# Academy of Natural Sciences closes, fight continues

> Drexel University faces pressure to disaffiliate from Academy of Natural Sciences after its closure.
- Title: Academy of Natural Sciences closes, fight continues | Shortify
- Summary: Drexel University faces pressure to disaffiliate from Academy of Natural Sciences after its closure. Save the Academy group urges Drexel to disaffiliate from…
- Keywords: academy of natural sciences, drexel university, save the academy, museum closure, philadelphia, public process, natural sciences museum, philadelphia city council, william penn foundation, drexel board, news, local
- Source: PhillyVoice — https://phillyvoice.com/academy-natural-sciences-protesters-drexel-board-disaffiliate
- Published: 2026-09-30T09:01:00.675+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: academy of natural sciences, drexel university, save the academy, museum closure, philadelphia, public process, natural sciences museum, philadelphia city council, william penn foundation, drexel board, news, local
## Academy of Natural Sciences closes
The Academy of Natural Sciences closed to the public Sunday after 198 years of operation.
## Save the Academy urges disaffiliation
Save the Academy, a grassroots group, urges Drexel University's board to disaffiliate from the museum and establish a public process for its future.
## Drexel offers disaffiliation path
Drexel stated it had previously offered the Academy of Natural Sciences a path to disaffiliation and remained open to that possibility.
## Drexel seeks private discussions
Drexel said it would continue engaging in good-faith discussions with the academy about its future but prefers these discussions to be private.
## Protesters demand public process
Save the Academy called for an independent, public process to decide the academy's future after the museum closed.
## Protesters held demonstration
Save the Academy held a protest at the National Constitution Center during an event for a new exhibit curated in partnership with Drexel.
## Sarah McAnulty's view
Sarah McAnulty, an organizer with Save the Academy, believes pressuring Drexel to give the museum autonomy may be the best path to reopening.
## Drexel's financial report
The Academy of Natural Sciences reported $25.8 million revenue and $23.8 million expenditures for 2025, up from $22.4 million revenue in 2024.
## William Penn Foundation offer
The William Penn Foundation offered to fund the museum's operating costs for at least one year while studying its long-term survival.
## City Council calls for action
City Council members Nina Ahmad and Jeffery Young called for Drexel and the academy's board to accept the William Penn Foundation offer.
## Drexel explores Foundation support
Drexel stated it had not received a proposal for a permanent, sustainable path forward for the Academy's museum but would explore Foundation support for deferred maintenance costs.
## City Council holds hearings
City Council will hold hearings starting Wednesday, Oct. 7, to investigate the academy's closure and preserve its mission.
## Mayor and Governor collaborate
Mayor Cherelle Parker and Governor Josh Shapiro will work with Drexel to preserve the Academy of Natural Sciences society's mission.
## Save the Academy remains optimistic
Save the Academy remains optimistic the museum will reopen and hopes council hearings provide transparency about how closure happened.
## Key takeaway

Save the Academy group urges Drexel to disaffiliate from the museum and establish a public process for its future after the institution closed after 198 years of operation.