San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering

INTRODUCTION:

San Diego County has earned a reputation as a hotbed of activity in science, biotech, engineering and medicine. However, research has shown that there is a shortage of students entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering, inspired by international science festivals and driven by the vision of local entrepreneur Larry Bock, together with UC San Diego faculty, was created in 2008 to get kids excited about STEM fields and demonstrate why science and engineering are important in their lives.

In 2009, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded UC San Diego a $3 million grant to fund year-round San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering efforts, as well as help seed festivals in other cities. Now in its fourth year, the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering (formerly known as the San Diego Science Festival) has become the largest celebration of innovation and STEM education in Southern California, attracting more than 55,000 community members from across the region.

MISSION:

The mission of The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering is to engage kids in science and engineering. The Festival serves to raise awareness of the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and to inspire San Diego's youth to pursue education and careers in these rewarding fields. Through interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and engaging speakers, the Festival shows students of all social and economic backgrounds that they have the potential to become tomorrow's leading scientists, engineers and innovators.

TRANSITION:

Since it was founded in 1960, UC San Diego has been known for its entrepreneurial spirit.  The campus enjoys a proven track record in incubating, then spinning off, successful organizations and businesses including CONNECT and Qualcomm, among others.  From its inception in 2008 through the March 2012 events, the San Diego Festival of Science of Engineering has been organized by UC San Diego, with the support of community collaborators, to educate students across the region.

The Festival was always intended as community event with community partners. The Festival reaches out to K-12 students, their families and other community members. Activities are designed for San Diego's diverse student population and span school districts ranging from Oceanside and San Marcos to Poway, El Cajon and Sweetwater. At EXPO DAY, all of the information booths and college access booths, as well as nearly one third of the science exhibit booths, will have Spanish translators.

UC San Diego is proud to pass the organizational torch of the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering to the BIOCOM Institute, a nonprofit organization, which serves as a bridge between academia and the life science industry.  The Institute works with its partners to develop educational programs that enhance scientific literacy, making it an ideal fit with the mission of the Festival.   Building on BIOCOM's long history of serving the regional life science community, the BIOCOM Institute cultivates the STEM workforce pipeline to promote innovation, job creation and economic growth.

The BIOCOM Institute looks forward to producing this regionally significant project and to promoting the Festival through its year round focus on STEM education.   The Institute is well suited financially and organizationally to take on and grow the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering.   This expanded partnership will help industry strengthen ties to schools, teachers and students.  Under the BIOCOM Institute's direction, our region's youth, their families and the broader community can enjoy exciting science and engineering Festival activities for years to come.

UC San Diego, facing declining support from California State funds for education, will remain a collaborating partner.

Mary Jo Ball

Managing Director

San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering

(858) 455-0300 ext. 131

mjball@biocom.org

mjball@sdsciencefestival.com

http://www.sdsciencefestival.com/

Mariana Celestino

Associate Director

San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering

(858) 455-0300 ext. 128

mcelestino@biocom.org

mcelestino@sdsciencefestival.com

http://www.sdsciencefestival.com/