USA Science and Engineering Festival Expo

The USA Science and Engineering Festival is a culmination of events supporting the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field for the next generation. This year’s festival has been going on since January of 2015.

The 2015/2016 festival culminates with 2-day Grand Finale Expo April 16-17, 2016 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. This Expo includes presentations, experiments, workshops, science celebrities, and much more for students to further their exploration and interest in the STEM field. The Expo itself is free with many opportunities to purchase merchandise and souvenirs.

Sneak Peek Friday

There will also be a sneak peek preview event for school groups, homeschoolers, and military families on Friday, April 15, 2016. This event will have all the exhibits of the Expo available for students before it is open to the public on April 16th. Sneak Peek Friday is free but requires advanced registration which you can access here.

Exhibits and Exhibitors

The main exhibits for the Expo vary from nanotechnology to marine biology to space exploration. There are over 200 exhibits to see and explore over the two day period.

In order to better the student’s experience, the website for the Expo allows attendees to compile a schedule based on their own interests and specific fields for the weekend. Create a schedule here and pick and choose from the varying events. You can add them to a wish list, which can then be printed out and kept as a guide. Or if you would prefer, you can also search through events by categories such as arts and humanities, social work, or energy. This will give you a specific list of exhibits in the related field. There is also a list of exhibitors, including many prestigious universities and organizations that you can sort through to find which exhibits are being held by an organization you may be interested in.

Stage Shows

Besides the hundreds of exhibits, there will also be a great number of stage shows. These shows range from laser programs to “bubbleology.” Needless to say there will be lots of fun and excitement partnered with education and exploration for the students to enjoy. The shows are presented by several different organizations and speakers such as:

  • Doktor Kaboom!
  • The Science Cheerleaders
  • Wil Wheaton

STEM Career Pavilion

The Expo will also feature a STEM Career Pavilion which will be an event catered toward high school students looking into colleges and career opportunities in the STEM fields. The event will have four ongoing activities which include:

  • A College Fair: Where students and parents can meet representatives from some of the highest ranking national universities and colleges in the STEM fields.
  • STEM Programs Exhibition: A collection of internships, mentorships, scholarships, and after-school programs for anyone interested.
  • A Job Fair: Where high school students can meet employees and representatives from top-name companies currently recruiting for the STEM fields.
  • Meet the Scientists and Engineers: Gives students the opportunity to meet professional scientists and engineers who are currently working in STEM.

X-STEM: Extreme STEM Symposium

This one-day event will take place on Thursday, April 14, 2016 for eager middle school to high school students ready to learn more about STEM. X-STEM includes presentations, live demonstrations, and hands-on workshops in varying subjects for the students to experience. These activities will be led by a specific group of scientists, engineers, and organizations such as:

  • The American Nuclear Society
  • Jessica Meir, Astronaut
  • Sara Volz, Biofuel Researcher

It will be held as a conference and no exhibits will be open at the time.

Michigan Technological University Mind Trekkers’ Traveling Festival

The Michigan Technological University Mind Trekkers’ Traveling Festival has partnered with the USA Science and Engineering Festival in order to spread education and information on STEM for youth throughout the country. The Mind Trekkers’ Traveling Festival will be presenting at the Expo as the finale of their tour. Below, you can check out some of their past presentations:

This year’s expo proves to be a fun-filled event for students to branch out and experience new ways of thinking in STEM. For more information about the Expo and to see a list of frequently asked questions click here.

Resources for Teachers:

Bethanny Jones
Marketing Specialist

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