TECHNO PARTY SCITECH FESTIVAL WILL PUT SPOTLIGHT ON ARIZONA AS A GROWING POWER IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BY MICHAEL GOSSIE
G
ov. Jan Brewer says there is no better way to launch the state’s second century than by creating leaders in industries that she sees as crucial for the state’s economic vitality. “Arizona is an emerging world leader for advances in aerospace, aviation and defense, semiconductor and electronics information technology, optics, life science, health science, renewable energy and telecommunications,” Brewer says. “Now, we must focus on ushering in the next generation of great scientific and technological leaders and must cultivate the scientific talents of all its students.” To cultivate and inspire that talent, the Arizona Technology Council Foundation, Arizona State University and the Arizona Science Center have teamed up to create the First Annual Arizona SciTech Festival, a grassroots collaboration of more than 200 organizations in industry, education and community designed to showcase how science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) could drive the state’s economy over the next 100 years. “The SciTech Festival will be the perfect way for Arizona to start rebranding itself around science and technology,” says Chuck Vermillion, chief executive officer and founder of Scottsdale-based OneNeck IT Services. 32 AB | January-February 2012
According to Jeremy Babendure, a biomedical scientist and director of the festival, officials expect more than 100,000 people to attend more than 300 activities that will take place throughout the state over a six-week period. “I went through the Arizona school system and then went to ASU,” Babendure says. “But when it came time for me to engage in scientific research, I went out of state. This festival will show the next generation of Arizona scientists what is going on in their backyard and show them that it is possible to stay in Arizona and engage in meaningful scientific work.” Festival organizers hope to showcase the state as a leader in science, technology and innovation. Activities will include workshops, conversations, debates, exhibitions, concerts and guided tours for young people and adults. In addition to the three founding partners, sponsors of the SciTech Festival include Cox, Avnet, SRP, Boeing, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Flinn Foundation, US Airways, DPR Construction, Maricopa Community Colleges, Creative Engine and the Helios Education Foundation, which committed $50,000 to the festival. “By supporting the (festival), Helios believes more Arizonans will become aware of the role STEM plays in our economy,” said Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez,
vice president and program director, Arizona Transition Years: Teacher and Curriculum Initiatives. “In order for Arizona to be a player in the new global economy, Helios supports educational initiatives that create a college-going culture with an emphasis on academic preparation in STEM education.” For companies such as Microchip Technology Inc. in Chandler, a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, the idea of inspiring students that could become part of a home-grown workforce is one of the benefits that will be derived from the festival. “This is the kind of thing that can start to change the culture and get young people excited about science and engineering,” says Michelle Ragsdale, senior public relations specialist for Microchip, which is participating in three SciTech Festival events. “They will get an opportunity to see how math, science and technology shape our lives.” “The festival is designed to help the public better understand the relationship between the state’s current, outstanding research and technology and the immense potential it offers for Arizona’s future,” says Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. More information on the festival and a complete schedule of events is available at azscitechfest.org.