Eliot Arts Magnet School (Photo – Jennifer Hall Lee)
On April 23, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Pasadena Unified School District will hold an extravaganza of Science, Technology, Engineering, Robotics, Health, and the Environment at the Eliot Arts Magnet School.
By Jennifer Hall Lee
Principal Dr. Benita Scheckel said, “The Eliot Arts community is thrilled to be able to bring this traditional district-wide science fest back to Eliot after two years.”
Dr. Warren Skidmore, Parent Lead of the Science Fest Planning Committee and its founder said, “For our first in-person event in more than two years, we’ve adapted the science fest to be Covid safe while being a fun and inspiring event with a broad range of exciting groups that bring something for everyone.”
In 2010, the event was originally named Science Night. Created when Skidmore’s two daughters were toddlers at the Hastings Ranch Nursery School and the wee ones were dazzled by Caltech’s Center for Teaching Learning and Outreach demonstration of “how cold Comets are by freezing flowers in liquid Nitrogen and shattering them in front of the students!”
As Dr. Skidmore’s daughters grew, so did the Science Night. From Webster Elementary School and then to Eliot Arts Magnet where, according to Dr. Skidmore, Science Night started to “expand rapidly.”
The original science presentations were everywhere; hallways, classrooms, the gym, and the quad. There were 1200 visitors, 200 volunteers and 80 presenters. Climate Elvis, a JPL oceanographer named Dr. Josh Willis, demonstrated climate change on glaciers as they reach the ocean. The little Robot R2 D2 roved in the Eliot quad.
Renamed Altadena Eliot Science Fest
Science Night has now been renamed the Altadena Eliot Science Fest because Eliot Arts and Altadena Arts now have one principal, Dr. Benita Scheckel.
Dr. Skidmore said about this year’s fest, “there is a multidimensional spectrum of groups.” Indeed, there are.
For those curious about our universe, come see presentations by the Thirty Meter Telescope, Carnegie Observatory, JPL Space Missions – Europa Clipper among many others.
If you’re more of an earthling, visit the presentation by the Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles, Teranga Ranch, Friends of California Condor, Caltech – Physical Oceanography and, of course, the famous Eliot Garden. Virtual exhibits such as a feeding of Sea Lions at the Sea Lion Hospital will be held in the classrooms.
Who isn’t interested in public health these days? You will be able to see presentations by the Pasadena Tobacco Control Program, CalFresh Healthy Living Program, and City of Pasadena’s Lead-Free Homes Program.
And of course, there are robotics: Robotics engineers, Pasadena High School IFC Robotics Club, First Robotics Team 2404, are just a few.
Locally, we have the Altadena Emergency Radio Team, Altadena Sheriff’s Station, L.A. County Public Works, the Altadena Library and even more.
PUSD has many interesting programs in its schools. The Altadena Eliot Science Fest is one of the best, and it’s free.
> For a full list of virtual exhibits and participating groups click this link.
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