BUILDING
Connections
USF S T. P ETE R S BU R G IN V IT E S T HE CO MMU N IT Y TO C A MP US FO R FU N A N D E D UCAT IO N AL E VE N TS Sarah Sell
EXPERIENCING ‘SCIENCE IN THE SUN’ In February, the St. Petersburg Science Festival made an impressive return with awe-inspiring demonstrations and near-record crowds. The festival is held in conjunction with MarineQuest, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) annual open house. The joint event returned to an in-person experience this year for the first time since 2018. More than 12,000 people gathered along the campus waterfront and outside the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. The festival connects scientists, environmental organizations and cultural institutions with the public via immersive exhibits and hands-on demonstrations in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Around 1,650 schoolchildren were also treated to a sneak peek of the St. Petersburg Science Festival and MarineQuest during organized school trips the day before the big event. During the preview, students learned about getting involved in STEAM fields and different career paths.
8 | INNOVATIONS MAGAZINE
