Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Science division - Academy scientists conduct research around The world, collecting samples that help them document biodiversity, trace evolution, and track environmental changes over time. For over 200 years, Academy scientists have preserved, curated, and studied what is now a world-class collection of an estimated 19 million biological specimens that documents The history of life on earth. Academy researchers also work to understand, protect and restore environmental conditions through basic and applied research, working collaboratively with regulators, planners, practitioners, and stakeholders. Funding for research comes from federal, state, and local governmental agencies and foundations. Through festivals (such as our popular bug fest), members' night, behind-the-scenes tours, popular publications, and public programs (including The Academy town squares and conversations), scientists share their discoveries, enabling colleagues, visitors, and members to gain further insight into earth's environmental processes and how to maintain a sustainable future. Academy scientists continue to produce scientific publications and cultivate our collections by traveling on field trips and expeditions for research. The Academy and Drexel University's joint program biodiversity, earth and environmental science (bees) has grown with many new projects on The horizon as we continue to be The epicenter of discovery. Digitizing The collections, searching for genetic clues to biodiversity, and understanding environmental changes in local wetlands and watersheds, Academy scientists continue to be The leading researchers in Natural Sciences.

Library and archives - The Academy's library and archives is internationally recognized for its rare and historic collection of more than 250,000 titles that span five centuries, as well as over a million items, including manuscripts, correspondence, field notebooks, films, journals, photographs, and works of art. In may 2022, The Academy appointed its first martha hamilton and i. wistar morris iii executive director of The library and archives to strengthen The department's leadership and reinforce its position within Drexel and Philadelphia, as well as among national and international research communities. The library and archives provides services to both a wide range of scholarly users and The general public. The department frequently hosts research appointments, special class tours, and sessions with The Drexel academic community. Its holdings and services are regularly used by Academy scientists, collections experts, and external researchers. Materials from The library and archives continue to be popularly featured in The Academy's programs, exhibits, and digital outreach.

Education - The Academy brings Natural science to life through three floors of engaging permanent exhibits, dinosaurs and dioramas, as well as The children's nature discovery center, outside in, that facilitates hands-on experiences with live animals. While visitation to The Academy is still rebounding from The effects of The global covid-19 pandemic, we welcomed more than 80,000 visitors in The fiscal year 2022. This past summer, The number of group visits for summer camps continued to increase, and The attendees in The Academy's beloved explorers camp rose significantly.the Academy continues to offer exciting new initiatives aimed at taking our visitor experience to The next level. In fiscal year 2022, we launched The museum innovation fund, a project that inspires Drexel faculty to experiment with The Academy as a space for new approaches to museums and public engagement. For water year, The Academy presented two exhibitions in The william b. dietrich gallery. Invisible world of water invited visitors to marvel at snow crystals and diatoms and consider The history of their discoveries through art and science. The river feeds back presented a soundscape of The schuylkill river by artists annea lockwood and liz phillips. In our temporary exhibition gallery, we presented extreme deep, an exploration of The fascinating realm of The deep sea, and ocean bound, a journey of water's movement from The mountains to The sea. We also mounted The large-scale public artwork watershed moment. Made possible through The pew center for arts & heritage, this thought-provoking projects on waterways was a collaboration between scientists in The Academy's patrick center for environmental research and artists in new paradise laboratories.the community learning division continues to create community-centered activities with The intent to mobilize environmental justice leaders and civically minded individuals. Partnering with communities across The city, The Academy continues to provide science-infused curriculum to schools and educators, support professional development within a network of educators, and create programs for students that promote environmental justice. The Academy's nationally recognized and award-winning women in Natural Sciences (wins) program, a free after-school and summer enrichment program for young women, continues to introduce hundreds of high-school students to future careers in science. Our engineering wins program infuses wins lessons with engineering content and continues to connect students with scientists who serve as mentors.