High School

The Expanding Your Horizons Conference is a unique opportunity for girls in grades 6 through 10 to engage in hands-on workshops in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) led by San Diego’s top scientists, engineers, and specialists. This unique event is designed to foster young girls’ enthusiasm for STEM careers, inform them of professions and opportunities, and encourage them to continue their studies in science and math to reach their goals and objectives.

Speaker: Ying Shirley Meng, Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Nano Engineering University of California, San Diego.

High energy, long life, rechargeable batteries are considered an important technological opportunity to reduce production of greenhouse gasses. What standards should be set for safety of new energy storage technologies? And, who should enforce those standards? Join us for this program to learn about these exciting developments as well as discussing how best to meet potential social and ethical challenges.

Youth, ages 12 to 25, are invited to get a free heart screening on Sunday, March 25 at Torrey Pines High School between 9 am and 3 pm.

This year, as part of the 2018 Festival, we are hosting an event to highlight Women in STEM. On International Women’s Day, March 8^th, there will be an informative and interactive event taking place at the Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library from 6-9pm. The event will provide a space for young women to celebrate and exhibit their own achievements and learnings in STEM and to be motivated by a host of women who have moved the needle in STEM.

Partnering with Wavelength Brewery, two faculty from the College of Science and Mathematics at California State University San Marcos will engage audiences and discuss their current research at a local brewery in Vista Village. Get ready to learn and ask questions!

‘Wavelengths for ecologists - remote sensing of the environment’, Dr. William Kristan, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Department of Biological Sciences.

‘Who am I? Where did I come from? Existentialism via genetics’, Dr. Arun Sethuraman, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Explore interactive demonstrations and hands-on science activities at Super STEM Saturday, including rocket launches, build-a-robot stations, model displays, scientist chats and a obstacle course. The event is free and open to the public. Complimentary parking available in Lots E, F, and H.

Marine Science Day is a free showcase of SDSU’s marine lab facility and scientific research for the public, hosted by MEBSA, the Marine Ecology and Biology Student Association. Throughout the day there will be family-friendly activities, research talks given by students and faculty, games, a marine life touch tank, SCUBA gear demonstrations, raffle, and much more!

The Urban Growth team invites you to discover the world of hydroponics and urban farming. Learn about unique engineering designs that help you conserve water and grow food almost anywhere!
Tecolote Nature Center

Engineering Paper Machines is a fun and interactive workshop that will introduce you to the design thinking techniques used by industry experts. Explore the endless possibilities between engineering and paper folding concepts. Learn various techniques of design and how to combine them to create your own paper machine to take home. Let us show you how paper folding and design thinking is applied to industries like medicine, manufacturing, social justice and more.

STEM in Your Backyard brings pocket-sized versions of the popular San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering EXPO Day to neighborhoods all over the county throughout the year. STEM In Your Backyard provides access to free, meaningful STEM experiences by bringing the spark of science directly to communities throughout San Diego.