San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering Returns to Petco Park

On March 4, 2023, tens of thousands of parents, children, and science enthusiasts of all ages returned to Petco Park for the first in-person San Diego Science and Engineering Festival since 2019. The free event featured over 100 hands-on experiments and fun activities, live entertainment, and more, all centered around building excitement for science and engineering in young people, and showing them that science and technology is in everything we do, everyday.

Started in 2009 by Larry Bock, the festival is the main event of Generation STEAM, a 501c3 nonprofit affiliate of Biocom California. As the event website states, Bock said, “When I took my family abroad, I saw these wonderful international science festivals – in particular the Cambridge, UK festival, the Edinburgh festival, and the Italian and Indian festivals – that have been going on for years. These festivals had not yet come to the U.S. (two were in formation on the east coast), so I thought ‘Ok, I want to create the largest science festival on the West Coast.” 

Taking over all of Petco Park (aside from the field), the event featured hands-on experiments in bioscience, lifescience, zoology, chemistry, engineering, and more. Fun activities included: 

  • Modeling DNA using gummy bears and toothpicks
  • Simulating the diaphragm filling lungs with air with plastic cups, balloons, and piping
  • Making pretend mucus (slime)
  • Visualizing the effects of sugar-filled drinks on the brain
  • Learning about healthy food choices 
  • Playing memory and matching games 
  • Trying to draw with depth-perception altering goggles 
  • Building and drove robots 
  • Extracting DNA from strawberries
  • Learning about conservation efforts for local plants and wildlife
  • Meeting snakes, lizards, and other reptiles native to San Diego 
  • Creating a “cloud in a bottle” from pressurized water containers 
  • Answering trivia questions and spun wheels for prizes

Walking from booth to booth, “mad scientists” on stilts greeted children, company mascots passed out prizes, and food vendors tempted taste buds with fresh popcorn, pizza, hot dogs, and more fun ballpark fare. 

The smiles on the kids’ faces, the joy of their parents, and the passion of the volunteers was abundant. The event does a great job of exposing children of all backgrounds to science, technology, engineering, and math, helping to foster creative thinking and problem solving, helping to pave the way for higher education down the road. 

Our hypothesis: the event will be a hit with kids of all ages for years to come! 

 

Jared Mackie - Writer

I like reporting on controversial topics that make your mind think.  I have covered the areas throughout California such as Lake Tahoe, Orange County, and now I am in San Diego, ready to uncover news most people won't discover on their own.  I love sports, a good drink, and did I mention sports?

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