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The Academy of Natural Sciences, Photo by Will Klein

This Saturday and Sunday, August 14th and 15th, stop by the Academy of Natural Sciences for their annual Bug Fest, a celebration of all things creepy and/or crawly. This is the third year the Academy has hosted the event, and this one will center around Lorenzo Langstroth, the father of American beekeeping.

During the weekend-long festival, guests can watch Steve “The Beeman” wear a beard of bees as he lectures about the importance of the little insect. Scientists at the Academy will race roaches (you heard me), introduce you to over 50 species of live insects, and demonstrate how to properly collect and pin your own insect collection.

All of this making you… hungry? You can sample exotic foods made with insects, prepared by Cajun chef Zack Lemann.

For more information on the festival, check out the Academy of Natural Sciences’ official website.

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

Outside the Please Touch Museum

Like the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Please Touch Museum is offering up free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families, all Summer long.

The promotion starts on Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day 2010.

For more information on the Please Touch Museum, including hours and directions, visit their official website.

Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 581-3181
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org

The Academy of Natural Sciences, Photo by Will Klein

From Memorial Day (May 28th) to Labor Day (September 6th), active duty military and their families are invited to the Academy Natural Sciences, completely free of charge.

This comes just in time for the opening of the Academy ‘s latest exhibit, Creatures of the Abyss, which opens at the museum on June 5th, running until Labor Day.

For more information on the Academy and the number of events at the museum, be sure to visit their official website.

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

Celebrate Earth Day @ the Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences is opening their doors for a free, open-to-the-public talk on Monday, May 10th, with renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle.

Earle will be talking about her new book, The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Oceans Are One. She’ll also be  screening a short film and signing copies of her book after the talk.

The event is free, but reservations are required. To register, visit the lecture’s official Eventbrite page.

Sylvia Earle @ the Academy
Monday, May 10th, 2010, 7pm

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

Print by Thomas Horsfield, Image courtesy the Academy of Natural Sciences

In the early 19th century, recent medical school grad Thomas Horsfield, of Bethlehem, PA hopped on a ship to Java and spent almost 20 years there studying the plant and animal life. In First Impressions, a series of botanical ink prints, the Academy of Natural Sciences displays the fruits of his labor in a new way.

During his time in Java, Horsfield painstakingly applied ink to over 300 types of plants and pressed them between sheets of rice paper to keep a scientific record of each one; the resulting print is an almost hand-painted looking, frame-worthy work of art. The Academy thought so, and worked with Brilliant Studios of Exton to produce prints of a selection of his original 759 images.

Looking at the prints, lined up along either side of the gallery hall, you’d think you walked into an art gallery. You’d never guess the black and white, richly textured floral “paintings” were 100 year old scientific documents, that is, if you weren’t at the Academy of Natural Sciences where a lot of things aren’t what they initially seem to be.

If you haven’t been to the Academy of Natural Sciences since your last elementary school field trip, it’s worth a trip back – though it’s a fun and educational experience for kids, the exhibits are just as engaging for adults. In addition to this exhibit, there are permanent exhibits including Live Butterflies, the Dinosaur Hall, and dioramas which are both nostalgic and intriguing.

There are also workshops including Fossil Casting, lectures, clubs like the Philadelphia Botanical Club, various shows, programs such as Women in Natural Sciences, and much more. If you’re looking for something interesting to do in the city, the Academy is a great place to start.

Art of Science: First Impressions
Now through May 2, 2010

The Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

The Scientist, a magazine about life sciences, recently visited the Academy of Natural Sciences, and shot a video about their two exhibits that blend science and art.

Check it out!

Beyond the Field Trip @ The Scientist [ Link ]

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

Photo by Henry Horenstein, courtesy the Academy of Natural Sciences

“Sometimes the inside of something reveals hidden relationships that the outside masks. It’s like people – on the outside, we all look different, but on the inside we’re very much the same,” muses Barbara Ceiga, Vice President for Public Operations at The Academy of Natural Sciences.

This is illustrated quite literally in the Looking at Animals exhibit currently on display at the Academy. Through a series of two dozen black and white photographs by Henry Horenstein, accompanied by specimens from the Academy’s collection, the beauty, diversity, and ultimately the connection between all animals – including us – is explored.

A stunning photo of flamingos is juxtaposed with the skull of a flamingo, seen through a mini-aquarium of brine shrimp (better known as sea monkeys to many of us). An unusual closeup of a giraffe’s legs sits next to a large pile of bones making up a complete giraffe skeleton. A picture of an elephant’s wrinkly, stumpy foot is contrasted by a surprisingly human-looking skeletal foot.

There are many other things to see, all of which present animals in a way we don’t typically see them. A pig’s fuzzy snout, a hippo’s undulating spine, a crane’s long, curvaceous neck. The exhibit closes with a mirror, once again reminding us of our fundamental connection with the animals we’ve just seen.

This exhibit can be enjoyed by adults and children alike – as Barbara pointed out, children enjoy identifying the animals and their parts, and adults appreciate the artistic value of the photos and specimens.

Looking at Animals: Photographs by Henry Horenstein
Now through May 16th, 2010

The Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1195
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

Celebrate Earth Day @ the Academy of Natural Sciences

Not up for running? That’s okay. The Academy of Natural Sciences also has an Earth Day event planned, with their annual weekend festival.

This is the 40th anniversary of the Academy’s ongoing Earth Day fest, which will run this Saturday and Sunday, April 17th & 18th, from 10am to 5pm each day.

Guests can meet chemists, engineers, and scientists from the Academy, all of whom will demonstrate their work with environmental research. Visitors can make crafts, conduct their own experiments, enjoy a performance of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax by the College Settlement Outdoor School, and more.

All activities are free with general museum admission.

Earth Day Festival @ the Academy of Natural Sciences
Saturday and Sunday, April 17–18, 2010

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

Print by Thomas Horsfield, Image courtesy the Academy of Natural Sciences

Did you know the Academy of Natural Sciences has an art gallery? Well, they do. And you should check it out.

Their current exhibit, entitled First Impressions, displays the print work of Thomas Horsfied. Local to Philadelphia and a member of the Academy, Horsfield was the first American scientist to explore Southeast Asia.

The exhibit features 22 of his prints, which “he made by applying ink to the plants he collected on the Indonesian island of Java.” The point of the gallery is to show off the scientific achievements of this explorer, while revealing the striking, artistic nature of his work.

To learn more about The Art of Science and upcoming galleries at the Academy, visit their official website.

Art of Science
Now through May 2nd, 2010

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

Academy of Natural Sciences

Next week, the Academy of Natural Sciences opens up a new art exhibit, displaying the stunning photography work of Henry Horenstein.

The exhibit, entitled Looking at Animals, consists of 24 large-format, black-and-white images that compliment many of the Academy’s research collections, and show some of these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. I’ve posted two photos after the jump, have a look.

Knowing the Academy, we’ll likely see some excellent events themed around the exhibit through the coming months. I’m looking forward to it.

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

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Heads up! The George Washington Carver exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences closes this weekend. On display since November, the exhibit displays over 150 historical artifacts from his life, as well as videos, interactive displays and more.

The exhibit is free with museum admission. Go check it out. Last day to see the display is this Sunday, February 28th.

For more information on the exhibit, visit the Academy of Natural Sciences’ official website.

George Washington Carver @ the Academy
Now through February 28th, 2010

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

The Academy of Natural Sciences

Next weekend, the Academy of Natural Sciences is inviting visitors to craft their own jewelry from plants, just in time for the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Participants will meet Jane Kilduff, a judge and participant at the Philadelphia Flower Show, known for her fantastic  nature-inspired jewelry. She’ll share her techniques with guests, and afterwards, class participants can tour the Academy’s George Washington Carver exhibit, to learn how nature influenced him.

Tickets are $30, which includes admission to the exhibits and the class.

Nature Jewelry Craft Workshop @ the Academy
Saturday, February 27th, 1pm – 2:30pm

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org