The Chicago Council on Science and Technology and Chicago Public Library present The Science of Pokemon! In the world of Pokemon, adventurous explorers – called Pokemon trainers – can travel far and wide, catching and cataloging fantastical creatures to fill out their Pokedex, a digital index of various pokemon species. While you can’t find a Pikachu in any of the viridian forests on Earth, Pokemon masters have a real-world counterpart in the form of scientists! Scientists can be found in every corner of the world, discovering new species and cataloging their unique characteristics. This real life data collection has become the foundation for the design of Pokemon themselves! We’ve brought a panel of experts from across the sciences to talk to us about the real-life plants and animals that Pokemon are based on. If you’ve ever wanted the chance to have a conversation with Professor Oak, this is the next best thing! We’ve gotta catch them all!

Join us for a special Fridays on the Plaza event at the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, where community, and science come together in a meaningful way.

Curious about what’s in the soil beneath your feet? During this interactive event, environmental scientists will be on-site offering free heavy metal soil testing for community members. Bring a small sample of soil from your yard, garden, or neighborhood space and learn about the presence of metals like lead, arsenic, and more, along with what those results mean for your health and environment.

Come be part of a conversation about environmental health, right here in Lawndale.