Now in its ninth year, the festival attracts thousands of people from across the state to participate in hands-on activities and learn something new in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
"We've got a lot of new things this year," said Bruce Jonsson, Lodi High teacher and festival coordinator said. "We have 85 to 90 different booths or exhibits this year. Last year we had 1,100 attendees, and we're hoping more will come out."
One of the new exhibits that Jonsson and the festival team is excited about is coming all the way from the other side of the world.
Australia's Fizzics Education will showcase a number of interactive experiments, where guests can make a do-it-yourself barometer, their own spectrometer or a motor comprised of copper wire and paperclips.
"They're coming to do a 20-show tour across the district," Jonsson said. "It's made possible through a partnership with one of our long-time sponsors, Magnitude.io. And because (Fizzics Education) was here doing the tour, they agreed to participate in this weekend's festival."
Grady Bender, 8, plays with a robot during the NorCal Science and Technology Festival at Tokay High in Lodi Sat. Feb. 29, 2020.
Magnitude.io will also be on-hand with its Starborn Academy Uplift Aerospace virtual reality astronaut program.
About 10 headsets will be available for use, giving attendees a sampling of what it is like to explore space, although in the safety of the Lodi High campus.
Several Lodi Unified teachers will also have exhibits, demonstrating some of the lessons and projects they have their students undertaking. One such project is a hydroponic garden that faculty hopes one day will be on every campus, Jonsson said. According to the National Agricultural Library, hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil, and can include a growing media such as vermiculite, coconut coir, or perlite. Hydroponic production systems are used by small farmers, hobbyists, and commercial enterprises.
Jonsson said this weekend's festival will feature more agricultural exhibits than in previous years, as guests will learn about grape harvesters, and LangeTwins Winery will discuss its conservation efforts.
Created by former Tokay High School student Julie Fukunaga in 2016, the festival's mission is to boost STEAM engagement not only among students, but in educators and the entire San Joaquin County community.
The festival had traditionally been held at Tokay until last year, when it was moved to the Lodi High campus.
"The idea wasn't to keep the festival at Tokay forever," Jonsson said. "But the timing was right last year. I took over the responsibility, and it was just a good transition for it to move to Lodi. There's no exact date for when it might move again, but we want to share the love, share the festival and make sure other schools are aware of it."
While the festival had typically been held in the Tokay High gym and various classrooms in the past, this year's festival will be held in the Lodi High courtyard, as well as individual classes.
The festival's entrance will be located at Lodi High's north gate off Elm Street. The festival will run 10 am. to 3 pm. and admission is free. The Oxcart Deli, Cost's Finest Kettle Corn and Taco-solicit food trucks will provide food.
Jonsson said the festival is a great opportunity for people of all ages to be exposed to STEAM, whether they are toddlers, college students or adults.
"When I talk to people about it, I encourage their whole families to come out," he said. "It's not just for kids. I had some friends come to the festival last year. They're adults with their own kids, and they thought this was the coolest thing they had been to in a while."
For more information, visit www.norcalsciencefestival.org, or www.facebook.com/norcalsciencefestival.
©2024 the Lodi News-Sentinel (Lodi, Calif.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
