Middle School

The mission of the Bioinformatics booth is to introduce prospective students and parents to an emerging interdisciplinary field that is focused on handling large datasets and computational problem solving, in order to address complex biological problems. Such outreach is valuable to the scientific community as a whole, because it advertises the accomplishments in the field, and the dedication of the scientists and engineers involved.

The San Diego River is teeming with life, from 4 foot tall herons to microscopic algae. We invite you to learn from River Park Foundation scientists how the organisms that live in the river can unlock secrets about the San Diego River’s health! Look at real aquatic bugs, play games, and learn about places to explore nature along the San Diego River.

Two groups from University of California-Irvine will explore concepts of light using fun, take-home activities such as our popular Spectrobox, kaleidoscopes, and optical illusion demos! In addition, we will be exhibiting a newly developed game that explores atomic structure from the point of view of an atom!

Visitors to the booth can participate in a walkthrough illustrating the basics of genetics and how DNA can affect our physical beings. Following the walkthrough, visitors can enjoy three hands on activity stations. The first is a Build your own DNA station, where visitors can build a base or practice pairing them. The second is a genetic engineering station, where student can manipulate circuits or help insert a plasmid (glow bracelet) into a bacteria (balloon). At the final station, a robot can be build based on the selection of dominate or recessive genes from two parent robots.

Enrichment program for elementary and middle school

Informational materials and free giveaways regarding the City's Pure Water San Diego and water conservation programs will be distributed. We will either have an interactive activity that engages festival attendees to guess the difference between tap, recycled and purified water samples, or we will bring our "'Water' You Know?" jeopardy quiz board that asks fun questions that educate festival attendees of all ages about water.

Get closer to science! Guests will be able to explore ocean and earth science through conversation and hands-on activities! Join Birch Aquarium to discover some of the amazing things that go on below the surface of the ocean, on the beach, and sometimes in your own backyard.

A showcase of FIRST robotics at the Francis Parker Upper School, presented by Team 2485, W.A.R. Lords (We Are Robot Lords). Throughout the day students and mentors will be available to answer questions and share their experiences. Of course, there will also be a 120 pounds robot roaming about too. Come see what it means to be part of FIRST robotics team.

The booth will contain hands-on interactive demonstrations highlighting applications of industrial hygiene principals.

Students will build origami boats of varying levels of complexity and attempt to make the boats float in a tub of water. We will provide additional materials (e.g. Popsicle sticks, rubber bands, etc.) to challenge kids to propel their boats from one end of the tub to the other. Participants can also choose to race against one another.