SDSU set to host 2024 STEM Festival at Snapdragon Stadium

Set for Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego State University will return to the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering – this time, as a platinum sponsor. 

The free, family-friendly event will feature a range of youth-focused STEM presentations, interactive activities and engaging demonstrations, hosted by SDSU students, staff and faculty. 

“I remember attending this STEM festival in the Petco Park stadium when I was younger and it aided in the career path I choose today. I encourage the SD community to attend the STEM festival to connect with fellow San Diegans and to allow them to find a passion they did not know they had,” said Bernice Gudino, President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and bioengineering student.

In addition to information about SDSU’s many STEM opportunities and programs, find out which SDSU-affiliated groups are attending the festival and the interactive activities they have planned:

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

SDSU’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) is a student organization to guide Hispanic students interested in entering the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. 

SDSU’s chapter often takes part in outreach projects with SHPE chapters in local high schools and community colleges. They look forward to conducting a civil engineering activity at this year’s STEM festival. 

“Many parents who attend these festivals often ask us college students for career advice for their youngsters, and they learn about a major they did not know about. These types of festivals are crucial for the development of those K-12 students,” said Gudino. 

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

The Society of Women Engineers at SDSU is an organization that provides academic and social support for women in engineering. They’re looking forward to sharing their passion for engineering and uplifting young females in STEM through their activities as well as effervescent and engaging outreach projects.

Speaking of effervescence, SWE will be facilitating youth attendees creating DIY mini lava lamp necklaces while teaching about liquid density (there will be oil and water in the necklaces) and using Alka-Seltzer tablets to teach about carbon dioxide and how the gas creates bubbles.

Mechatronics 

Mechatronics at SDSU is a multidisciplinary team of undergraduate business and mechanical, electrical and software engineering students. Their goal is to provide hands-on experience to students passionate about challenging robotics projects.

Founded in 2011, the club has worked on a variety of projects, both small and large, and has competed in numerous events including the international RoboSub competition in 2014. In 2015, the mechatronics team won first place overall in the same competition. The club continues to offer opportunities for students to apply their engineering knowledge. At STEM Fest, the group will be leading an engaging Arduino activity.

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) 

The National Society of Black Engineers SDSU chapter’s mission is “to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.” 

NSBE SDSU is committed to perpetuating this mission by encouraging all members to achieve academic excellence. They organize recreational activities, fundraising events and tutoring programs for K-12 at churches and schools. They look forward to leading a binary coding bracelet activity at the festival. 

Marine Ecology & Biology Student Association (MEBSA)

Members of MEBSA and Assistant Professor Cat Schrankel’s lab will provide a window into a kelp forest with touch tanks that feature sea urchins and other marine creatures. Attendees can bring home a piece of the sea by creating seaweed pressings while learning about the importance of researching and protecting ocean habitats.

SDSU Center for Autism

In addition to conducting cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary training on autism spectrum and related disorders, SDSU Center for Autism provides clinical and educational services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. 

Volunteers from the center will offer a range of hands-on activities from puzzles to building brain neurons with pipe cleaners, in addition to simple demonstrations of psychological phenomena we often experience in daily life.

Save Soil

Save Soil will take attendees on a journey through fundamental earthly processes while demonstrating a range of environmental science topics. Find out how human practices such as agriculture impact the environment and learn about ways to increase sustainability through activities like soil painting.

Virtual Immersive Teaching and Learning (VITaL) Research Center

Explore the phases of the moon or practice taking care of patients like nurses do through virtual reality headsets. SDSU’s Virtual Immersive Teaching and Learning Research Center demonstrates how immersive technologies can enhance learning in STEM.

Chemistry Graduate Student Association (CGSA)

Witness firsthand how everything around us is made of chemicals through a series of fun reactions performed by SDSU chemists. From demonstrations of how chemicals react with water and a heat-releasing, foamy explosion reaction, the CGSA table has some exciting lessons in store.

SDSU School of Art and Design

Students in assistant professor Yin Yu’s course, World Design Capital 2024 at SDSU, are putting together a group show in the festival’s new Art Pavilion. They will showcase pieces that combine mechanical and electrical components with fluid, soft forms. Learn about the field of soft robotics alongside these artists and designers.

SDSU Division of Research and Innovation

Calling all innovators: Try out 3D printing with the Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad entrepreneurs. Making prototypes of products is an important step in starting a business. Use critical thinking and STEM skills to try different options and figure out what could be improved for the next print.

Put on a virtual reality headset to see the future of the SDSU Mission Valley Innovation District. Tour through the maker spaces and event spaces in Mission Valley’s entrepreneurship hub, which expands SDSU’s invention-focused initiatives.

Don’t miss the rapid-fire talks from SDSU’s out-of-the-box thinkers at the SDSU Future Innovators Stage. They will be sharing projects they are currently working on and their journeys in STEM.

College and Career Pavilion

Have any questions about SDSU’s K-12 STEM programs or earning a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a STEM field? Representatives from SDSU Enrollment Services, the Office of Educational Opportunity Programs, Outreach and Success and the College of Education will also be onsite to provide information in the festival’s College and Career Pavilion.

SDSU’s sponsorship of this event was made possible through a partnership between the College of Sciences, Division of Research and Innovation, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Health and Human Services, Enrollment Services, FASS, SDSU Imperial Valley, Information Technology, SDSU Library, Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, and College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts

Learn more about SDSU's ongoing investments in STEM research and teaching through the STEM Forward initiative.