Monday, January 11, 6 p.m.
Science on Tap: “The Origin and Evolution of Beer”
Speaker: Dr. Ernie Schuyler: Curator Emeritus of Botany, The Academy of
Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
Location: National Mechanics, 22 South 3rd St., Philadelphia
Summary of talk:
About 10,000 years ago, humans became farmers who cultivated a new kind
of barley and brewed beer from it. Some think that the desire for beer
was the driving force for cultivating grains and therefore the
foundation of civilization. Natural selection favored consumers of beer
for health reasons. It was safer to drink than contaminated water and it
had nutritional value. Over eight millennia after the invention of beer,
a major evolutionary change occurred when hops began to be used in
brewing for its bitterness, flavor, aroma, and preservative properties.
Eventually the role of yeast in fermentation became known and techniques
were devised to control the quality of the final product. Today beer
continues to evolve thanks to the efforts of creative brewers, including
many in and around Philadelphia.
Science on Tap is sponsored by a consortium of five Philadelphia
institutions: The Academy of Natural Sciences, The American
Philosophical Society, Chemical Heritage Foundation, Mütter Museum of
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, and Wagner Free Institute of
Science.
Science on Tap is a monthly science café for anyone who is interested
in getting together with other people to discuss a range of engaging
science topics. It features a brief, informal presentation by a
scientist or other expert followed by lively conversation.
Science on Tap is held on the second Monday of every month at 6 p.m. It
is for people age 21 or older, but folks under 21 can come with a
chaperone who is older than 25.
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