Winter 2012 - Salt River Project

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYFESTIVAL OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF A STRANGEAND WONDERFUL FUTUReThe Arizona SciTech Festival is an invitation to peopleof all ages to discover the strange and wonderful world ofscience and technology. The festival will showcaseArizona as a national leader in science,technology and innovation througha series of hands-on activities andworkshops, dialogues and debates,exhibitions, concerts, guidedwalks and tours statewideduring February 2012.Spearheaded bythe Arizona TechnologyCouncil Foundation inpartnership with ArizonaState University and theArizona Science Center,the Arizona SciTechFestival is a grassrootscollaboration of morethan 200 organizationsin industry, academia, thearts and the community.It is geared to excite andinform Arizonans of allages about the discoveriesthat will drive the state fornext 100 years. SRP is amongthe main sponsors.The Arizona SciTech Festivalactually is a variety of events. Of note:• There will be large celebrationsof science and technology thatestablish science as part oflocal culture.• Events range in size, place and format (show, tourand interaction).• Festivals serve as venues to interface scienceprofessionals with the public.• Local festivals and events will play out over severaldays or weeks, attracting widespread public attentionand involvement.For details about events, seeazscitechfest.org/events.“The Arizona SciTech Festivalis an innovative strategy to helpaddress the challenges our statefaces related to the environment,energy and health that requiressolutions from a workforceinformed by knowledgeof the underlying science,engineering and technology,said Dr. Jeremy Babendure,festival director andbiomedical scientist.He said the nation’scompetitiveness andeconomic strength in theglobal market dependson a workforce trainedand educated inSTEM-related fields.“The festival is designed tohelp the public better understandthe strong relationship between thestate’s current outstanding researchand technology and the immensepotential it offers for Arizona’s future,”said Steven G. Zylstra, President and CEO ofthe Arizona Technology Council.For more details about the Arizona SciTechFestival, visit azscitechfest.org/azscitechfest.16