks: How Geology Tells the Earth’s Story
This Academy Town Square originally took place June 14, 2024 Our planet is so old, it’s hard to wrap your head around – let alone fathom how short our lifespans on earth are – when compared with just about anything in the realm of geology. Join us for the WHYY & Academy Town Square where Maiken Scott explores with geologist and author Marcia Bjornerud how thinking like a geologist can have immeasurable impacts beyond our time.
