Meet the Beetles series

Professor Greg Cowper is leading a six-week course on beetles at the Parkway Central Library, part of the Wagner Free Institute of Science's Spring 2026 Zoology Series, presented by the Free Library of Philadelphia. The series runs on six Thursdays from October 1 to November 5, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, in the Science and Wellness department, room 202, at 1901 Vine Street.

Cowper frames the whole thing around one big number: beetles are the most successful organism on the planet. Of the roughly two million named species on Earth, about 400,000 are beetles—around 20 percent of all life. Over the six weeks, the course works through where they fit scientifically, why they've been so successful, and how they've adapted into so many different forms. It also covers the ecological services they provide and their beauty and cultural impact.

It's a slow build rather than a one-off talk, so you'll get a full look at the subject over a month and a half instead of just a single evening. The sessions are open to adults, young adults, and seniors, and pre-registration is required. The course is free, and it all takes place in the Science and Wellness department, room 202, at the Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189, on six Thursdays from October 1 to November 5, 6:00 to 7:30 PM.