E-Newsletter: April 2019
The Science History Institute preserves and celebrates
our scientific and technological culture and makes it accessible
for investigation and knowledge creation.
In the Spotlight
The Science History Institute invites you to our Philadelphia headquarters on Wednesday, May 8, for Heritage Day , our annual celebration of the achievements and promise of the sciences and technologies that shape material culture and innovation. This signature event features panel discussions, an awards luncheon and dinner, and the “Adopt-a-Collection” auction, which gives attendees the opportunity to “adopt” items from our collections , including rare books, fine art, manuscripts, and photographs.
We are proud to honor our 2019 award recipients:
Sangeeta Bhatia headshot
Othmer Gold Medal

Wilson Professor of Medical and Electrical Engineering, MIT; Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator; Director, Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine
Fred Frank headshot
Richard J. Bolte Sr. Award for Supporting Industries

Chair, EVOLUTION Life Science Partners
Henry Schaefer headshot
American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal

Graham Perdue Professor of Chemistry, University of Georgia
The Center for Oral History at the Science History Institute provides training to individuals interested in learning oral history and research interview methodologies, both for historical research generally and for work in the history of science, technology, engineering, and medicine specifically.

Join us at one of our training workshops being held this summer.
Oral History Training Institute

Monday, June 3–Friday, June 7
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

Monday, July 8–Friday, July 12
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Science History Institute
Philadelphia, PA

Monday, July 15–Friday, July 19
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Creating Narrative Podcasts with Oral Histories

Producing podcasts offers an appealing option for anyone interested in creating audio stories built around oral history.

Thursday, June 27
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Science History Institute
Philadelphia, PA
📷 Science History Institute/Jay Muhlin.
We’ve just unpacked our bags from our trip to San Francisco, where we hosted our eighth annual Life Sciences Pioneers Dinner celebrating the Bay Area’s biotech community. The April 2 event included a networking reception and a talk titled “The Birth and Postnatal Evolution of Biotechnology” led by Stanley N. Cohen, the Kwoh-Ting Li Professor of Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine. On March 5 the Science History Institute also held our second annual Boston-area Pioneers Dinner, which featured a discussion on RNAi therapeutics led by Alnylam founder Phillip Sharp and Alnylam CEO John Maraganore.

📷 The Boston-area biotech community gathers for the second annual Life Science Pioneers Dinner. Science History Institute/Randall Garnick.
New from Distillations
Distillations : Stories from the intersection of science, culture, and history.

Before Bill Nye the Science Guy, there was Professor Harvey E. White of Continental Classroom .

Listen to this podcast about the evolving technology of desalination and how we can harness nature to deliver us from drought.
Upcoming Events
The Science History Institute is proud to produce a wide range of public programs and events  aimed at students, scholars, professionals, and the scientifically curious. Events take place at the Science History Institute’s headquarters in Philadelphia unless otherwise noted.
April 11 | 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
The April gathering of the Joseph Priestley Society features a moderated discussion among experts collectively experienced in invention, innovation, commercialization, business growth and management, and funding.
April 13 | 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Our April Saturday Speaker Series features radiologist Susan Summerton, who turns ordinary medical X-rays into original works of art that connect patients and doctors to their shared community. Next Saturday Speaker Series event: Interpreting the Periodic Table through Art on May 11.
April 16 | 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.
Join us for our Lunchtime Lecture Series informal talks on the history of chemistry and related subjects featuring Lucía Lewowicz, Herdegen Fellow at the Science History Institute. More Lunchtime Lectures on April 29 , April 30 , May 14 , and May 21 .
April 16 | 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
TMC Innovation Institute | Houston
The Chao Symposium explores issues of innovation as they relate to the historical, current, and future role of Houston, Texas, as a leader in a technologically based society.
April 28 | 2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
American Philosophical Society
Find out what it takes to be a historian of science at this free event, one of our featured programs at the citywide Philadelphia Science Festival taking place April 26 to May 4.
April 29 | 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
National Mechanics
Join us for a special Philadelphia Science Festival edition of Science on Tap , a monthly science caf é” held at National Mechanics, a relaxed, convivial bar in Old City.
May 2 | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Independence National Historic Park
See how the periodic table evolved over time at another one of our fun, free programs being held during the nine-day  Philadelphia Science Festival .
May 11 | 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Our monthly  WikiSalon offers Wikipedia enthusiasts and those interested in learning more a casual gathering spot for discussion and collaboration. More WikiSalons on June 8 , July 13 , August 10 , September 14 , October 12 , November 9 , and December 14 .
May 23 | 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Presented in celebration of the Rare Earths Initiative and the International Year of the Periodic Table , this gaming adventure uses a real-world scenario where Cold War tensions meet the Wild West during the uranium prospecting boom of the 1950s.
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Connect with Us
The Science History Institute e-newsletter is published every other month. Comments, questions, or suggestions? Contact enews@sciencehistory.org
 
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