Science History Institute

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!Since its founding in 1988, the Othmer Library at the Science History Institute has been a haven for research in the history of science—but there's more to the story. Explore the reading room on a guided tour, learn how our collection has grown, and discover why we have one of the most comprehensive rare book collections on chemistry and its alchemical roots.Guests 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

January 2026 Meeting of the Joseph Priestley SocietyHarvesting Earth's internal heat has been practiced since Roman times, but recent interest has grown in geothermal as a reliable, continuous clean power source. Brian Schmidt of Geothermal Rising will overview the industry's history and technological advances. Jill Karpinski and Andy Feick of Swarthmore College will share details about transitioning their campus heating and cooling systems to geo-exchange as a cost-effective climate mitigation strategy with minimal campus disruption.About the SpeakersBrian Schmidt has served as librarian and industry analyst for Geothermal Rising since 2011. Previously, he served in a variety of library and research