SciTech Institute Announces 10th Annual Arizona SciTech Festival Presented by Cox and Featuring Engaging STEM Events

PHOENIX, AZ (January 12, 2021) — SciTech Institute™ is excited to announce the 2021 Arizona SciTech Festival season begins Jan. 30 and runs through February, marking 10 years of inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) statewide. All ages will enjoy fun and engaging events and activities during this annual celebration while building their STEM knowledge. Best of all, most events are free!

New for 2021, the popular tradition will feature both in-person and virtual events from a variety of locations. Fifty signature events will be hosted by a variety of organizations whose members have worked to redefine the Festival season through experiences in virtual settings.

The season kicks off with the popular Connect2STEM event on Saturday, Jan. 30, presented by The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and sponsored by Cox Communications. Other planned activities include:

• ASU Open Door highlights featuring each of the university’s campuses on Signature Saturdays
• Prescott Regional SciTech Fest
• Virtual tours of fun places to visit with a click of a button
• Presentations and workshops from STEM professionals and experts
• Panels featuring knowledgeable speakers covering hot topics
• Highlights from different parts of Arizona, including past Signature Events
• Univision’s Speaker Series “Lideres Hispanos en la Ciencia” each week

“Today’s students are tomorrow’s visionary thinkers and business leaders, and inspiring them to pursue STEM career pathways is important for Arizona’s long-term economic competitiveness,” said Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority President & CEO. “We’re incredibly proud to celebrate a decade of engaging programming delivered by the Arizona SciTech Festival, which plays a key role in our efforts to build the workforce of the future.”

“Arizona’s youth have a future that includes significant career opportunities in STEM fields,” said Steve Zylstra, President and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. “For 10 years, the SciTech Festival has leveraged diverse partnerships to engage and inspire young people to see the possibilities and pursue education for these high-demand careers. We’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone with our collaborators and give Arizonans another meaningful STEM experience.”

“As an inaugural supporter and presenting sponsor of the Arizona SciTech Festival, Cox Communications understands the importance of helping to grow our STEM culture in Arizona,” said Susan Anable, vice president of public affairs with Cox Communications. “Investing in efforts like the SciTech Festival helps spur a critical early interest in STEM careers of the future. We are proud to celebrate this 10-year milestone and continue to encourage STEM-based education for students of all ages.”

Hundreds of SciTech Festival collaborators will deliver abundant opportunities for kids, teens and adults to explore STEM through interactive events, workshops, panels, presentations and tours. Organizers will offer in-person, hands-on events when possible but most Festival activities will be hosted virtually. Interested parties should visit SciTechInstitute.org to find events of interest and check often for updates.

Having more digital options enhances access for all by minimizing barriers like geography and socioeconomics. SciTech Institute anticipates this fusion of online and in-person events will go beyond 2021, making future Festivals equally inclusive and providing more participants with valuable and rewarding experiences.

“We are working hard to ensure people still have opportunities for STEM learning during this time by continuing to provide meaningful ways to connect with collaborators from business, community, government and education,” said Dr. Jeremy Babendure, executive director of SciTech Institute. “We see the silver lining in how current challenges will push us to grow as a community and work creatively together.”

Since its launch in 2012, the Festival has become the country’s third-largest science festival with more than 900 organizations partnering to present roughly 2,300 events throughout the season in 80+ Arizona cities and towns. Spearheaded by the Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona Science Center, Arizona Technology Council Foundation, Arizona Board of Regents, Arizona State University and The University of Arizona, the Arizona SciTech Festival is a wildly successful grassroots STEM collaboration.

A full list of Festival events can be found at SciTechInstitute.org.

Media Contact

Dr. Jeremy Babendure, SciTech Institute, [email protected]

Connie Weber, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected]

About the Arizona SciTech Festival

The annual Arizona SciTech Festival is a statewide celebration of STEM that aims to inform, engage and inspire all Arizonans. The Festival advances STEM awareness and highlights its economic importance by offering participants a variety of events and hands-on learning opportunities delivered through a grassroots collaboration of organizations. These events and activities provide individuals of all ages the chance to experience STEM firsthand and see how it impacts their lives. The foundation partners of the Arizona SciTech Festival are the Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona Science Center, Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Arizona Board of Regents.

About SciTech Institute

SciTech Institute is a nonprofit organization working to enhance and promote STEM awareness and engagement in Arizona and beyond. SciTech Institute strives to connect the STEM community and motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related career paths and get engaged in community events during the Arizona SciTech Festival as a way to help enrich their lives.

SciTech Institute is a collaborative initiative of the Arizona Technology Council and Arizona Commerce Authority. Visit the SciTech Institute website for more information. Follow SciTech Institute on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter at @azcommerce.