Science and Wonder with William: "Liberty and Light: The Scientific Dreams of Our Founders"

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we go back to the beginning—not just to the politics, but to the science that fueled our founders’ hopes. Join us for a special session honoring Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, two men who believed that a free nation must also be a curious one.

In this interactive session, we will discuss:

The "First American" Scientist: Discover Benjamin Franklin’s playful and profound experiments with electricity and the "Gulf Stream" that connect us to the world.
Jefferson’s Garden Laboratory: Learn how Thomas Jefferson viewed every plant and weather pattern as a vital clue to understanding our new land.
Founders’ Experiments: We will recreate some of their classic demonstrations together (no lightning required!) using simple tools to see what they saw.

Citizen Science Roots: See how your own observations today—from tracking summer pollinators to monitoring the weather—continue the legacy they started.

Come celebrate the spirit of discovery that helped build a nation.

This all ages event is free-of-charge, and registration is not required. Come as you are. Leave with wonder.