The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Clean Water Fund presents the second annual Philadelphia Environmental Justice Summit—an evening of powerful storytelling, community-building, and collaboration. When: Monday, April 28, 2025, 4-9 PM Where: Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA This year’s theme, The Invisible Labor of Community Leaders, highlights the often unseen and underfunded work that sustains communities across Philadelphia. Five community leaders will take the stage to share their experiences, struggles, and victories; giving you an inside look at the grassroots efforts shaping our city’s environmental justice movement. But this event isn’t just about listening, it’s about action and connection that can lead to real-world collaborations,

Join us at the “Philly Green Reels” environmental film festival that will inspire and ignite your passion for environmental activism.Join us at the “Philly Green Reels” environmental film festival that will inspire and ignite your passion for environmental activism. Our festival showcases a selection of groundbreaking films that highlight the urgent need for action on critical environmental issues, all centered right here in Philadelphia. These films cover a range of ecological concerns we face today, spanning from the destruction of wildlife ecosystems to the catastrophic effects of climate change.Come witness the power of cinema as we bring together a diverse

Celebrated Urban Birder David Lindo in conversation with Jason Hall, Founder and President of In Color Birding Club.Presented in partnership with the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC)Celebrated Urban Birder David Lindo takes us around the urban world of birds. Over 20% of the globe’s bird species have been recorded within our towns and cities, sometimes without us noticing. You will be surprised by some of the species Lindo will be featuring. To see some of these great birds, all you have to do is open your hearts, minds and, importantly, look up! This program is presented in conjunction with Academy

Maiken Scott, host of WHYY’s The Pulse, in conversation with Jason Weckstein, Keith Russell and Brandon Cuffy.Maiken Scott in conversation with Jason Weckstein, Keith Russell and Brandon Cuffy During the fall 2020 migration season, a perfect storm of events led to the tragic deaths of thousands of birds from window strikes. This sorrowful occurrence galvanized a volunteer group called Bird Safe Philly, which is determined to prevent something similar from happening again. Through their Lights Out Philly campaign, the group was able to convince many of the city’s building owners to turn out their lights at night during the spring

Join us for a conversation with Maiken Scott, host of WHYY’s The Pulse, and regional planner/bird conservationist Zoe Warner, PhD.Grasslands: Restoring Bird HabitatMaiken Scott in conversation with Zoe Warner How can we help birds thrive? Join us for a conversation with Maiken Scott, host of WHYY’s The Pulse, and regional planner/bird conservationist Zoe Warner, PhD.Grassland birds — such as the beloved Bobolink and Meadowlark — are experiencing the most significant declines of any species due to habitat loss, landscape fragmentation, agricultural intensification and changes in land management. Scott will interview Warner about a 10-year study conducted in Chester County, Pennsylvania,

What do Philadelphia mayoral candidates for office think about climate and waste? Find out in this mayoral forum.Green Philly Climate & Environment Candidate ForumWhat do Philadelphia mayoral candidates for office think about climate and the environment? How will they prioritize environmental issues during their time as mayor? How will it affect your vote for the primary in May and in November? To aid citizens in their democratic deliberations, Green Philly is proud to host the candidate forum on the topic of 'Climate and Waste' for Mayoral candidates seeking to represent Philadelphia. Confirmed Candidates:Rebecca RhynhartRev. Warren Bloom Sr. Climate & Waste

The Green Living Plan underscores the connection between greening and environmental justice, and racial, health, and neighborhood equity.With a field of more than ten candidates vying to serve as Philadelphia’s next Mayor, the organizations and neighborhoods represented by The Green Living Plan (GLP) seek to gain the field’s pledge to expand city investment in underserved communities and address top environmental and quality of life concerns, using a citizen-driven lens that differs in focus from the fiscal models currently in place.GLP’s Executive Committee is comprised of 13 local environmental and neighborhood organizations, in partnership with academia, who have joined forces to

Oliver Milman will discuss his book The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires that Run the World in conversation with Maiken Scott.Oliver Milman’s The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires that Run the World bravely delves into the recent evidence revealing the alarming decline of the insect world. With a sense of measured urgency, Milman, an environmental correspondent for The Guardian, presents studies from across the globe to elucidate the magnitude of this hidden emergency. In conversation with Maiken Scott, host of WHYY's The Pulse, Milman will discuss the marvelous variety of insects (from butterflies to

Join us for a special conversation on the microsculpture of insects.“At high magnification the surface of even the plainest looking beetle or fly is completely transformed as details of their microsculpture become visible: ridges, pits or engraved meshes all combine at different spatial scales in a breath-taking intricacy.” - James Hogan  Join us for a special conversation on the microsculpture of insects hosted by Academy Curator of Entomology Jon Gelhaus, PhD. Microsculpture photographer Levon Biss and exhibition collaborator James Hogan, PhD, Curator of Life Collections at the Oxford University Natural History Museum, will zoom in from the U.K. to discuss

Join the Academy as we look toward the future of water.Join the Academy of Natural Sciences as we look toward the future of water — considering community resilience in relation to this fundamental element of human and ecological health. What are the key issues that we need to remain focused upon? What challenges do we see on the horizon? How do we keep the water flowing?   This program marks the Academy’s transition from Water Year 2022 to Biodiversity Year 2023. Moderator: Sharon Walker, PhD, Dean, College of Engineering; Distinguished Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering; Distinguished Professor in the

Be inspired by local heroes. Support sustainability in Philly. Attend the SustaInPHL Awards, an annual celebration for sustainability visionaries to unsung heroes making a difference in Philadelphia. Sample local fare and drinks. Hear inspirational stories from Philly changemakers. See the winners announced live on stage and receive reclaimed wooden awards. More exciting details to be announced soon! Please note the dress code for this event is Cocktail Attire recommended.

Join the Academy for the second summer Book Circle to read and discuss Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge by science journalist Erica Gies. Sessions are held every other week on Zoom, from July 27 to August 24, for a total of three sessions. Week 2 Reading Selection: pages 96–207 Chapter 4. Beavers: The Original Water Engineers Chapter 5. Reclaiming Historic Water Knowledge in Modern India Chapter 6. Planting Water: How Water Shaped Culture in Ancient Peru Chapter 7. Let Floodplains Be Floodplains: Antidote to the Industrial Era About Water Always Wins: “In this quietly radical book, science