PSW Science

PSW Science is a leading science education organization in Washington, DC. Founded in 1871 as the P Election to membership is by the General Committee.

PSW grew out of meetings that were held Saturday afternoons in the middle of the Nineteenth century in the home of Joseph Henry, an early researcher in magnetism and the discoverer of electromagnetic self-induction. It was an association of individuals who were interested in science, but in Joseph Henry's words, would discuss “All subjects of interest to intelligent men.” Now, of course, the socie

ty includes women as well. From these informal meetings, PSW was founded on March 13, 1871. The aims of the Society are the promotion of science, the advancement of learning, and the free exchange of views among its members on scientific subjects. From 1878 to 1887 meetings were held in the library of the Surgeon's General Office in Ford's Theater (converted into Government office space some time after President Lincoln was assassinated there). Since March 26, 1887, the date of the 300th meeting of the Society, the regular meeting place has been the assembly hall of the Cosmos Club, now called the John Wesley Powell auditorium. Today, PSW continues the traditions set by Joseph Henry in 1871 and continues to discuss “all subjects of interest to intelligent men” and women. Membership in the Society is open to all persons who are interested in the aims of the Society. The application for membership is a simple form requesting professional and educational information.

06/20/2026

What if the key to understanding Alzheimer's, diabetes, depression, cancer, and even aging isn't just in our genes—but in how our cells generate energy?

Join pioneering mitochondrial geneticist Douglas C. Wallace for a fascinating exploration of how mitochondria the powerhouses of our cells may transform our understanding of health and disease.

Discover how mitochondrial DNA, inherited exclusively from our mothers, influences everything from brain function and metabolism to aging and disease.

Sponsored by PSW Science Members Larry Millstein & Robin Taylor.

06/11/2026

PSW Lecture Tonight | 8 PM ET

Thought Emerges from Neural Dynamics: How Science is Unraveling the Nature of Cognition and Consciousness

Join us tonight as Earl K. Miller explores how thought and consciousness may emerge from the dynamic activity of the brain. Drawing on decades of pioneering research, Dr. Miller will discuss how neural oscillations (“brain waves”) may help organize cognition, executive control, and conscious experience.

📍 Philosophical Society of Washington
🕗 8:00 PM ET

🎥 Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/live/HL7DSZngiLc?is=XHwFKU0CRks0PnzM

Sponsored by PSW Science Member Tim Thomas.

Join PSW Science® on THURSDAY June 11 at 8 PM as we welcome Earl Miller, Picower Professor of Neuroscience.During the question and answer period, in-person a...

06/05/2026

🧠 PSW Science Lecture - Thursday

Join us for the 2,537th Meeting of the Society featuring:

Thought Emerges from Neural Dynamics: How Science is Unraveling the Nature of Cognition and Consciousness

Featuring:
Earl K. Miller
Picower Professor of Neuroscience
MIT Picower Institute for Learning and Memory & Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences

📅 Thursday, June 11, 2026
🕗 Lecture: 8:00 PM
📍 Powell Auditorium at the Cosmos Club

Schedule:
• Pre-Lecture Reception – 5:45 PM
• Dinner – 6:30 PM*
• Lecture – 8:00 PM
• Speaker Reception Following the Lecture

Sponsored by PSW Science Member Tim Thomas

Science. Seriously.

05/31/2026

On April 24, 2026, at the 2,535th meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Harris Lewin of Arizona State University presented a lecture titled “The Earth BioGenome Project: Reading the Library of Life.”

During the lecture, Dr. Lewin discussed the ambitious goal of the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP): to characterize and map the genomes of approximately 1.6 million known eukaryotic species within the next decade.

He highlighted the project’s progress to date, noting that the EBP has produced more than 5,600 genomes, with over 4,000 meeting the standard for “high-quality reference genomes.”

For more information, visit the PSW website (pswscience.org) or explore recordings on the PSW Science YouTube channel.

PSW Science is a leading science education organization in Washington, DC, founded 1871 as the Philosophical Society of Washington

05/29/2026

PSW Lecture Tonight
What happens when Agentic AI joins the search for extraterrestrial life?
Today’s PSW lecture explores the SETI–NVIDIA collaboration at the Allen Telescope Array and how AI-driven systems and edge supercomputing are reshaping modern astronomy.
Featuring:
• Michael Garrett — University of Manchester
• Adam Thompson — NVIDIA
A fascinating conversation at the intersection of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, and scientific discovery.
🕗 Time: 8 PM
📍 John Wesley Powell Auditorium, Washington, DC
🎥 Live: https://www.youtube.com/live/_Wqbx2ueJYc

04/27/2026

PSW Lecture| Minutes

On April 10, 2026, at the 2,534th meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Kelly Fast of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office delivered a compelling lecture titled “Finding Asteroids Before They Find Us.”

The talk highlighted critical efforts to search for near-Earth objects, track and characterize potentially hazardous asteroids, and develop strategies to mitigate impact risks. As emphasized during the lecture: “This is a natural disaster that we could potentially do something about.”

To learn more, visit pswscience.org or explore the PSW Science YouTube channel.

04/24/2026

PSW Lecture Tonight: Reading the Library of Life 🌍📚

Imagine unlocking the genetic blueprint of all life.

Join us today for a PSW Science lecture featuring Harris A. Lewin, Chair of the Earth BioGenome Project.

This global effort aims to sequence and catalog the genomes of all known eukaryotic species—already surpassing 5,600 species, with over 4,000 at reference quality. Learn how this ambitious initiative is advancing our understanding of biodiversity, evolution, and the future of life sciences.

Sponsored by PSW Science Member John Cherniavsky

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore one of the most transformative projects in modern genomics.

04/10/2026

PSW Lecture Tonight: Finding Asteroids Before They Find Us

Join us for a PSW Science lecture featuring Kelly Fast, Acting Planetary Defense Officer at NASA Headquarters, who will speak on NASA’s Planetary Defense Program and the NEO Surveyor Mission.

🕗 8:00 PM ET
🎥 Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/MdrOH5gc17Y

If circumstances permit, we’ll also show the Artemis II splashdown (8:07 PM ET) just before the lecture begins.

More details on the lecture and speaker will be posted on our website—stay tuned!

Join PSW Science® on April 10 at 8 PM as we welcome Amy Mainzer, Professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences at the University of California, Los Angel...

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