The 2021 NC Science Festival is underway

The North Carolina Science Festival offers more than 200 events across the state throughout April.

Posted 3:21 p.m. Apr 1, 2021 — Updated 3:21 p.m. Apr 1, 2021

Tony Rice

, NASA Ambassador

The 11th annual North Carolina Science Festival is underway. More than 200 in-person and virtual events are scheduled across the state throughout the month of April. This yea’s theme is Homegrown Science - a nod to North Carolina's large community of STEM organizations and scientists.

Founded in 2010 by Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, The North Carolina Science Festival showcases the economic, educational and cultural impact of science in North Carolina. The theme of the 2020 Festival, ‘The Future’ encourages participants to think about how science will look and feel in years to come.

“The NC Science Festival celebrates that science is for everyone,” says Festival Director Jonathan Frederick. “In a state known for firsts, it makes sense that the first statewide celebration of its kind has become a tradition for the people of North Carolina.”

NC Science Festival "spokesbot" Kelvin to NASA's historic Mission Operations Control Room (MOCR-2) at the Johnson Space Center in Houston where controllers work from the Apollo through the beginning of the Space Shuttle programs

Highlights include

The Great Blue Jay Nature Hunt, through Sunday April 4: A scavenger hunt for the whole family at Blue Jay Point County Park on Falls Lake
Science to the Drive-In, Sunday, April 11: science demos and a pre-show panel with paleontologist before a showing of Jurassic Park
UNC Virtual Science Expo, Friday April 16, 9am - 9pm: Hear from scientists from UNC’s Center for Galapagos Studies, demonstrations from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, a discussion about environmental justice with the School for Global Public Health, and finish the day with live sky-watching with Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.
State Wide Star Party, Friday April 16, virtual views from telescopes from sites across the state
Women in Science, Friday April 16: panels and discussions from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Triangle SciTech Expo, April 19-24: demos and discussions with scientists and technical professionals from Triangle area universities, organizations and industry.
Self-paced activities