La Jolla’s Birch Aquarium is renowned for its special events programming on aquatic life, and its seaside backdrop acts as the perfect complement for a curious general public. That’s probably why organizers of the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering, set for March 14 through 21, picked the Birch as one of its anchors again this year – that programming, after all, is the product of exhaustive scientific research designed for learning, interaction and behind-the-scenes opportunities for kids in grades kindergarten through 12th grade and their families to ignite love for all things science. More than 60,000 kids, parents, scientists, educators and community members participated in the festival’s 35 events countywide last year, and officials expect the same number during the upcoming week. For its part, Birch will present installments for four hours each day of the festival, programs designed to get minds thinking and hands moving. Each day of the week will present an ocean-related topic from plankton to whales. Kid-friendly lab tours at the aquarium will include a look at a hydraulics lab, featuring a wind wave channel, a wave flow channel, a deep tank and pressure testing. The Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP), featuring the science of wave measurement, swell modeling and forecasting and the analysis of coastal environment data, is another of the behind-the-scenes attractions. Festival week culminates March 21 with EXPO Day, with more than 130 local businesses, corporations and organizations providing interactive, hands-on science, technology, engineering and math exhibits and activities to K-12 science lovers. Kids will also have a chance to talk to officials from local colleges, eager to discuss their school’s programs and science-related majors. EXPO Day, set from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Petco Park, is free and open to the public. Other exhibit venues and organizations include San Diego Miramar College, the San Diego River Park Foundation, San Diego Junior Theatre and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. For a schedule and list of activities and venues, see lovestemsd.org. The festival is sponsored by Illumina, a San Diego bioanalysis firm that recognizes science and technology as a vital part of everyday life.
