By Tori Hahn | SDCNN Intern
Young students will have a chance to exercise their passion for science at the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering this weekend. The week of festivities with a focus on STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — will kick off with an EXPO Day at Petco Park on March 5.
Children of all ages, from kindergarten through 12th grade, are encouraged to participate in the event.
“Our goal is to bring industry exposure to young children and families that they otherwise would not receive through the classroom, instilling an excitement for science, technology engineering and math,” festival director Sara Pagano said.
The EXPO Day will include more than 130 booths of hands-on activities sponsored by businesses and corporations all across Southern California.
One of the participating businesses is Illumina, which has sponsored the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering since 2014. The company contributes to the festival every year to ignite a passion for STEM in the next generation.
“We designed our EXPO Day experience to provide opportunities for visitors to learn about genetics and engage with questions that can be answered with help from Illumina’s technologies,” said Karen Possemato, chief of staff to Illumina CEO Jay Flatley. “We will also have experiences appropriate for all ages including a genetic traits bingo, scientific face painting, making codon necklaces, and a photo booth where students can picture themselves as scientists.”
Other activities at the festival include a “Star Wars”-themed recycling challenge and a TedxKids session, organized by the Cajon Valley Union School District, in which young scientists will share their ideas about STEM in a TED-like discussion.
EXPO Day is only the beginning of festival week, which will continue in various locations around San Diego, March 6 –13.
With the new “STEM in your backyard” series, smaller versions of the EXPO Day will travel to diverse communities such as Barrio Logan, Chula Vista, City Heights and East Village.
Last year, the eight-day-long festival attracted 75,000 kids, parents, community members and scientists, according to the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering website.
Admission to the EXPO Day is free and open to the public. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“It is everyone’s job — not just teachers — to spark that sustained level of excitement for science and engineering into the minds of young people,” Pagano said. “Oh, and by the way, STEM is fun.”
—Tori Hahn is an intern with SDCNN and a senior majoring in journalism at San Diego State University.
