Less than a week after the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University announced it will close its museum in Philadelphia, protesters are pushing to keep it open. A rally — organized by Green Philly, Philadelphia Science Action and Skype a Scientist — is scheduled to take place on Tuesd ay, Sept. 8, outside the museum on 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway. “We are asking Drexel to find a way to keep the museum open to the public past September of 2026,” organizers wrote in a post on the Philly subreddit. “For almost 200 years, the Academy of Natural Sciences has been dedicated to understanding the natural world and inspiring everyone to care for it.” On Sept. 1, the Academy announced it will officially close the museum on Sept. 30, 2026. “As part of this broader effort and following careful consideration, grounded in deep respect for the Academy’s extraordinary legacy, Academy and Drexel leadership have made the difficult decision to close the Academy’s museum as of September 30,” Drexel University President Antonio Merlo, PhD, and Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Biemiller wrote. “While the museum will close, the Academy remains committed to public engagement and education, and work will continue to identify new and financially sustainable opportunities for the public display of elements from its collections and engagement with the natural sciences.” The Academy was founded in 1812 by seven naturalists whose mission at the time was to advance scientific discovery. The museum then opened in 1828 as a way to share the Academy’s natural history collections with the public. In 2011, the Academy became affiliated with Drexel University and changed its name from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. In October of last year, the museum reduced its operating hours from five days a week to Friday through Sunday. At that time, the Academy said the decision was due to visitation rates not rebounding to pre-pandemic levels, federal funding cuts and an “uncertain philanthropic landscape.” In their release on the museum’s permanent closure, Merlo and Biemiller said that operating costs continued to rise. “Over time, it became clear that these were not temporary pressures, but fundamental changes in the economics of the Academy’s operational model, costs that have imperiled the Academy’s ability to discharge its overall mission and preserve its legacy,” they wrote. “After examining a range of alternatives, Academy and Drexel leadership concluded that continuing to operate the museum in its current building and form would place increasing pressure on the resources required to safeguard the collections and sustain the research enterprise.” Merlo and Biemiller also wrote that closing the museum is “the first step in the larger project of building a sustainable future for the Academy” and that they remain committed to the stewardship of the Academy’s collections which include more than 19 million biological specimens, fossils, archives and other scientific resources. “Our commitment rests on the longstanding partnership between Drexel and the Academy,” they wrote. “Since the Academy of Natural Sciences and Drexel became affiliated in 2011, we have expanded opportunities for research, education and innovation. Together, we established Drexel’s Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Sciences, created new opportunities for experiential learning and advanced important research in biodiversity and environmental science. Most importantly, this affiliation has helped to preserve and strengthen one of the nation’s great scientific collections.” The museum was crowded over Labor Day weekend amid news of the impending closure. Organizers of Tuesday’s rally stressed the importance of keeping the museum open. “At a time when climate change and science continue to be under attack, Philadelphia cannot afford to lose another institution that connects people to the natural world,” they wrote. “From initiatives like Plastic Free Philly to Academy Town Halls that bring people together to discuss climate challenges, along with exhibits that make science accessible to the public, the Academy plays a critical role in our city.” In addition to the museum’s closure, the Academy also announced that Scott Cooper, PhD, had stepped down as their president and CEO. “We are grateful for Dr. Cooper’s leadership and for his many contributions to the Academy and to Drexel,” Merlo and Biemiller wrote. “To support continuity through this transition, he will continue to serve in an advisory capacity, providing counsel as the museum closure is implemented and the Academy enters its next phase.” This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less