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• Who: Everyone you know or don’t yet know
• What: Real Scientists. Real Conversations. Real Bar.
• Where: National Mechanics
• When: The second Monday of every month at 6:00 p.m.

Science on Tap is a monthly science café in Philadelphia for anyone who is interested in getting together with other people to discuss a range of engaging science topics.

Held at National Mechanics, a relaxed, convivial bar in Old City, Science on Tap features a brief, informal presentation by a scientist or other expert followed by lively conversation. The goal is to promote enthusiasm for science in a fun, spirited, and accessible way, while also meeting new people. Come join the conversation!

What's on tap?

March 8, 6:00 p.m.

“The Impact of Meteors on the Origin and Early Evolution of Life”
Alexandra Krull Davatzes, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology, Temple University

Meteorite impacts to the Earth were larger and more frequent early in its history, just when the first life forms on Earth were evolving. What effects did these impacts have? One idea is called impact frustration, where all of the first life forms were killed off in one or more massive extinctions, and life had to start anew. This means that the universal ancestor from which all life on Earth evolved may just be the last common ancestor. Another idea proposes that, rather than killing off life, meteors may have actually helped to seed the planet by panspermia, bringing biological material from another planet, or meteorite impacts may have provided the energy to create biological materials from a primordial soup. Dr. Davatzes will discuss these and other aspects of the critical role of meteorite impacts in defining the early Earth’s environment and habitability.

Presented by the American Philosophical Society (APS) Museum.

 

April 12, 6:00 p.m.

Please check back soon for details.

 

May 10, 6:00 p.m.

“The Search for the Other Earth”
Derrick Pitts, Chief Astronomer, Franklin Institute

With 300 billion stars in our galaxy alone to survey, astronomers are discovering 3 new exo-planets a month, but the real goal is to find another “Earth.” Will we find other humans too? The race is on!

Presented by the Wagner Free Institute of Science.

Recent speakers
Click the dates for more information.

• February 2010
  “Imperialism and the Family Business: Population Structure and Political Change on the Central Coast of Peru”
  Lori Jahnke, S. Gordon Castigliano CLIR Fellow at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
  
  
  
• January 2010
  “The Origin and Evolution of Beer”
  Ernie Schuyler, Curator Emeritus of Botany, Academy of Natural Sciences
  
  
  
• December 2009
  "Dinosaur Studies in China"
  Peter Dodson, Professor of Paleontology and Gross Anatomy, University of Pennsylvania; Adjunct Professor of Paleontology, Wagner Free Institute of Science
  
  
  
• November 2009
  "Embracing Darwin"
  Colin Purrington, Associate Professor of Biology at Swarthmore College
  
  
  
• November 2009 – Bonus Science on Tap
  Dramatic Evolution: Bringing Science to the Stage"
  Flashpoint Theatre Company, Noah Herman, director;
  Derick Loafmann, Melissa Lynch, and Susan Giddings, actors
  
  
  

  October 2009
  "No Family History: Investigating What's Behind the Breast Cancer Epidemic"
  Sabrina McCormick, Fellow at the American Academy for the Advancement of the Sciences
  
  

• September 2009
  "Bringing Physics to Physicians"
  Robert Hicks, Director of the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
  
  

• July 2009
  "Cold Hard Science: Fossil Discoveries in the Canadian Arctic and the Origin of Limbed Animals"
  Ted Daeschler, Academy of Natural Sciences
  
  
  
• June 2009
  "The Unknown Skeleton – Forensic Anthropology and the Unsolvable Case"
  Janet Monge, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania and the Wagner Free Institute of Science
  
  
  
• May 2009
  “How the Tortoises Got their Shells and the Finches Got their Beaks: The Role of Evo-Devo in Solving Darwin’s Dilemmas.”
  Scott Gilbert, biologist at Swarthmore College
  
  
  
• April 2009
  "Take Some Fruit and Pass the Seeds." 
  Brenda Casper, plant ecologist and professor of biology at the University of Pennsylvania
  
  

Please note: this is an age 21+ event, although folks under 21 can come with a chaperone who is older than 25.

Science on Tap is sponsored by a consortium of five Philadelphia institutions: the Academy of Natural Sciences, the American Philosophical Society (APS) Museum, the Chemical Heritage Foundation, the Wagner Free Institute of Science, and the Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.