American Philosophical Society: Benjamin Franklin Hall

We are all today citizens of an emerging, borderless world in which technologies for managing data, genes, and climate can regulate our lives and reshape the meaning and purposes of being human, as well as being political actors. Recent striking retreats from the democratic principles that animated much of the 20th century are inextricably linked to developments in science and technology. Yet decisions about how these technologies should be deployed are taken largely outside the purview of democratic processes. The rights, duties, and entitlements of humans are often treated as subordinate to the goals of technological efficiency and economic growth. In short, science and technology have supplanted democracy in ordering our lives and, in so doing, have become ends in themselves.
Join the American Philosophical Society and the McQuillan Institute for Science, Technology, and the Human Future on Thursday, October 29, 2026 to welcome Sheila Jasanoff (APS 2021), Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies at the Harvard Kennedy School, for a lecture on "A Constitution for the 21st Century." Fellow APS Member Linda Greenhouse (APS 2001) will offer a response.&nbsp;
Prior to the evening's lecture, there will be a half-day, interdisciplinary workshop that explores topics in science, technology, and democracy. The public is welcome to attend all sessions.
Panel Descriptions Panel 1: American Citizenship and Public Reason since 1776 At the 250th anniversary of the United States, democratic governance confronts a central paradox. From its founding, the US government has struggled to define the proper relationship between “the people” and their elected representatives, through both federal and state constitutions. Political theory and practice are preoccupied with the legitimacy of those elected to make decisions in our name. We have, however, left largely implicit the constitutional status of the experts and institutions tasked with knowing for the people. From Jefferson’s faith in citizens’ enlightened rationality to the recent Supreme Court ruling against “expert agencies” in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, American politics questions how far experts, by virtue of specialized knowledge, have a right to govern in our name. This panel interrogates how ideas of what citizens should know and how they should be governed are linked in American politics. How are the few empowered to know for the many? What visions of citizen understanding are embedded in institutions and processes of public reasoning? And how, over time, has the American public held experts to account?
Panelists:
<ul><li>Professor Bentley Allan, Johns Hopkins University</li><li>Professor D. Graham Burnett, Princeton University</li><li>Professor J. Benjamin Hurlbut, Arizona State University</li><li>Professor Sophia Rosenfeld, University of Pennsylvania</li></ul>
Panel 2: The Ethics of Invention at the Frontiers of Life The rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” enjoy a central position in our civic lexicon. More often than not, the interpretation of these words turns upon the meaning of the word liberty. Recent developments in the biosciences and technologies, however, have destabilized our understanding of the meaning and worth of human life. Biotechnologies are increasingly developing the power to control the dynamics of life, from reproduction to aging and dying, raising difficult questions of what counts as life and which interventions society sees as impermissible. Biotechnological developments often transcend the territorial boundaries of nation-states and concentrate power outside of democratic processes. This panel juxtaposes perspectives from the creative arts, law, bioethics, and cutting edge science to reflect on the challenges posed to the dignity of human life as knowledge and technology advance. What are the responsibilities of scientists, citizens, ethical experts, and the state in steering technologies with the potential to redefine what it means to be human? How can societies navigate between competing notions of progress and risk? And how can we imagine a politics that embraces the desire for new knowledge while also respecting the dignity of human life?
Panelists:
<ul><li>Yoi Kawakubo, artist and filmmaker&nbsp;</li><li>Professor Adriana Petryna, University of Pennsylvania</li><li>Professor Kiran Musunuru, University of Pennsylvania</li><li>Professor O. Carter Snead, University of Notre Dame</li></ul>
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Provisional Program (Subject to Adjustments)&nbsp; ● 3:00 Panel 1 – American Citizenship and Public Reason since 1776 ● 4:00 Coffee Break ● 4:15 Panel 2 – The Ethics of Invention at the Frontiers of Life ● 5:15 Reception ● 6:00 Welcome and Introduction&nbsp; ● 6:05 Public Lecture -- A Constitution for the 21st Century with Sheila Jasanoff&nbsp; ● 6:50 Closing and Adjourn with Linda Greenhouse

Local Event: A Constitution for the 21st Century

Philadelphia County

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

A Constitution for the 21st Century

We are all today citizens of an emerging, borderless world in which technologies for managing data, genes, and climate can...

Join us for a Lunch at the Library presentation from Beans Velocci who will be discussing their new book: <a href="https://www.dukeupress.edu/sex-isnt-real" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sex Isn′t Real: The Invention of an Incoherent Binary.</a>
In Sex Isn’t Real, Beans Velocci traces the history of current high stakes attempts to define sex and to create a world devoid of trans life. Drawing on lab notes, family genealogies, medical case studies, and more, Velocci follows scientists and clinicians from the mid-nineteenth through the mid-twentieth century and across five disciplines—zoology, eugenics, gynecology, statistical sexology, and transsexual medicine—as their ideas and practices created a definitional tangle. They demonstrate how the sorting of bodies into male and female persists not despite but because of sex’s incoherence: the defining features of these categories shift to contain various understandings of anatomy and physiology, theories of race, developments in research and medical methodologies, and bodies that cannot be accounted for in a binary framework. Exposing the endless work required to produce a world in which most people have a binary gender identity that neatly fits their binarily sexed body, Velocci demonstrates that it is not cis people who fit the categories; it’s the categories that flex to make them fit.
This event will take place on Thursday, November 05 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET in Benjamin Franklin Hall and will also be livestreamed. <a href="https://www.amphilsoc.org/form/registration-for-octob-29-lunch" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Please register to attend this event.</a>
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Beans Velocci is an assistant professor in the Department of History and Sociology of Science and the Program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Their research brings together the history of science, STS, trans methods, and the history of sexuality to interrogate the construction of sex as a classification system. Beans's next project is a new book project on Cold War anxiety about repopulation after nuclear war.

Local Event: Sex Isn′t Real: The Invention of an Incoherent Binary with Beans Velocci 

Sex Isn′t Real: The Invention of an Incoherent...

Join us for a Lunch at the Library presentation from Beans Velocci who will be discussing their new book: Sex Isn′t Real: The...

Sex Isn′t Real: The Invention of an Incoherent Binary with Beans Velocci 

Thomas Johns

June Bakan

Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

Camden County

Eddie Callahan

Collingswood

New Jersey

Montgomery County

Narberth-Bala Cynwyd

Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood

Roxborough-Manayunk

Haddonfield-Haddon Township

Gloucester County

West Deptford

Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airy

Delaware County

Haverford-Havertown

Springfield

Bryn Mawr-Gladwyne

Phillips' Mill Community Association

Autumn officially arrives in Bucks County with the opening of the 97th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill, September 26 through November 1, 2026.
 This historic art show continues the tradition of its esteemed 
founders, Pennsylvania Impressionists William Lathrop, Daniel Garber, 
Edward Redfield, Fern Coppedge, and their New Hope School colleagues. With nearly 400 works on display, the 
show features an impressive array of fine art by over 200 regional 
artists.
Artists will be on hand to greet visitors and discuss their work throughout the show. Be sure to check the Mill’s website at <a href="https://phillipsmill.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">phillipsmill.org</a>
for the “Meet the Artists” schedule to find out when your favorite artists will be at the Mill.
Located on scenic River Road just north of New Hope, the show 
attracts art lovers and collectors from Philadelphia to New York, as 
well as fans of fall foliage from all over the region. The Phillips’ 
Mill gallery is open daily from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. It can also be viewed online.
 All works are for sale at the Mill, and online during non-gallery 
hours. Adults $6, children under 18 and Phillips’ Mill Community Association 
members free. NEW this year: "Pay What You Wish" Mondays.
Phillips’ Mill Community Association is located at 2619 River Road, 
just north of New Hope. 215-862-0582, artshow@phillipsmill.org.

Local Event: 97th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill

Bucks County

New Hope-Lambertville

97th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill

Autumn officially arrives in Bucks County with the opening of the 97th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill, September 26 through...

303 W Lancaster Ave, Suite 2C, Wayne, PA, 19087

Alderfer Auction Is Now Open On The Main Line for Complimentary Evaluations! 
What's it Worth? Come find out!
We have expanded our local presence with the opening of a new satellite sales office in Wayne, PA. Located at 303 West Lancaster Ave, Suite 2C (above The UPS Store), the office is open weekly on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and by appointment Monday – Friday.
On Wednesday, October 28th, meet Brent Souder, our Sales Director, Auctioneer and Appraiser. Brent began working with Alderfer Auction in 1986 and has extensive knowledge in the auction industry. Brent graduated from Mendenhall School of Auctioneering, Highpoint, NC in 1987. He is also a graduate of Certified Auctioneers Institute at Indiana University, with certifications as a&nbsp;Master Personal&nbsp;Property Appraiser (MPPA). Brents expertise include jewelry, fine and decorative arts, with a focus on the Pa Impressionists which he has established record sales in his discoveries throughout his tenure. He is also versed in the sale of Real Estate at auction and assisting sellers navigate the process. With his years of industry experience, he mentors the Alderfer sales team to maintain the level of integrity, knowledge, and customer service of the Alderfer brand.
Appointments are preferred, though walk-ins are welcome with a limit of two items. 
For larger collections, please arrange a dedicated in-home consultation. 
To schedule an appointment, email preview@alderferauction.com or call 215-393-3000.
The new location invites the local community to bring in a wide variety of items for evaluation and consignment, including:
Fine Art | Jewelry | Silver | Decoratives | Mid-Century Modern | Coins | Vehicles | Equipment | Historical | Musical Instruments | Collectibles | Estate Sales 
Because the second-floor office is accessible via stairs only, staff are available to meet clients at their vehicles to assist with carrying items.
Alderfer Auction – Wayne 
303 West Lancaster Avenue, Suite 2C 
Wayne, PA 19087 
Located above The UPS Store
Please note that Suite 2C is on the second floor and is accessible by stairs only. If you need assistance carrying your items, there is no need to bring them upstairs yourself. Let us know when you arrive, and a member of our team will gladly meet you at your vehicle to assist.
The Wayne office is led by Allyson Babcock, an accredited member of the Appraisers Association of America with over 15 years of experience in the auction and appraising industry. A resident of the Main Line community with a background rooted in her family's decades-long antique business and a degree from Brown University, Allyson specializes in American Furniture, Fine Art, and decorative arts, providing USPAP-compliant appraisals for estate tax, insurance, and equitable distribution.
<a href="https://www.alderferauction.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Visit Our&nbsp;Website</a>
We also offer Complimentary Evaluations at our&nbsp;Hatfield location on Tuesdays and Doylestown location on Wednesdays. Details on our website.
In an increasingly automated world, Alderfer Auction remains committed to a personal, human touch. While others are closing their doors to the public, we continue to invest in our communities, our physical locations, and an exceptional customer experience. We invite you to visit us in person at our Hatfield, Doylestown, or Wayne offices—or connect with us online anytime at alderferauction.com.
www.alderferauction.com. Auction Center: Alderfer Auction, 501 Fairgrounds Rd, Hatfield PA 19440. 215-393-3000. Satellite (Sales) Offices: 3359 Durham Rd, Doylestown, PA 18902; 303 W. Lancaster Ave, Suite 2C, Wayne, PA 19087 Members of: NAA &amp; PAA: Designations CAI, MPPA &amp; AAA. USPAP Compliant. | Lic. # AY002260

Local Event: Evaluation Wednesdays On The Main Line | Alderfer Auction

Chester County

Berwyn

Evaluation Wednesdays On The Main Line |...

Alderfer Auction Is Now Open On The Main Line for Complimentary Evaluations! 
What's it Worth? Come find out!
We have expanded...

Evaluation Wednesdays On The Main Line | Alderfer Auction

Radnor Middle School

<h3>NEXT FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT</h3>
<ul><li>Friday, October 30</li><li>8:00 PM</li><li>Radnor Middle School Auditorium</li><li>Featured soloist: Valentin Kovalev, international award-winning classical saxophonist</li><li>Program:&nbsp;</li></ul>
Silverman-Concordia Overture (world premiere)
Tchaikovsky-Variations on a Rococo Theme
Brahms-Symphony No. 2
<ul><li>Jordan R. Smith, Guest Conductor</li></ul>

FREE PARKING. Click <a href="https://www.orchestraconcordia.org/concerts.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">HERE</a> for map.
NO TICKETS REQUIRED.&nbsp;
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE.&nbsp;
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
Orchestra Concordia makes great music accessible to all!
VOTED BEST NON-PROFIT EVENT OF THE MAIN LINE AND WESTERN&nbsp;

Local Event: Orchestra Concordia Free Community Concert- 10th Anniversary Season

Radnor

Orchestra Concordia Free Community Concert-...

NEXT FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT
Friday, October 308:00 PMRadnor Middle School AuditoriumFeatured soloist: Valentin Kovalev,...

Orchestra Concordia Free Community Concert- 10th Anniversary Season

Looking for former Budd Company employees between 1966-1980 in Units 2, 3, and/or 5. Contact Brittney Fries at 813.230.7702 or <a href="mailto:bfries@mrhfmlaw.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">bfries@mrhfmlaw.com</a>

Former employees

Looking for former Budd Company employees between 1966-1980 in Units 2, 3, and/or 5. Contact Brittney Fries at 813.230.7702 or bfries@mrhfmlaw.com

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