Atlanta Science Festival Host Grand Finale Exploration Expo At Piedmont Park, March 26
The Atlanta Festival makes its return in 2022. (Picture by Atlanta Science Festival)
The Atlanta Science Festival is back this year with 123 events. The festival is free and started this month on March 12 and will end on March 26, 2022, with the grand finale Exploration Expo at Piedmont Park, 1320 Monroe Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306.
The expo will feature 75 hands-on interactive science booths and live science demonstrations from local organizations, universities, and companies. Festival-goers will have the chance to touch a human brain, see a Delta jet engine in person and make music out of a potato.
The Atlanta Science Festival is an annual celebration of the world-class learning and STEM career opportunities in metro Atlanta for curious kids and adults at venues all across the region.
The Festival is engineered by Science ATL and over 50 community partners, with support from founders Emory University, Georgia Tech, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and from sponsors Delta Air Lines, UPS, and more.
“We want to get families, especially kids, involved in science,” said Public Events Coordinator of Science ATL Kristen Clayton.
According to the Science ATL 2020 report, the festival reaches a wide variety of ages, with 50% of attendees aged 25-44.
Over 100 events have taken place at the Atlanta Science Festival 2022. (Picture by Atlanta Science Festival)
Since the expo has been on a two-year hiatus, Clayton said this year’s planning was all about reconnecting with past partners. She said a lot of people of been anticipating the return of the festival because they’ve been wanting something to get them out of the house. And for some, the Atlanta Science Festival was one of their last memories before the pandemic lockdown hit.
“People are so jazzed about the opportunity,” said Clayton.
The Exploration Expo features seven Zones where guests can dive into science experiences firsthand:
Encounter Zone where you can see color-changing gold nanoparticles, have a non-Newtonian dance party, test air, and soil quality, learn about a raccoon vaccination campaign, and meet women in science.
Discover Zone where you hear heart and lung sounds, make your own sunscreen, see how facial recognition software works, and check out careers in cybersecurity.
Invent Zone where you can invent your own nanosensor, see the biology behind bees, wonder at bioluminescent organisms, control a robot with your brain, and simulate an earthquake.
Thrive Zone where you can test household items for radioactivity, learn how geoscientists save the world, learn how coronavirus infects humans and how vaccines protect us.
STEAM Zone where you can express your love of science in a science haiku, paint a piece of the live mural, and compose a musical masterpiece with potatoes.
Curious Kids Zone where you can dig for fossils, discover biofacts, touch snakes and lizards, make slushies and bath bombs, find free science books, and see how you measure up to local birds.
Power-Up Zone where you can grab a bite to eat and have a seat at this oasis of tables. Then put on some VR goggles and see what it’s like to work on power lines, how to check your home for energy efficiency, and explore drones and electric vehicles.
The Atlanta Science is free and open to the public. (Picture by Atlanta Science Festival)
The Atlanta Science Festival Exploration Expo is from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST. Thousands of community members are expected to be in attendance. The Pink Ping Pong Big Bang, when thousands of pink ping-pong balls launch into the skies, starts at noon.
“There’s so much behind the scenes science,” said Clayton. “You have to come to see for yourself.”
To learn more about the festival, click here.