Lectures on Tap - "Alchemy 101: Foundations of Transmutation"

Professors, experts, and storytellers giving thought-provoking lectures in NYC bars. 📍 Location: Exact address given in confirmation email 🧠 Lecture: "Alchemy 101: Foundations of Transmutation" 🎤 Speaker: Dr. Julian R. Silverman Long before modern chemistry, alchemists probed the mysteries of transformation—striving to turn base metals into gold and hunting for the elusive elixir of life. In this engaging lecture, Dr. Julian Silverman uncovers the historical roots and scientific legacy of alchemy, tracing its path from ancient manuscripts and cryptic symbols to its surprising influence on modern experimental science. Explore the strange and fascinating realm where art, hermetic philosophy, and early chemistry collide. You’ll gain a fresh perspective on how alchemical thinking shaped today’s labs, and why this “failed science” still captures our imagination. Dr. Silverman is a full-time Assistant Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and a part-time practicing alchemist. A former Haas Fellow at the Science History Institute, he also works with the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute. When he isn’t dyeing fabric in his bathtub, he’s bringing chemistry to life through public science demonstrations across New York City. Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌 Agenda 6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating!), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key. 6:55 PM – Host introduction 7:00 PM – Lecture begins 7:45 PM – Audience Q&A 8:00 PM – Have 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round 8:30 PM – Wrap up.