Philadelphia Science Action

“We have to band together to think outside the box to see what solutions we have. But we weren’t even given that opportunity, and a decision was made.”

Philly City Council members, advocates rally to keep Academy of Natural Sciences museum open City Council members are planning public hearings to find out how the museum got to the point of closing, as well as explore solutions.

📣📣 HAPPENING TOMORROW!! 📣📣
Councilmember Nina Ahmad will be following up on her recent public statements about the closure of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University with a press conference, followed by the introduction of a resolution in City Council. Here are the details:

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time: 8:45 AM
Location: Hallway outside Room 405, City Hall

We need all hands on deck here! Show up! Bring a friend or two! Invite your family! Bring your kids! The more people, the greater impact, the more attention we bring to the issue! If you can make it, please show up. If not, please share the details.

We start assembling between 8:30 and 8:45 am. Allow 15 minutes of time to enter the building on the north side and go through security.

The Academy's vast collections behind the public-facing exhibits are priceless, irreplaceable resources that inform our understanding of the natural world in ways that continue to evolve alongside scientific expertise and techniques. “Any administrative or structural changes at the Academy must prioritize the integrity of these collections. The destabilization of the institutional support or the specialist staff required to maintain these specimens for active use in research would represent an immense loss to the city of Philadelphia, the state of Pennsylvania, and the global scientific community.” Also, “My greatest concern is over keeping the collection together. It needs to be cared for, for reasons that extend well beyond Philadelphia and the academy. These are collections we hold in trust for the world.”

At the Academy of Natural Sciences, a closure won’t stop the ‘beating heart’ At the Academy of Natural Sciences, a closure won’t stop the ‘beating heart’

IDSA is calling for transparency around reports of plans to transfer NIAID funding to the Department of Defense and urges the Administration to ensure infectious diseases research funding is spent as intended by Congress.

Our statement: https://bit.ly/4iVjMvD

Couldn't make it to yesterday's Rally? There's still time to sign (& share!) a petition to urge Drexel University to keep the Academy of The Academy of Natural Sciences open. Photos courtesy of .fightins.online and .bsky.social
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/petition-to-keep-the-academy-of-natural-sciences-open-to-the-public?source=direct_link&&link_id=0&can_id=9fbae480c804a14d05712487ce13cf6d&email_referrer=email_3389023&email_subject=tactical-tuesday-sign-petition-to-keep-academy-of-sciences-open-become-an-election-captain&

More coverage of yesterday's Rally. ""If this is an emergency, then act like it's an emergency."

Demonstrators gathered outside the Academy of Natural Sciences on Tuesday morning to protest the museum's imminent closure — and call on its steward Drexel University to reverse course. Read more: https://www.phillyvoice.com/academy-of-natural-sciences-museum-closing-protest/

Coverage of yesterday's Rally. "“If we’re trying to get our kids active and off their phones, what’s better than bringing them down, walking them through the halls, and showing them things that have been there for eons. We can’t afford to lose it for future generations.”

reader.inquirer.com

Hope you can join us!

Supporters plan rally to protest closing of Academy of Natural Science Museum The nearly 200-year-old museum is the oldest natural history museum in the Americas.

Join us on Sunday to make posters for the Rally on Tuesday

Save the Academy Rally Poster Party · Luma Let's make some posters for our Save The Academy of Natural Sciences Museum Rally! Sarah will provide art supplies!

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🚨🚨The Academy of Natural Sciences needs our help🚨🚨

Drexel University announced on Tuesday that they plan to permanently close the Academy of Natural Science's public-facing museum at the end of this month.

We cannot allow that to happen.

Philly Science Action, Green Philly, and Skype a Scientist invite the people of Philadelphia to join us for a rally to hold Drexel University accountable for the closure of the Academy of Natural Sciences Museum on Tuesday September 8th at 10am.

We are asking Drexel to find a way to keep the museum open to the public past September of 2026.

For almost 200 years, the Academy of Natural Sciences has been dedicated to understanding the natural world and inspiring everyone to care for it.

At a time when climate change and science continue to be under attack, Philadelphia cannot afford to lose another institution that connects people to the natural world. From initiatives like Plastic Free Philly to Academy Town Halls that bring people together to discuss climate challenges, along with exhibits that make science accessible to the public, the Academy plays a critical role in our city.
This is an institution Philadelphia can’t afford to lose.

Save The Academy of Natural Sciences Museum Rally · Luma Philly Science Action, Green Philly, and Skype a Scientist invite the people of Philadelphia to join us for a rally to hold Drexel University accountable for…