NSTA Community Science Festival

Saturday, April 13, 9:25 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (Doors open at 9:15 a.m.)
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
NSTA Exhibit Hall D

NSTA is pleased to announce the Community Science Festival at the National Conference in San Antonio for parents, teachers, students, school officials and other community members to rekindle a national sense of urgency and action among schools and families about the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, while entertaining and motivating tomorrow's innovators and achievers to pursue careers in the STEM fields.

Photo credit: Pulse of the Planet

The free event will kick off with an exciting performance by Steven "Jake" Jacobs, educator, scientist, author, and creator and on-air host of Jake's Attic, a science series that aired on Fox television. Known as Wizard IV, Jacobs was Mr. Wizard's apprentice for 20 years and served as science consultant for Nickelodeon's Mr. Wizard's World, Paramount Television's Algo's Factory, and for the Discovery Channel. He also has performed his famous "electric pickle" demonstration on The Tonight Show with host Jay Leno. Jacobs currently is chief scientist for Faraday Studios and is a science writer/researcher for MythBusters on the Discovery Channel.

To be a scientist, you don't need a laboratory filled with fancy equipment. Many of the world's most famous scientists made great discoveries and inventions using common, everyday items. At his interactive scientific demonstration, Wizard IV will teach participants to think like scientists and show how to transform everyday items into scientific apparatus (see the video below).

The second portion of the Festival will feature hands-on activities that will excite and inspire teachers and parents, live-animal presentations, and exciting demonstrations that will spark students' enthusiasm for STEM.

The doors to the Festival open at 9:15 a.m. Free tote bags filled with cool giveaways will be distributed to the first 250 people who attend. One gift bag per person, per family. You must be 18 years old to receive a bag. Bags are for participants only.

Participants will receive a special badge that will allow access in to the exhibit hall and the event. Participants must wear their badge at all times. Those already attending the conference must make sure to have their conference badge, which will also allow access in to the event.

NSTA Community Science Festival Schedule

(*tentative schedule, subject to change)

Questions?

If you have questions about the event, please contact Kim Hotz at khotz@nsta.org.

Wizard IV on "Hardware Science"