Thomas Pradel, 3, is dressed as a budding scientist at the EXPO Day of the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering. Photo by Chris Stone
Liisa Bozinovic isn’t a baseball manager, but she sounded like a Major League scout as she stood just outside Petco Park.
A toddler blows into a container of carbon dioxide gas at EXPO Day at Petco Park. Photo by Chris Stone
“Obviously, San Diego is a hotbed for STEM careers, and we need to spark that excitement early in kids,” said Bozinovic, executive director of the Biocom Institute.
“We take over a big area of Park at the Park and really get the little ones excited already,” she said.
Hands-on exhibits and engaging displays in science, technology, engineering and math extended through adult ages. (In fact, a “Think, Drink, Science” event is set Wednesday at Cutwater Spirits.)
Led by sponsor Illumina Foundation, with genomic exhibits, the free expo featured more than 130 exhibits by corporate, nonprofit and school groups.
Morning rain stopped just as the event began at 10 a.m., making possible a predicted turnout of 26,000. (The final tally, reported with scientific exactitude, was 22,476.)
“The sun’s out — that’s good,” Bozinovic said.
A young girl learns the ins and outs of snot. Photo by Chris Stone
Among the new attractions was the Air Force’s Rapid Strike flight simulator (the whole contraption moved, like a Disneyland ride).
The science behind healthy eating and food took up space on the Sun Deck beyond the center field fence, and several stages featured concerts and other entertainment.
Called one of the largest one-day science expos in the country, the downtown event gives way to others across the county — from Barrio Logan to San Marcos.
A preserved rattlesnake was on display at the San Diego Office of Education booth at the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering. Photo by Chris Stone
Scientist Alex Nagy of General Atomics shows a liquid nitrogen demonstration. Photo by Chris Stone
Music Notes, math teachers from Los Angeles, rap songs about science and math at the Festival of Science & Engineering. Photo by Chris Stone
A child watches the burgeoning of carbon dioxide gas at the Festival of Science & Engineering. Photo by Chris Stone
Scientist Rick Lee of General Atomics shows how air pressure embedded a ball into a can. Photo by Chris Stone
A pingpong ball is shot into a row of cans in display of pressure and vacuum. Photo by Chris Stone
A cucumber explodes after being zapped with electricity. Photo y Chris Stone
Capri Orozco gets into the Ooblek, a non-Newtonian fluid, at the Association for Women in Science booth. Photo by Chris Stone
Children enjoy making nylon from a polymer substance. Photo by Chris Stone
Children learn the factors needed to get the Earth healthy. Photo by Chris Stone
Liquid nitrogen gas takes a surgical glove to its breaking point in a General Atomics presentation. Photo by Chris Stone
Liquid nitrogen explodes in a General Atomics demonstration. Photo by Chris Stone
A girl watches a science show from a high perch. Photo by Chris Stone
Magnolia Science Academy students showed off their radio-controlled creatures. Photo by Chris Stone
Vertex Pharmaceuticals taught young children how lungs work. Photo by Chris Stone
Young children learned about the properties of sail shape and the wind. Photo by Chris Stone
In a Don’t Try This at Home show, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center personnel prepare a liquid nitrogen explosion. Photo by Chris Stone
Liquid nitrogen causes a container of colorful balls to fly skyward in a Reuben H. Fleet Science Center demonstration. Photo by Chris Stone
A young girl tries to identify the location of body organs. Photo by Chris Stone
A new exhibit allowed visitors onto U.S. Air Force’s “RapidStrike” simulator. Photo by Chris Stone
Visitors had a chance to learn about dominant and recessive genes pertaining to eye color. Photo by Chris Stone
A toddler blows into a container of carbon dioxide gas at EXPO Day at Petco Park. Photo by Chris Stone
Carbon dioxide gas bubbles intrigue children at the Mad Science of San Diego booth. Photo by Chris Stone
Save A Life Foundation members demonstrate way to restart a heart. Photo by Chris Stone
Young children got the feel of snake skin at the EXPO Day at Petco Park. Photo by Chris Stone
A woman gets a look at the consistency of fat in the Curiosity Cube at EXPO Day. Photo by Chris Stone
Thousands of parents and children flocked to the Festival of Science & Engineering at Petco Park. Photo by Chris Stone
Will you chip in? We need to raise $10,000 by June 30 to bring more trustworthy journalism to communities across San Diego.
