Inspire

The Virginia Tech Science Festival

The Virginia Tech Science Festival is a Saturday celebration of science as a way of knowing.  Held since 2014, this expo-style, family-friendly event reaches 4,000-6,000 visitors, including families, school field trips, and Virginia Tech students. Festival guests participate in hands-on activities, see engaging demonstrations, and talk one-on-one with practicing scientists at about 100 different exhibits.  Based on the idea that “science is bigger than you think,” the festival features a range of disciplines that use data to draw conclusions. Science is … life, process, safety, and robotics, the earth, and well-being. Science is on the road and in the arts. The festival is a collaboration across most of the colleges and research institutes on campus, as well as many community members.  Supported by the College Access Collaborative, the festival budget funds buses for school field trips from area schools, as well as charter buses from three College Access regions in the state. Contact Phyllis Newbill for ways to join.

Hokie For a Day

Hokie For a Day is a signature event connecting fifth graders from Virginia Title 1 schools with Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students. While on campus, fifth graders are immersed in hands-on experiences, inspiring them to consider a multitude of college and career paths. Hokie For a Day is a collaborative effort of CENI and the College Access Collaborative, with support from departments across the university. The program truly exemplifies our land-grant mission.

Our goal is to provide fifth grade students from Title I schools with a college orientation experience that includes an overview of college life and possible majors, hands-on activities with college faculty and students, lunch in an on-campus dining hall, and then a visit with college athletes. We hope learners can see a clear path between where they are and where they could be going if college is in their future.

Would you like to participate? Contact us at ceni@vt.edu

ACCelerate Festival

The ACCelerate Smithsonian Creativity and Innovation Festival is an opportunity for all ACC schools in partnership with the Lemelson Center to showcase their work to the public, each other, students, alumni, companies, legislators, and invited guests from the nation’s capital. The first two ACCelerate Festivals took place on October 13-15, 2017, and April 5-7, 2019, at the National Museum of American History in Washington DC. The festivals are programmed by Virginia Tech’s Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology and the Museum’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. The event is a three-day celebration of creative exploration and research at the nexus of science, engineering, arts, and design (SEAD). Visitors to the festival interact with innovators and experience new interdisciplinary technologies developed to address global challenges. The event is free and open to the public. CENI provides evaluation and training services for ACCelerate.

ICAT Creativity + Innovation Day

ICAT Creativity + Innovation Day is a public showcase at the nexus of science, engineering, art, and design (SEAD). Hosted by the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology at the Moss Arts Center, it is held annually on the last Monday of spring semester, usually in early May. Participants from middle school to adult join us for a full day of fun and thought-provoking interactions. For information contact Phyllis Newbill.