A Sip of Science is our signature soirée, bringing together science and history enthusiasts, community leaders, and Wagner supporters for an evening of celebration amid our sublime natural history collection.

Each year we honor local luminaries whose work in areas related to the Wagner’s mission, such as science, technology, architecture, or education, has had broad public impact. Last year we honored Darlene Cavalier as our honorary fellow and Karen Snetselaar and Mike McCann as Louisa Binney Wagner Service Award recipients.
Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2025 honoree.

November 14th, 2025—you’re invited

This year we’re celebrating 170 years of providing free science education to generations of Philadelphians. Help us commemorate this momentous occasion at our annual benefit party November 14th from 5:30 - 8:30pm at The Wagner Free Institute of Science.

Meet Darlene Cavalier

2024 Sip of Science Honoree

Darlene Cavalier, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society and founder of SciStarter, is a ceaseless champion for citizen science and impassioned science promoter. Her organization SciStarter is an online platform that links people of all educational backgrounds with active science research that they can participate in. The idea grew out of her Master’s project at the University of Pennsylvania, where Darlene explored ways for people without science degrees to meaningfully engage in science. Since 2011, SciStarter has grown into a worldwide citizen science hub that has connected millions of people to science.

In addition to her role as professor, Darlene is a Senior Global Futures Scientist at ASU’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and co-founded ASU’s Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology Consortium. She also founded Science Cheerleaders, a national non-profit that empowers girls to pursue their STEM dreams, is a National Geographic Fellow and Explorer and advises for the EPA and other organizations on issues of science, education, and policy. She was recently named co-chair of America 250's Innovation, Science, and Entrepreneurism Advisory Council and was appointed an Honorary Fellow at Southern Denmark University. A graduate of Temple University and of the University of Pennsylvania, she and her family live in Philadelphia, the home base from which she promotes science globally.

Through her dedication to sparking public engagement in science research and education, Darlene embodies the Wagner’s core purpose—to make science accessible to all!

This annual fundraiser raises crucial funds to sustain our historic institution and support our free educational programming.

Meet Karen Snetselaar & Mike McCann

2024 Louisa Binney Wagner Award Winners

Dr. Karen Snetselaar, Emeritus Professor and Department Chair of Biology at Saint Joseph’s University

Dr. Michael McCann, Emeritus Professor and Department Chair of Biology and Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Saint Joseph’s University

In 2023, The Wagner introduced a new award to recognize individuals who are committed to the Wagner and have significantly contributed to shaping its future. Named for William Wagner’s wife, Louisa, a devoted partner in creating the Institute, we presented the inaugural award to Dr. Arlene P. Bennett, a pioneering Philadelphia physician and an extraordinary friend and supporter of the Wagner. In 2024 we presented the 2nd Annual Louisa Binney Wagner Award to two special friends of the Wagner, Dr. Karen Snetselaar and Dr. Mike McCann.

Karen and Mike are Professors Emeriti of Biology at Saint Joseph’s University, our partner in creating the award-winning GeoKidsLINKS program that brings hands-on science to more than 1,000 North Philly kids each year. Karen led the partnership for over 20 years and both Karen and Mike were key to securing major support for the program from the National Science Foundation and multiple other foundations that helped GeoKidsLINKS expand and flourish over the years. As Wagner faculty members and speakers, they are incredibly popular among Wagner students. As dynamic educators, their knowledge, wit and generous spirits inspire students of all ages to become lifelong science learners and advocates.

In the spirit of Louisa Binney Wagner, we recognized Karen and Mike for their unstinting gifts of their time, talent, and expertise, and for their enduring support of the Wagner and its mission.

PAST HONOREES

  • Dr. Arlene P. Bennett

    2023 Inaugural Louisa Binney Wagner Award

    Dr. Arlene Bennett is a physician, psychiatrist, and valued friend of the Wagner. Aside from her long and distinguished medical career, Arlene is passionate about access to science and learning for everyone, which is what brought her to the Wagner. For nearly three decades, she’s been a vital supporter and advocate for the Wagner’s mission, frequently stewarding support and guiding growth for the Institute. She is an honorary member of the Wagner family and we are delighted to recognize her with the first Louisa Binney Wagner Award.

  • Lori Hayes with Wagner Honorary Award

    Lori Maple Hayes

    2023 Sip of Science Honoree

    Lori Hayes started her career with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation in 1981 as a summer intern. Over the years, she has worn many hats from Grounds Maintenance Worker to Park District Manage to Director of Urban Forestry. As leader of the Urban Forestry Division, Lori strived to make tree tending and arboriculture accessible to everyone through a variety of initiatives, including the city’s collaborative TreePhilly program. Lori retired in 2023 after an unparalleled 42-year career at Parks and Recreation, having created a growing urban forest and a legion of tree lovers and tenders to carry forward her work.

  • Lamar Gore with Wagner Honorary Award

    Lamar Gore

    2023 Sip of Science Honoree

    As the Refuge Manager of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum Gore is not only committed to protecting nature but to fostering an environment where all people can learn and engage with the flora and fauna around us. Since 2014, Lamar has led a shift at the refuge to connect with the communities around it and reconsider what it means to be a wildlife refuge in Philadelphia. He’s created programs for local youth, remedied transportation barriers that prevent people from visiting Heinz and other area green spaces, and is committed to addressing structural barriers that prevent people of color from becoming conservationists and wildlife biologists.

  • Vivian Wagner Gast

    2022 Sip of Science Honoree

    Vivian Wagner Gast is a descendent of the Institute’s founder, William Wagner, and has served two terms as Board President. Vivian took the helm for a second time in February 2020, to fill the leadership void left by the sudden loss of our then President, Laura Foster. Within less than a month of her term beginning, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the landscape in which the Wagner operates. For 2 years, Vivian gamely saw us through a myriad of unprecedented challenges and changes. She provided a strong and steady presence and navigating the Wagner through rapidly changing rules and expectations, and tremendous uncertainty about the future.

  • Dr. Kenneth Scott

    2021 Sip of Science Honoree

    As President & CEO of Beech Companies, Ken is an unequaled advocate for Wagner’s North Philadelphia community. He’s created thousands of jobs, built affordable housing, guided revitalization of Cecil B. Moore Avenue and invested in education. At the same time, Ken is a powerful force for science—advancing children’s education locally and shaping policies nationally. He’s served on the White House Advisory Board for Technology in Education and consults with industry leaders worldwide on science and tech development.

  • Robert McCracken Peck

    2019 Sip of Science Honoree

    Robert Peck is a writer, historian, and modern-day embodiment of the 19th century naturalist.

    As Senior Fellow at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, he has spent his career deepening our understanding of the history of natural science. He chronicles field expeditions and offers perspectives on our changing relationship to nature through his books, exhibits, and lectures that resonate equally with scholars and the general public.

  • Dr. Paul Offit

    2018 Sip of Science Honoree

    Dr. Paul A. Offit is a pediatrician, infectious diseases specialist, and renowned vaccine expert who has argued valiantly that the best approach to our well-being is a scientific one. He has waded boldly into major controversies, tackling the alleged link between vaccines and autism. He calmly presents the facts—and the need for science—in his prolific writings and advocacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has helped people navigate the crisis through widely accessible public talks, media appearances, and cogent articles that explain complex scientific processes in clear language.

  • Gerianne Tringali DiPiano

    2017 Sip of Science Honoree

    The founder of FemmePharma—a drug company based in Wayne—Gerianne Tringali DiPiano is a pharmaceutical entrepreneur who has devoted her career to addressing women’s unique health care needs. Just as the Wagner broke ground in the 1850s by offering classes to women, Gerianne has broken ground as an innovator for women, and as a woman innovator in a male-dominated field.

  • Dr. Stephen Tang

    2016 Sip of Science Honoree

    As CEO of the University City Science Center, Stephen Tang presided over a scientific renaissance in Philadelphia. Under his leadership, the Center grew from a research park to a powerhouse of tech innovation. Stephen embodies Wagner’s commitment to accessibility and education, and a belief in the power of science to create a better world.

  • Mark Dion

    2015 Sip of Science Honoree

    Mark Dion is a conceptual artist whose works borrow heavily from natural history, science, and the environment. Mark’s provocative installations—including a greenhouse in Seattle and a marine curiosity cabinet in Monaco—have reignited interest in 19th century science and museums, engaging a wide public in the history of institutions that shape our understanding of the natural world.

  • Dr. Peter Dodson

    2014 Sip of Science Honoree

    Dr. Peter Dodson, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is a leading dinosaur paleontologist. His fieldwork has brought him across the globe and yielded new species along the way. An exceptional teacher, Peter has inspired generations of paleontologists. His rigorous research, combined with his infectious joy of discovery, match the Wagner’s foundational values.

  • Derrick Pitts, HonD

    2013 Sip of Science Honoree

    Derrick Pitts is Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director at the Franklin Institute. An expert in planetariums, he curates the Franklin’s space exhibits, makes regular TV appearances, and hosts award-winning astronomy radio shows. Just as the Wagner aims to disseminate the latest scientific ideas, Derrick makes it his mission to share his knowledge with the public at large.