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The Mütter Museum, home to Marie Curie’s electrometer, Dr. Benjamin Rush’s medicine chest and the death cast of Chang and Eng, the original Siamese Twins, is one of more than 55 festival collaborators. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

For two weeks in April, dozens of programs across Philadelphia (mostly free) will illustrate how vital science is to everyday life, from the technologies behind our favorite pastimes to the chemistry of the foods we eat.

The events are all part of the inaugural Philadelphia Science Festival, taking place April 15-28 in an effort to make science and technology more hands-on for Philadelphians. The Franklin Institute has brought together more than 55 local institutions in an unprecedented collaboration that builds on Philadelphia’s rich history of innovation.

A sampling of the events and activities to be featured:

• Carnival on the Parkway: Saturday, April 16. This free, open-air carnival around Logan Circle is the official kick-off event, featuring hands-on interactive exhibits and live entertainment in conjunction with the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Book Festival.

• Science Day at the Ballpark with the Philadelphia Phillies: Wednesday, April 20. The Phillies will host a “Science Day” to showcase the athletic side of science, featuring family activities, science demos set up throughout the concourse and trivia on the jumbotron about the science of baseball.

• Astronomy Night: Thursday, April 21. The region’s top astronomers will have their telescopes set up at iconic locations across the city so you can take “guided tours” of the stars. Observatories at Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Franklin Institute will open to the public.

• Murder Mystery Night at the Mütter Museum: Thursday, April 28. Discover the thrills of forensic science by participating in your own murder mystery, with help to solve the case from the museum, Philadelphia University, University of the Sciences, University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Police Department’s Forensic Unit.

More events below.

• Science Story Slam: Friday, April 15, 2011. First Person Arts storytellers compete at the Parkway Central Library against another U.S. city (TBD) to prove their prowess with stories about science.

• The Big Jump: Friday, April 15, 2011. Philadelphians will work together to trigger a seismic event, jumping en masse to create a veritable “earthquake” and have it measured with seismographs.

In addition, the festival will include lectures with local science and engineering luminaries, walking tours, food-science events at restaurants and science-based performances.

Check out the festival’s Foursquare page to check in at each of the participating locations citywide. And check online for an updated schedule of festival events, set to be finalized in the next few weeks.

Philadelphia Science Festival
When: April 15-28
Where: Locations throughout the city
Cost: Varies
More info: www.philasciencefestival.org