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Countdown to the Festival:
Just 1 Month Until the Largest Celebration of Science & Engineering!
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Saturday, April 28, 10am-6pm
Sunday, April 29, 10am-4pm
Over 3,000 hands-on science and
engineering activities *** More than 100 stage shows on six stages
A free event for all ages
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FUN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Sneak Peek Friday, EXPO, Book Fair & Special Events!
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SIGN UP to volunteer for the Expo & Book Fair Volunteer NOW!
The best way to be part of the FUN is to Volunteer. We need Volunteers for Expo Move-in, Sneak Peek Friday, Expo, Book Fair, and Special Evening Events. Tell your friends and volunteer together. We have Volunteer Opportunities for Individuals (Youth & Adult)and Groups of five or more. All volunteers will get a FREE Red Volunteer T-shirt - and memories of a lifetime!
Volunteer Training Sessions will be held April 14th and April 21st at 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm for Expo & Book Fair Volunteers at K&L Gates, 1601 K Street NW, Washington, DC. Only one training session is required.
FUN Volunteers Register HERE
Group Volunteers Register HERE
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And in Other Important Festival News...
Be sure to become of fan of ours on Facebook!
Click here to "like" us on Facebook to stay up to date with all Festival news and to connect with others in the Festival community!
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Preregister for the Expo to win a cool prize!
Let us know that you are planning to attend the Expo, and you will automatically be signed up for a chance to meet Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of the Mythbusters OR Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory; an iPad 2; lots of Cool Video Games; lots of Science and Engineering Books; or 1 of 50 T-shirts! You don't have to preregister to attend the Festival Expo, but you will have a chance to win a cool prize while letting us know a little about who will be attending.
Click Here to preregister now!
April 14th- March in the Cherry Blossom Parade Behind Buzz Aldrin!
 Win the chance to march in the 100th Celebration of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade! March behind the Grand Marshall the Legendary Buzz Aldrin and the incredible Mondo Spider! Follow this link and let us know your BEST costume idea or STEM related display idea. Be prepared to march rain or shine! Contest deadline is April 1st.
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Spend Saturday Evening of the Festival -4/28- with Featured Authors! FREE Tickets!
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Science Stories in Society in School: Using Narrative to Bridge the Gap
Register for FREE Tickets for an Evening Panel discussion with Featured Authors moderated by Shawn Lawrence Otto. Click this link for your FREE tickets.
Should the latest science research be found solely in science journals? Innovative scientists are broadening their audience through cleverly written science themed books geared at every age. Students young and old are embracing science books about medicine, physics & engineering - and are turning the channel to watch TV and movies based on these groundbreaking author/scientists work.  Our Featured Authors will explore how their work is targeting misperceptions in society about science, as well as re-invigorating interest in the sciences to encourage youth to pursue careers in science & engineering.
Meet science author pioneer, Robin Cook, who helped bring a shift in the understanding of medicine through his science fiction literature starting with Coma in the 70s. Panel Moderator and contributor Sean Lawrence Otto the challenges of science understanding in policy in his book "Fool Me Twice." Featured Author Panelists also include: Wolfram Mathematica co-founder and pictorial periodic table pioneer Theodore Gray; engineer and practical pyromaniac William Gurstelle; retired rocket scientist and author of October Sky Homer Hickam; award-winning history and science storyteller Joy Hakim; and physician, philanthropist and writer Pendred Noyce.
Please join us for lively conversation with our fascinating Featured Authors. This one-of-a-kind event is FREE!
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Role Models in Expo's "Meet the Scientists/Engineers" Are Ready to Inspire!
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Imagine the opportunity for kids to chat one-on-one with some of the nation's top scientists, engineers and other professionals in such fields as medical research, the CIA, oceanography, microbiology, and technology intellectual property law!
Here is a sampling of just some of these exciting sessions with role models that will inspire students at the Expo's Meet the Scientists/Engineers sessions:
Science of Our Senses. Don't miss it when scientists from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) take you inside their work exploring the five senses. Does a robot see objects the way you see them? Why does food lose its taste when you have a cold? Get insight into these questions and more!
The CIA's Scientists! Come meet the creative men and women scientists from the Central Intelligence Agency whose daring and innovation helps to keep America safe. CIA officers will be on hand to talk about their backgrounds, their careers, and the exiting work they do for our country.
What's it Like to be a Woman in Science? Representatives from AWIS (The Association for Women in Science) will provide answers. These scientists from different fields of study will tell how they became interested in science and give insight into the many options available today for females in such fields!
Encounters in Engineering. Talk with Lockheed Martin engineers who work on high-tech projects that make a profound difference in our world: from space systems and high-performance airplanes to clean energy solutions and cyber security.
Protecting the World's Creative Property. The field of Intellectual Property involves protecting the world's treasure trove of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade Secrets in science, technology and other areas -- from Disney to Amgen. Meets experts from Intellectual Property Law Professionals (IPLP) to discover what's involved with this fascinating area.
Meet the Microbiologists! Scientists from the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) will regale you when they unveil their rendition of "Giant Microbes" after answering questions about the many exciting fields in this area of laboratory science.
Learn What Physicists Really Do. From researching chaos to making policy for Hollywood superhero movies, you'll discover from scientists at the American Institute of Physics and other experts that physicists are involved in a wide range of exciting endeavors.
Careers in Ocean Science. Come talk with a dynamic group of scientists, engineers, artists, educators and other professionals from the Consortium of Ocean Leadership whose career efforts are devoted to advancing our understanding of the ocean and the Earth.
Explore the Diversity of STEM. You'll be impressed by the diversity of individuals (gender, ethnicity and national origin) making valuable contributions in science, engineering and mathematics. Meet one-on-one with these professionals from SEM Link as they tell you about their jobs and how they became professionals in these fields!
Inside the NIH. The renowned National Institutes of Health (NIH) is involved with researching a plethora of medical conditions and issues -- from the human genome to asthma and AIDS. Let experts from this agency take you inside of what they do each day, and discover the exciting frontiers in NIH that you can pursue!
Note: In addition, the Festival's STEM Career Pavilion initiative also provides other opportunities for students to further enhance career preparation in STEM, including internship and mentoring resources, and College Fair and Job Fair avenues. For more information, visit this link.
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A Command Performance - Lockheed Martin 2012 Festival Host
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Lockheed Martin is returning to the USA Science & Engineering Festival as the presenting host and a major exhibitor. The global security company will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012, marking a century since its pioneering founders -- Glenn L. Martin and Malcolm and Allan Lockheed - launched their aircraft manufacturing businesses. Lockheed Martin's exhibits will explore the corporation's legacy of innovation and the evolution of advanced technology and exploration.
From immersing yourself in the cockpit simulator of a F-22 fighter jet, exploring the future of nanotechnology and touring cities of the future, to delving into the wonders of robotics, human creativity and the Hubble telescope - Lockheed Martin's exhibits are sure to wow you!
"Lockheed Martin is proud to partner again with the USA Science & Engineering Festival as the presenting host. During the two-day Festival Expo, we will have the opportunity to see something amazing. I am not just talking about the exhibits - which are visually stunning and on the cutting edge of technology. I am talking about seeing an exhibit hall brimming with students excited about - and engaging in - engineering and science," says Dr. Ray O Johnson, Lockheed Martin Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer and Festival co-founder.
Here are just a few of the interactive Lockheed Martin exhibits you may experience at the Finale Expo, April 28-29 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center:
The Future of Spaceflight! Blazing a bold new journey of human space exploration and discovery, the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle will expand the reaches of space exploration. Come experience the future of space flight!
 Come Fly With Us! Explore the F-22 Cockpit Demonstrator - an immersive fighter jet simulator. "Fly" the airplane and land safely at an airport to experience the feeling of being a fighter jet pilot inside a working cockpit.
Renewable Energy in Extreme Environments. Check out the renewable energy equipment that was tested in Antarctica, as well as video footage from the icy frontier.
Solar Decathlon! Let Hampton University and Old Dominion University show you what it takes to produce a sustainable living and universal designed house for the 2013 Solar Decathlon.
The Interactive Nanotube. See, touch, and learn about nanotechnology and its applications in the world today.
Shoot Hoops with FIRST Robotics! Interact with the Lockheed Martin-sponsored teams that engineered robots in the FIRST Robotics competitions and find out what it takes to build a functioning robot from scratch!
Soar Through the Skies of Washington, DC! This exciting demonstration puts you at the hands of a helicopter! Pilot your way up, down, left, right, and spin your way through an aerial tour of our nation's capital.
Cyber Security & You. Participate in interactive sessions such as Email Flag Identification, Cyber Jeopardy, and other hands-on age appropriate activities. Additionally, students will learn about career paths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
 The Hottest Thing You'll Ever See! Visit our Solar Observatory for amazing images of our Sun like you've never seen.
For a listing of other new Lockheed Martin exhibits, click here.
We thank Lockheed Martin and our other valued Sponsors as they join us in our goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers!
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Air Force Lands at USA Science & Engineering Festival
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 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- When people think about the U.S. Air Force, they often think of only planes and pilots. But did you know the Air Force is also a leader in science, technology and research. Did you know that Air Force operations include rocket launches, a network of more than 150 satellites, remotely piloted aircraft, flying hospitals, a deep space telescope, robots, X-craft and cyber warfare?
The Air Force depends on a technically skilled workforce to meet its mission of defending America in Air, Space and Cyberspace. Inspiring science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, is an enduring requirement for the Air Force and is vital to national defense. The Air Force Recruiting Service's participation in the 2012 USA Science & Engineering Festival allows the Air Force to inspire continued growth in these disciplines.
"The Air Force is a leader in technology and innovation," said Brig. Gen. Balan Ayyar, Air ForceRecruiting Service commander. "STEM training provides the foundation for technical competence essential to the mission of the Air Force. It is important to nurture the interest of young people in STEM fields."
The Air Force Recruiting Service's Command Center Alpha will be on display at the Festival. This high-tech exhibit includes a full-size F-16 which has been modified so the wings fold up for transporting in a standard 53-ft trailer. A second trailer houses an immersive augmented reality experience. Each visitor walks through the trailer and activates AR markers to see videos, 3D models and interactive games using an iPad. Visitors can fly a remotely piloted aircraft, launch an Atlas V rocket and test their skills in a challenging parachute jumper game. Along the way they will learn about sensors, satellites, space debris and aerodynamics. Festival participants won't want to miss this fun and educational experience.
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New Scientist Comes Aboard as Festival Media Partner,Bringing Excitement for Curious Minds!
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New Scientist, the world's most-read science and technology weekly, is joining the Festival as a key Media Partner, greatly enhancing our ability to reach out globally to the growing number of ultra-inquisitive Festival fans who just can't get enough insight into science's new and emerging frontiers!
Known as the magazine for "people who ask why", New Scientist, with its solid team of writers and experts, brings a comprehensive and inquisitive approach to science news reporting by not only shedding light on fast-developing and futuristic topics shaping science and technology, but also providing insight into such often-wondered questions as: how is gas mileage in today's cars really computed? Or how does 3-D technology work in iPhones?
As a Media Partner, the award-winning New Scientist will be bringing its trademark expertise and reader-friendly attitude to the Festival's finale Expo this April in Washington, DC where key members of the publication's staff will regale students and others with hands-on encounters in science.
"Some of our top science experts, editors and writers -- joined by members of our sales and marketing staff -- will be conducting engaging, interactive experiments related to space and physics which will explain to kids the various planets and how they work, and what other planets are possible," says Leah Kinthaert, the publication's US Marketing Executive. These exhibits are inspired by the publication's team of Space science writers as well as by the eighth anniversary of the Mars Rover Opportunity and the recent Kepler discoveries.
In addition, says Michael Reilly, Senior Technology Editor of New Scientist, "Our writers and editors will be shedding light on some of the top stories they have covered. We particularly want to get across how fast all aspects of science and technology are advancing. Take, for example, the area of exoplanetary research: A few years ago we didn't even know the extent of the existence of other planets; now this frontier of science is absolutely exploding, giving us extraordinary insight and perspective into the universe."
We sincerely thank New Scientist and our other valued Media Partners for their participation!
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Book Fair High School - Stories of Science Stage Featured Authors: Saturday, April 28th, 2012
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The Book Fair has an exciting line-up of Featured Authors to appear on the High School - Stories Science Stage on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the Finale Expo! They include:
Walter Lewin honed his singular craft of making physics not only accessible but truly  fun, whether putting his head in the path of a wrecking ball, supercharging himself with three hundred thousand volts of electricity, or demonstrating why the sky is blue and why clouds are white. Lewin takes readers on a marvelous journey in For the Love of Physics, opening our eyes as never before to the amazing beauty and power with which physics can reveal the hidden workings of the world all around us.
 Thea Cooper is a writer, editor, and history buff. She started writing stories before she could spell and has made steady improvement in both areas ever since. Thea has a B.A. in English from Bard College and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop at the University of Iowa. Thea Cooper is co-author of BREAKTHROUGH: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insulin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle which recreates the discovery and production of insulin with the suspense and drama of a thriller.
 Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa is known today as Dr. Q, an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and  neuroscientist who leads cutting-edge research to cure brain cancer. But not too long ago, he was Freddy, a nineteen-year-old undocumented migrant worker toiling in the tomato fields of central California. Becoming Dr. Q is a testament to persistence, hard work, the power of hope and imagination, and the pursuit of excellence.
 Joel Achenbach has been a staff writer for The Washington Post since 1990, started the newsroom's first online column in 1999 and the paper's first blog, Achenblog, in 2005. His syndicated column Why Things Are (1988-1996) appeared in 50 newspapers; three collections of the column were published by Ballantine Books. Now assigned to the Post's national desk, he writes on science and politics, and helped lead the coverage of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. A suspense story, a mystery, a technological thriller: A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea is Joel Achenbach's groundbreaking account of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and what came after.
 Professor Robert P. Crease is Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at Stony Brook University, New York. He writes the "Critical Point" column for Physics World  magazine on the social dimensions of science. His most recent book World in the Balance; The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Meaurement traces the evolution of the international system of measurement from the use of flutes to measure distance in the dynasties of ancient China and figurines to weigh gold in West Africa to the creation of the French metric and British imperial systems.
 Author, Physician, and Naval Officer, Robin Cook's literary career began with his first novel,The Year of the Intern, which he wrote underwater while on board the Kamehameha. To date he has sold over one hundred million books worldwide most of which have been written to elucidate various medical/biotech ethical issues Robin Cook's most recently published book, Death Benefit, deals with Wall Street greed and medical malfeasance.
 Holly Tucker is an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University, where she holds appointments in the Center for Medicine, Health & Society and the Department of  French & Italian and edits the general history website Wonders & Marvels. Holly is the author of Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine & Murder in the Scientific Revolution (Norton, March 2011) which chronicles the history of blood transfusions and has received distinction as a Scientific American Notable book.
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Save the Date! Premier of New Interactive Live Webcast Series - Wonder Women of STEM!
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 On April 26 2012, the USA Science and Engineering Festival will offer a pre-expo event produced by the America Association of University Women and The JASON Project, a STEM education nonprofit co-managed by Sea Research Foundation and National Geographic Society. Wonder Women of STEM! is a new interactive live Webcast series. During each show, interviews will be held with outstanding female leaders in STEM who will raise the awareness of women's success in these fields, and provide young people with real-life STEM role models.
 Shot at The JASON Project's studio in Northern Virginia, four 1-hour shows will air live on the Internet on April 26th. Several shows will be streamed live to the Jack Morton Auditorium located on the campus of George Washington University in the heart of Washington D.C. (Foggy Bottom Metro Station - Orange Line). Attendance via the Internet or in person is free. Questions will be taken from both on-line and auditorium audience.
The first show will air at 10:00 AM - all are welcome! Logon instructions and directions to the auditorium will be posted on the USASEF website and Pre-Expo Event Calendar - check back soon!
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Flipping the Classroom Gaining Momentum
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As more teachers are seeking to connect with students in this digital age, a new trend called flipping the classroom is emerging. To flip the classroom, teachers create online tutorials, videos, podcasts and more that students review as homework. Then valuable class time is used to delve deeper into the topic and provide one-on-one help to students as they complete their assignments.
 Sophia.org, a social education platform, is quickly becoming a favorite site for teachers who are flipping their classroom. Sophia allows teachers to create and share their own tutorials or choose from a library of lessons created by other teachers. One teacher in Minneapolis, Aaron Mullally, has been flipping his classroom for over a year and has found that students appreciate having the ability to stop, rewind and replay the material, which allows them to learn at their own pace. He has also seen a 20 percent decrease in the withdrawal/fail rate in his class.
If you are interested in learning more, tune into a free webinar hosted by Aaron at 3 p.m. (CST) on Tuesday, April 3rd. Registration is required and space is limited.
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Yámana Science and Technology's 'Unsummit 2012: Innovation - a Global Conversation'
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 Yámana Science and Technology has created the Science 'Unsummit' 2012 to share ideas that can help usher in the next era of innovation by bringing "all hands on deck" for critical conversations about the future of science and technology in this country. We are convening people from across diverse sectors, from beginning graduate students to seasoned policy makers, from the technology sector to academic leadership, to evaluate the current systems of science and technology and the successful processes for innovation. We believe there is enormous potential on all fronts, but we cannot succeed with outdated models that no longer work. It is time for change.
We invite the institutions that have stepped up to support the USA Science and Engineering Festival to join us in this 'think tank' portion of the Festival, to create the future of science and technology. Please visit this link
for the information needed to register for this sleeves' up working conference. This conference is being held April 23-25th, prior to the Grand Finale of the USA Science and Engineering Festival.
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New Sponsors of the Festival
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Science 2.0
Science 2.0 is an open science writing network where researchers can dive into direct science outreach and 'be journalists' while making science writing as accurate as they would like. In addition, the audience can get information directly from the source, without any editorial or corporate bias. The Festival is thrilled to have Science 2.0 as a Media Partner at the Einsteinium Level.
Janssen Research & Development, LLC.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson, provides medicines for an array of health concerns in several therapeutic areas, including: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, general medicine, mental health, neurologics, pain management, and women's health. Janssen Research & Development joins the Festival this year as a Platinum Level Sponsor.
Sophia
Sophia is a social teaching and learning platform that taps the teacher in all of us and enhances the learning process by providing access to a wealth of knowledge, help, instruction, standards-aligned content, and expertise available to learners everywhere. The Festival is grateful to have Sophia as a Titanium Level Sponsor this year.
The Festival thanks all of our Sponsors!
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 Thank You to our Palladium Sponsors
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Academy of Model Aeronautics
Aldebaran-Robotics
American Mathematical Society
Biogen Idec
Children's National Medical Center
Draper Laboratory
Dassault Systčmes Solidworks Corp.
Destination DC
FEI Company
Genentech
Macaroni Kid
M.Y. Voice
National Girls Collaborative Project
Nuts & Volts Magazine
SpaceX
SERVO Magazine
University of Massachusetts Lowell
U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics in Schools
Workman Publishing
Thank You to our Titanium Sponsors
Aerospace Corporation
AFCEA Belvoir Chapter
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)
American Society of Agronomy
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society for Microbiology
Atlas Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider
Big Kid Science
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute
Consortium for Ocean Leadership
Crop Science Society of America
Data.Gov
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
DeVry University
The Engineering Place, North Carolina State University
EurekAlert!
George Mason University
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Idaho State University
James Madison University
Johns Hopkins University
KidWind
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Michigan Tech Mind Trekkers
National Museum of Health and Medicine
North Carolina State University
NumbersAlive!
Polytech Institute of NYU
Rice Space Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology
San Diego State University
SMU Caruth Institute for Engineering Education
Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)
Soil Science Society of America
Sophia
Space Camp & Aviation Challenge
The Mars Society
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The Pennsylvania State University
Thirty Meter Telescope
Tumblehome Learning, Inc
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
United States Naval Academy
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
University of Connecticut
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Rochester
Vanderbilt University
VCU School of Engineering
Wellesley College
West Virginia University
Wind Energy Foundation
WTOP
In-Kind Sponsors:
American Elements
Wolfram
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Visit us online at
http://www.usasciencefestival.org/
Science Spark is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization responsible for creating the USA Science & Engineering Festival and several regional Festivals including the San Diego Science & Engineering Festival, Bay Area Science & Engineering Festival, Boston Science & Engineering Festival, Los Angeles Science & Engineering Festival, Chicago Science & Engineering Festival, Houston Science & Engineering Festival, Miami Science & Engineering Festival and the Philadelphia Science & Engineering Festival.
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