How To Start A Science Festival What is a Science Festival? Set Your Goals/Mission: – Broader impacts/ educate/inform? – General Public/Schools/Both?

How To Start A Science Festival

• What is a Science Festival?

• Set Your Goals/Mission: – Broader impacts/ educate/inform?– General Public/Schools/Both?– One or Multiple Days?– One Science Discipline or STEAM?

Types of Presentations

• Expo Activities• Seminars• Demonstrations• Tours• Open Houses• Guest Speakers

Logistics

• Budget– Grants– Sponsorships– Donations

• Locations– Tables, Chairs, tech, food, etc.

• Presenters• Volunteers (recruiting, background checks)• Proposals system• Marketing• Evaluations

Collaboration!

• Partner with an existing Science Festival– A rising tide lifts all boats! – Local and National networks and resources– Funders encourage partnerships– Benefits included established:• Infrastructure• Audience and Marketing strategies• Volunteer base

HAVE FUN! BE INSPIRED!

Presenting at a Festival

• Plenty of volunteers, working in shifts• Big idea can be presented in <5 minutes

– Focus on the key message, why it’s exciting– Keep it simple, connect to relatable experience

• Offer opportunities to dig deeper– Poster (light on text), further reading, next steps– Handout with website– Materials targeting teachers, students, public?

• Hands-on, active• Accessible to all ages

Outreach Alternatives

• Tours• Public/Invited talks (e.g. Science Cafe)• Open Houses• Camps (residential or commuter)• One-day teacher workshops• Partnerships

– Local events (science night, festival, sports)– Planetarium– Video game developer– Performing/Visual arts

• Each fills different objectives/varying investment