Untapped Knowledge

Now in its fourth year, Villanova faculty members’ Science on Tap program continues to serve up lessons worth toasting

By James Hill

On the first Tuesday of every month, a Phoenixville brewery less than 20 miles from Villanova’s campus is filled with the familiar sounds of bar service. Orders are placed, lagers are poured and glasses are clinked. But, above the din of sips taken and tabs settled, patrons are treated to something altogether unique: a science lesson.

Since May 2022, Chris Jeffords, PhD, associate teaching professor of Economics, and Jen Santoro, PhD, assistant teaching professor of Geography and the Environment, have organized a Science on Tap lecture series at Root Down Brewing Co., inviting experts to share their knowledge and research with the broader public. Based on an Israeli initiative that began in 2010 and inspired similar chapters around the world, the Phoenixville program has hosted talks on subjects ranging from “The Secret Life of Snowflakes” to “Parasites and Pollinators,” providing crowds with the latest learnings on each.

“I think—as evidenced by 75 people coming out to a brewery on a random Tuesday night—that folks really like this,” says Dr. Santoro. “From my perspective, this has been an effective way to engage with the community outside of a college campus or university setting.”

Recent data collected by Margaux Barrett ’26 CLAS—lead author of the study—Dr. Jeffords and Dr. Santoro, who collaborated with her through the Villanova Match Research Program for First Year Students, indicates as much. Published in 2024 in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Communication, survey results revealed that of 50 Science on Tap guests, 49 would recommend attending an event to a friend, citing the informativeness of the lectures and the warm atmosphere of the venue. “The audience’s overwhelmingly positive response to the program was the most exciting finding,” says Barrett. “It shows that there is a strong appetite for science-related talks with the general public.”

The results bear out what Drs. Jeffords and Santoro see month after month at the brewery. Much to the delight of the program’s organizers, attendees actively show their passion and appreciation for Science on Tap, from audibly admiring blown-up videos of microorganisms to masquerading as buccaneers for a talk on maritime piracy.

“What our roles focus on, outside of the teaching component, is giving back to the community,” says Dr. Santoro. “We saw this as a way to bring academic knowledge to people who are curious about different science topics.”

“The giving back, the sharing knowledge, the bringing community in—I think that all vibes with the Augustinian mission of the University,” adds Dr. Jeffords. “We just like to get science out to the community in a welcoming environment and have open conversations about interesting topics.”