Apr 23 2014
The Optical Society (OSA) is pleased to announce they will be exhibiting at the USA Science and Engineering Festival, taking place in Washington, D.C. April 26-27.
OSA volunteers will be on hand to perform education demonstrations in the “Big Top Physics” tent, a joint project between OSA, Sigma Pi Sigma, the American Physical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers and the Society of Physics Students.
The all-ages festival features more than 3,000 exhibitors, 33 author presentations, 100 stage shows and science celebrity appearances by Bill Nye the Science Guy, Dirty Job’s Mike Rowe and cast and crew from the Big Bang Theory, House and Breaking Bad. The organizers expect approximately 250,000 visitors over the course of the festival, being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
“The USA Science and Engineering Festival provides an opportunity for budding scientists to be exposed to new and creative aspects of the optics and photonics field, which may lead to future careers,” said OSA CEO Elizabeth Rogan. “OSA is proud to partner on the ‘Big Top Physics’ tent again this year. This type of educational outreach is an effective, fun and rewarding investment by OSA’s members and volunteers. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
OSA’s participation in the festival is one of many ways the society supports youth education programs. Other initiatives include OSA’s OPTICSforKIDS.org website and the distribution of complimentary pre-college educational materials to educators and parents.
The USA Science and Engineering Festival is advised by a Board that includes Nobel Laureates, leading CTOs/CSOs of Fortune 100 technology and life science companies, accomplished serial entrepreneurs and innovators, world famous translational scientists, decision makers in government science policy and leaders in science education. The mission of the event is “to re-invigorate the interest of our nation’s youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by producing and presenting the most compelling, exciting, educational and entertaining science festival in the United States.”