Science at Pioneer Works
Science is a part of culture.
The integration of science is essential for the full expression of a cultural organism. At Pioneer Works, we value the cultural impact of scientific thinking, discovery, and irrepressible curiosity. We bring influential, creative scientific minds to our Pioneer Works community to explore unsolved quandaries and to engage in vivid public conversations. The audience can experiment with technical equipment, look through our telescopes with astronomers in the garden, or edit the genome of yeast. We emphasize public engagement while providing a platform for scientific exchanges and scholarly research. We welcome our Visiting Scholars to be as singularly focused as they need to be on equations, data, observations, and measurements.
Our Founding Director of Sciences, Janna Levin, is an astrophysicist, author, and Claire Tow Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. In the spirit of connecting great centers of education and culture, with support from Barnard College, Janna brings influential, creative scientific minds to our Pioneer Works community to explore unsolved quandaries and to engage in vivid public conversations.
DEPARTMENT PARTNERS
Upcoming Science Programs
- Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026
Michael Pollan: A World Appears
- Sunday, Mar 8, 2026
Second Sundays: March 2026
- Tuesday, Mar 10, 2026
Scientific Controversies: Quantum Weirdness
- Sunday, Apr 12, 2026
Second Sundays: April 2026
- Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Village Fête 2026
- Sunday, May 10, 2026
Second Sundays: May 2026
Past Science Programs
- program
- Sunday, Feb 8, 2026
Second Sundays: February 2026
- program
- Sunday, Nov 16, 2025
Scientific Controversies: Deep Thoughts of Artificial Minds
- program
- Sunday, Nov 9, 2025
Second Sundays: November 2025
- program
- Thursday, Oct 23, 2025
Sci Con: Expansion of the Universe
Past Science Classes
- class
- Oct 7 – 8, 2023
Worlding with the Molecular with Mary Maggic
- class
- Sunday, Jul 24, 2022
Canceled: Sonic Encounters of the Third Kind with Lisa Schonberg and Allie Wist in support by New York Mycological Society
- class
- Thursday, Apr 14, 2022
Rewilding with Natalie Elliot
- class
- Saturday, Dec 4, 2021