Scopes trial lecture April 3d and more upcoming science-related events

Philadelphia is a great place to be for anyone interested in history, science, or the history of science. Nearly every week there’s something of interest going on at Penn, or the Wagner Free Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences or one of the many other historic institutions.

This Wednesday, April 3, anthropologist Janet Monge will speak at the Penn Museum on the famous Scopes trial of 1925. It’s part of a fascinating series on great battles. And why not a great legal and educational battle? Monge is a curator at the Penn Museum and a respected authority on human evolution. She’s an engaging speaker taking on an explosive topic that’s still relevant today, as creationists of various stripes are still trying to fight the teaching of evolution in our country’s schools.

Here are the basic facts if you’re planning to go: Dr. Janet Monge, Associate Curator-in-Charge and Keeper of Collections, Physical Anthropology Section, discusses this groundbreaking case. Admission with advance registration: $5, general public; $2, Penn Museum members; $10 at the door based on availability. To register, go to www.penn.museum/greatbattles. For more information, call 215.898.2680. Read more here.

Don’t forget next week, on April 11, primatologist Frans de Waal discusses his new book at the Free Library and after that, the Science Festival begins, running April 18 to 28. One of the highlights will be the skeptical magician The Amazing Randi, who will speak on April 20 at the Franklin Institute.

“Science, Pseudoscience and Nonsense: AClarification” at 1:30 p.m. on April 20, at the Franklin Theater ofThe Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street in Philadelphia.