City of Knowledge: Science, Power, and Place

City of Knowledge is a four-part, cross-institutional program series that contemplates urban centers as sites of scientific power, specifically how geography, politics, learned societies, and Federal institutions—including the Smithsonian, founded with a bequest from a scientist—shaped American scientific identity. Over the past few months, programs in the series have explored Washington, D.C.’s rich scientific history, and its role as a capital city of science. This final event will turn our attention back to the time of the American Revolution, to a second capital city of science: Philadelphia.

This is a conversation designed to spark dialogue among panelists and with the audience and will include a Q&A as part of the program. Panelists include Susan Brandt, Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Domenic Vitiello, Professor of City Planning and Urban Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. The role of moderator will be shared by Jeffery Applehans, John C. Slater Postdoctoral Fellow, American Philosophical Society, and Vincent Femia, Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution and a Lounsbery Research Assistant at the American Philosophical Society.

The event will take place as part of the American Philosophical Society’s Lunch at the Library Series. Registrants will be prompted to choose between in-person attendance or livestream only.

This project received funding from the Smithsonian’s "Our Shared Future: 250," a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250 years. It also complements the American Philosophical Society’s work on “America's Scientific Revolutionaries," a two-year initiative funded by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation highlighting the work of lesser-known scientists and physicians active during the Revolutionary era.