Weeknights at the Wagner
An evening lecture series, Weeknights at the Wagner invites experts into our Victorian lecture hall to speak on a wide range of science, history of science, and history subjects. Talks are held on weekday evenings during the school year and the museum is open until the talk begins. All talks are followed by a lively Q&A with the speaker.
Weeknights at the Wagner:
In Conversation with Judith Schaechter: Art, Science, and the “Super/Natural”
Thursday 12/11/2025, 6 - 7:30pm
Acclaimed stained glass artist Judith Schaechter will discuss her immersive installation "Super/Natural"—a luminous, three-tiered cosmos rendered in glass. The work draws on her residency at the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, incorporating insights from biophilic design and the rich history of women’s contributions to botanical art. "Super/Natural" reimagines nature as a space of awe and contemplation, inviting viewers into a renewed sense of wonder and connection with the living world.
Admission is free to everyone and donations are accepted to support our mission. Register below.
PAST EVENTS
-
![]()
Landscapes of Enslavement in the Chesapeake and Caribbean with Jillian Galle, PhD
Thursday April 24, 2025
As an archaeologist, Jillian Galle studies how thousands of small artifacts, from ceramics and fish bone to tobacco pipes and glass trade beads, can reveal previously hidden patterns in human behavior. In this talk, Galle will discuss the ways she combines archaeological and archival data to model how women and men navigated enslavement in constantly changing social and physical environments.
-
![]()
The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Conversation with James Marcus and Robert Sullivan
Thursday March 14, 2024
In his latest book, Glad to the Brink of Fear: A Portrait of Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Marcus explores the complex life of philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), known as the leader of the Transcendentalist movement. He will be joined by author and essayist Robert Sullivan for a sweeping conversation that explores the many facets of Emerson, beginning with his early interest in science to his evolution as an abolitionist, activist, and one of the most influential thinkers of 19th century America.
-
![]()
Building for Books—Philadelphia’s Libraries with Michael J. Lewis
Thursday June 8, 2023
The Quakers who founded Philadelphia believed in universal literacy and were great creators of libraries. Quakers also believed that knowledge should be useful, and gave their libraries a pragmatic character unlike those of any other American city. This talk explores how Philadelphia’s library buildings expressed these values, functionally as well as symbolically.
-
![]()
Beyond Linnaeus: Pennsylvania Paleontology and the Surprising Power of a (Biological) Name with Dr. Jason Downs
Thursday February 9, 2023
In 1735, Carl Linnaeus established the foundation for what has become the most enduring system of biological naming. However, his rank-based organizational system – kingdom, phylum, class -- is rooted in pre-evolutionary thinking. In this talk, Dr. Jason Downs will explore the specific ways in which a more modern naming practice can reshape our understanding of the history of life.
