How To Start A Science Festival What is

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