Mummies, baseball and hallucinogens -- these are just a few of the marvels explored in the third annual
Philadelphia Science Festival, created by the
Franklin Institute. Running April 18 through 28, the festival offers over 100 events throughout the city.
Over the past two years, the Festival has engaged over 120,000 people, including 30,000 students. The hallmark of the fest is promoting "citizen scientists" and all events are interactive. Here are a couple of our picks:
For fans of local fare, Yards is offering
Beer Chemistry: Perfect Pairings, a chemistry lesson with a brewmaster’s twist -- and carefully selected food and beer pairings. Elsewhere, Chef Max Hansen of
Max Hansen Catering will illustrate the science behind farm-to-table with a four-course meal during
The Sustainable Table: A Dinner Experience.
Sustainability seekers should also check out
Sweet and Savory: Hives and Honey, a bee expo led by local beekeepers;
Urban Farming at
Bartram’s Garden, an exploration of agricultural science; and
Naturepalooza!, an outdoor Earth Day celebration hosted by the
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.
Those still awaiting the zombie uprising can watch local taxidermist extraordinaire Beth Beverly -- her accessories fashioned from road kill earned her a spot on
AMC’s Immortalized -- demonstrate how to bring the dead back to life with
Skinned, Stuffed and Mounted: Taxidermy Exposed. They can also help solve a mystery pandemic at
Murder at the Mütter: Outbreak! and learn how to compile forensic evidence while listening to live music from Cornbread Five during
Nerd Night: CSI.
Arts and culture lovers will appreciate a multi-media presentation from the
Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts [PIFA] on
Icarus at the Edge of Time, based on the children's physics book of the same name.
Breadboard will also open a
Cellular/Molecular Exhibit showcasing local bio- and chem-inspired art. Meanwhile, the
Science of Jazz will demonstrate sound waves at work using live scores.
And be sure to save room for the
Science Carnival, the Science Festival's signature event featuring live science demos outside on the Ben Franklin Parkway.
For more on the festival -- and to check out a full calendar of events -- visit PhilaScienceFestival.org.