Bay Area residents gathered at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in mid-April for the 8th annual Tri-Valley Innovation Fair. Hosted by Quest Science Center, attendees engaged in a day of science, engineering, and community building. Admission was free for everyone.
“There is something for all ages and backgrounds [at the Innovation Fair] that excites curiosity and the joy of discovery,” said Director of Quest Science Center Rick Stulen.
Making Science Accessible
The event took place in the Winter, Summer, Autumn, and Spring buildings, allowing attendees to enjoy a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Indoor halls featured over 70 exhibitors, including local businesses, schools, and community groups. Attendees could also enjoy live dance and musical performances and fresh food from the food trucks outdoors.
“Being here and being able to have conversations and get to chat with people is really important for us. We want people to see that science is accessible. Science is possible for anyone to do, and that we need people from a diverse background to be part of science, for that science to be effective,” said Milan Loiacono, Science Communication Specialist at NASA Ames Research Center.
Event attendees ranged from young children to senior citizens. Attendees got the opportunity to meet scientists, engineers, and creators, engage in hands-on interactive activities, and explore potential careers in science. Some of those scientists were from NASA.
NASA Brings Space Exploration
“The more that we get to talk to people and we get to humanize science and what it looks like to be a scientist or to be involved in science, the better our science is going to be in the long run. And so getting to talk to students early and show them, you can do this, you can be part of this, and this is something that’s exciting and possible for you to do,” said Loiacono.
The NASA exhibit was a popular attraction at the fair. NASA officials were discussing the recent Artemis II mission to the moon and handing out NASA posters and stickers. NASA Ames Research Center, located only 37 miles from Amador Valley High School, played a significant role in making the Artemis II mission possible. Ames invented components of the Orion heat shield and served as the authority for testing and validating its flight readiness. The Orion heat shield is a 16.5-foot-wide protective barrier to protect the Artemis astronauts when returning from lethal temperatures of deep space reentry.
Careers in Science
NASA is often associated with rocket science and engineering. While that’s certainly true, the agency also plays a significant role in Earth science and offers careers beyond those of engineers or scientists.
“I come from a journalism background. I like science classes, but I never wanted to be a scientist. This is the dream job that I didn’t know existed until I was doing it. I wish I had known that this kind of job existed to even go for until I tripped and fell into it by accident. And so it’s really fun just getting to chat with young people and make sure that they know that this is something they can do and they can go after,” said Loiacono.
Highlighting Youth Innovation
Another feature of the Tri-Valley Innovation Fair was the exhibit showcasing intern work at Quest Science Center. This exhibit was part of the Planetary Health program.
“This is our 3rd year highlighting posters from this program at the fair. Each year they are more impressive in their breadth and depth. [They are] addressing the challenges of climate change that are directly relevant to our region. Our Quest interns have come from Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, and Tracy,” said Stulen.
Interns showcased their work through posters, practicing their communication skills as they explained their research to community members. Projects ranged from mapping heat islands and exploring local methane sources to studying native plants and investigating respiratory health.
“I love seeing our students in deep conversation with government and education leaders, explaining what they are doing and why it is important,” said Stulen.
