Science Carnival

Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Logan Circle

Logan Circle will again become a science wonderland during the Philadelphia Science Festival's Science Carnival on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The event features more than 100 exhibitors offering family-friendly experiments, interactive activities, games, and the opportunity to meet scientists, engineers and mathematicians all day long.

This is a free event and no registration is necessary.

More information about last year's Carnival is available here!

The Great Vaccine Debate

Tuesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m., The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

For more than two centuries, vaccines have protected us against many of humankind’s deadliest diseases, prevented global epidemics, and saved countless lives. Yet in recent years a debate has sprung up on the safety of vaccination, causing some parents to forgo vaccinating their children. This has led to the return of some diseases, such as whooping cough and measles, as we begin to lose our “herd” immunity.

This event brings together panelists Hildegund C.J. Ertl, M.D., director of The Wistar Institute Vaccine Center, adjunct professor Paul A. Offit, M.D., Jason Schwartz, M.B.E., A.M., associate fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics and featured author Mark Largent, Ph.D.

Largent, a historian of science, and associate professor in James Madison College at Michigan State University will be speaking about his most recent book Vaccine: The Debate in Modern America, which traces parents' concerns about the potential harmful side effects of vaccines from the 1990s through modern debates over the alleged link between vaccines and autism.

This event is free of charge, but we ask you to register. Thank you!

Visualizing the Body Beautiful

Friday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m., Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Since before the days of Leonardo, artists and scientists have explored the complexity of the life sciences together, portraying human anatomy in health and disease. Philadelphia, the birthplace of both art and medicine in America, has played an important role in this history. Today, advances in technology are revolutionizing the interdisciplinary profession of artistic life scientists, now known as medical illustrators.

Wistar Director of Library Services & Archivist Nina Long will be presenting on how this visual journey reflects our cultural history and trace the evolution from classical illustration to today’s medical illustration.

This event is $10/person.

Science Scavenger Hunt

Saturday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m., all over Philadelphia

Discover Philadelphia’s rich science history through this scavenger hunt. Use an i-Phone app and QR code reader to trek city streets old and new. Find clues and learn about some of the amazing scientific discoveries that have been made in Philadelphia from colonial times to the present day. Visit museums and historic landmarks—maybe even a gravesite or two!—while racing for prizes and solving riddles along the way.

This event is free of charge, but we ask you to register. Thank you!