NORTH CAROLINA (03/28/24)— The North Carolina Science Festival (NCSciFest), the country's first statewide celebration of science, is back for its 14th year, with over 400 events taking place across North Carolina between April 1-30.
"Our mission is to provide engaging and enjoyable opportunities for science education throughout the state," said Erik MacIntosh, NCSciFest program manager.
In April, NCSciFest will organize events in all 100 counties, ensuring that everyone in the state can experience science and participate in related activities. Alongside its new presenting sponsor, RTI International, this year's NCSciFest will celebrate innovation across the Tar Heel state with the theme "State of Innovation."
"We're thrilled to join forces with RTI International and our supporters for this year's festival celebration," said Todd Boyette, co-founder of NCSciFest and director of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, the producing institution. "From Research Triangle Park to the corridors of universities, research institutions, and private businesses from Asheville to Wilmington, our state continues to be a hub of creativity and ingenuity. We're excited to emphasize the importance of STEM, especially in North Carolina, a state renowned for innovation and forward-thinking."
"At RTI International, we believe when it comes to science, North Carolina is a state of innovation," said RTI President and CEO Tim J. Gabel. "We're excited to see how our partnership with NCSciFest inspires the scientists of tomorrow."
The NCSciFest includes several signature initiatives to promote science education. Duke Energy Science Nights offers resources to NC schools to organize engaging science nights for their students and families. Another is the Statewide Star Party, which collaborates with 35 organizations across the state to host skywatching events. This year's Star Party focuses on the solar eclipse crisscrossing the United States on April 8. Additionally, the SciMatch program connects STEM professionals with middle school classrooms throughout the state.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and the NCSciFest are guided by the "Science for All" principle, highlighting the importance of widespread access to top-tier STEM education. MacIntosh and the NCSciFest team actively seek partnerships with schools, colleges, libraries, museums, parks, and businesses across the state to promote science.
“We're thrilled to work with our incredible network of partners to produce hundreds of events touching on all aspects of STEM,” MacIntosh said. “From large-scale expos with hundreds of scientists leading hands-on activities to solar observing and skywatching nights to special behind-the-scenes lab tours, there's something for everyone.”
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Founded in 2010, the North Carolina Science Festival is the first statewide science festival in the United States. Through a series of community-based events each April (hosted by schools, colleges, libraries, museums, parks, businesses, and other local organizations), NCSciFest celebrates the economic, educational, and cultural impacts of science in North Carolina. It is an initiative of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For more information, please visit ncscifest.org.
ABOUT RTI INTERNATIONAL
RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach — one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.rti.org.
ABOUT MOREHEAD PLANETARIUM AND SCIENCE CENTER
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is a unit of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Morehead serves North Carolina and beyond by bringing together the unique resources of UNC to engage the public for an enhanced understanding of science. For more information, please visit moreheadplanetarium.org.