It's full-STEAM ahead as Lodi set to host the NorCal Science Festival Feb. 22
Thousands of visitors who love science, mathematics and engineering are expected to attend the event, now in its ninth year.
Festival advisor Sandi Starr said some 50 exhibits — including interactive booths and presentations — will provide both an educational experience and fun for attendees both young and old.
"The magic of the festival is a combination of the students who work so hard on it, and the culmination of so many parts of the community," she said.
Created by former Tokay High student Julie Fukunaga in 2016, the festival's mission is to boost STEAM engagement — science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — not only among students, but in educators and the entire San Joaquin County community.
This year, the student committee bringing the event together includes president Brooke Nelson and vice president Olivia Shurtz.
Both students are Lodi High seniors who have been involved with organizing the festival for three years.
The committee, which includes Anahi Sanchez and Andrew Avina, has spent several hours after school over the last few months reaching out to vendors and exhibitors, advertising the event on social media and creating marketing materials to distribute within the community.
Nelson and Shurtz said they would not have been able to put the event together without the help of the advisory team, which includes Starr, Lodi High librarian teacher Renee Campbell, and teachers Liz Wright and Beth Fox.
One of the new features at this year's festival is the Junkyard Masterpieces Art Competition, which invites students to create sculptures or collages out of recycled or reusable materials.
Also new this year will be a visit from Lawrence Livermore Laboratory scientists, who will conduct live DNA extractions and create models of the Earth out of slime.
In addition, there will be a "nature journaling room" where guests can draw provided leaves and pine cones to see how they connect with nature.
Returning this year is Vinewood Elementary School teacher Nicole Dickinson, who will have Ozobots on display that attendees can program. Ozobots are smart robots that can follow lines or roam around freely and detect colors.
Open Innovation Center will operate a coding room for those with an interest in programming, and UC Davis medical staff will be on-hand with information on how to pursue an education and career in the STEAM fields.
"We're also going to have more food trucks here this year," Shurtz said. "In the past we've only had a couple of vendors, so this year, if you don't want to come for the exhibits, you can come for the food."
She added the festival was a great way to connect with members of the STEAM industry and community, no matter if they are elementary school students or professionals in their respective industries.
Nelson agreed.
"It's a great opportunity to get to meet people in careers that might interest you, and build relationships," she said. "It's one of the biggest reasons for putting the event on."
In years past, Starr has been the sole advisor helping the students organize the festival, and this is the first year she'll have help from other faculty members.
She said another first this year is that a handful of exhibitors reached out to her and the students expressing interest in coming to the festival.
Starr said like in previous years, the 2025 festival will have something for everyone.
"Sometimes the festival gets pinned with the idea that it's fun and only for youngsters," she said. "But it's also a great opportunity for adults and students to come and talk to experts and professionals about a career."
The festival will be held Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lodi High School, 3 S. Pacific Ave. Admission is free.
For more information, visit www.norcalsciencefestival.org, www.facebook.com/norcalsciencefestival, or www.instagram.com/norcalsciencefestival.
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