Academy Happenings
The Academy is open!
We are so excited to be welcoming visitors again!
Current Hours (Effective July 7)
General Public: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Members only: 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Your safety is our priority and we currently have:
- Enhanced cleaning protocols
- Timed ticketing and reduced capacity
- Required face coverings for visitors over 3
Click here for more details and FAQs
about our current safety protocols.
Invisible World of Water
The first project in the Academy of Natural Sciences’ yearlong focus on water renews our appreciation for the vital element of water through artworks that combine the marvel and insight of both scientific and artistic inquiry.
Centered around two micro-phenomena — snow crystals and diatoms — the exhibition will present parallel histories of observation and show the interplay between the micro-cosmic and macro-cosmic. Diatoms — microalgae — the wondrous jewels of water encased in glass, exist in virtually every body of water, lie at the heart of the food chain and generate a major portion of the world’s oxygen. They are often compared to snow crystals.
The exhibition includes illustrations of rare books (by Robert Hooke, Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg and Ernst Haeckel); Victorian-era arranged diatom slides by Harold Dalton and others; microphotographs by Snowflake Bentley and Ukichiro Nakaya; artifacts documenting the groundbreaking research of diatom scientist Ruth Patrick; contemporary ceramic sculpture by Marguerita Hagan; stop-motion imagery by physicist Kenneth Libbrecht; and high-resolution photography by Nathan Myhrvold. The Invisible World of Water considers the hidden connections and the flow between water, land and air through Earth’s hydrosphere.
The Academy of Natural Sciences’ important role in waterway ecology began with Ruth Patrick, a diatom researcher who advocated for an integrated, holistic approach to waterway health in her groundbreaking work in ecology.
Hidden Works of Nature: The Microscopic World in the Library & Archives
Every other Friday, January 7 through April 15
How did a 40-year-old draper with no formal education ignite the study of our microscopic world? How do archives document the Academy’s role in microscopy and the study of diatoms? Join us behind the scenes in the Academy’s Library & Archives as staff share collections that illuminate the stories behind scientific discovery.
These informal, 20-minute talks will take place at the top of each hour from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Please meet outside the Library & Archives entrance, inside the Dietrich Gallery.
Outside In
Our Outside In exhibit has reopened as of July 28!
Inquisitive minds of all ages can investigate animal habitats, explore science and the natural world and discover how
we all have a role to play in our ecosystem.
All exhibits are included in general admission.
Birthday Parties at the Academy
With a T. rex that has celebrated millions of birthdays, the Academy really knows how to throw a party!
Celebrate your child’s special day in a one-of-a-kind way! We offer theme parties for kids who love dinosaurs, butterflies, and bugs. Basic parties and add-on options are available. Members also save!
Click here to explore birthday parties at the Academy.
Junior Scientist Workshops
Are you naturally curious about the world around you? Do you dream of digging up dinos, walking with penguins or
diving with sharks? Are your pockets filled with rocks, shells and bugs?
If you answered yes to any of these, then you are a Junior Scientist!
Come on in for exclusive lessons taught by the Academy’s awesome scientists and savvy educators. Meet other kids who
share your passion for science and natural history. Check out rare specimens, learn more about your favorite topics
or discover something brand-new. Get exclusive access to the Academy’s world-renowned research and collections,
further enhanced by hands-on projects. Workshop themes change every month and feature natural science lessons led by
real scientists. We’ll bring the supplies, you bring your love of science and nature.
Junior Scientist Workshops are for children in grades 3–5.
Winter 2021-22 Series
- January 22 - What's So Might About a Diatom?
- February 12 - What Do Plants Have to Say?
- March 19 - Have You Been Living Under a Rock?
Click here for more details and to register.
Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs
What did the world look like before the dinosaurs? Step back 290 million years to when bizarre-looking creatures
dominated life on land and sea, and dinosaurs had not yet evolved. Permian Monsters blends vivid
artwork, amazing fossils and scientifically accurate models of moving beasts to recreate this relatively unknown
period when the greatest mass extinction wiped out creatures that will never be discovered. Explore odd-looking
sharks, strange reptilelike precursors of mammals, and the vicious predator the giant saber-toothed gorgonopsid.
Play paleontologist and dig for fossil casts, enjoy interactive games and more.
All exhibits are included in general admission.
Get Your COVID-19 Vaccination at Dornsife Center and receive free admission to the Academy of
Natural Sciences!
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is offering free admission to anyone who becomes fully
vaccinated for COVID-19 at Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships.
- Go to Dornsife Center located at 3509 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 on Thursdays from 1–4 p.m.
- Once you are fully vaccinated after your second shot, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dornsife-vaccine-free-ticket-tickets-165171389071
to reserve your free ticket.
- Show your COVID-19 vaccination card at the Academy’s front desk
Dornsife Center is Drexel's community-based resource center, where the Drexel community and West Philadelphia
residents and partners collaborate on issues of shared importance.
As a reminder, Drexel students, faculty and staff have free admission year-round. Just show your Dragon Card
at the door.
Last day to visit the Academy is January 31, 2022.
Self Guided Tours
Down the Hall and Around the World Self-Guided Family Expedition Tours
Free with admission; pick up onsite or download at home.
Ready to embark on an expedition? When you visit the Academy, grab a brand new, free self-guided tour to take a
closer look at Dinosaur Hall, North American Hall, and African and Asian Halls.
Explore each exhibit at your own pace. The answers will be right before your eyes or printed in the labels, so have
some fun on this expedition and travel to a whole new world in the halls of the Academy. What will you discover
today?
Like to preplan your route? Download the guides here!
Science From Home
Visit our Science From Home page for simple science activities, coloring pages, outdoor activities to explore the
nature around you, and more! We are constantly adding and changing the contents of this page, so check back often!
Click here for 50+ activities to try from
home.