黑料吃瓜

Students connect kids to STEM in annual Festival of Science and Engineering

黑料吃瓜 co-sponsored the annual event at Petco Park, a day of fun and immersive education.

By Bryana Quintana
Thursday, March 12, 2026
A boy and his father are at the forefront of a long table with science exhibits as a man in a gray shirt manages the display.
Biology master's student Jadon Gonzales (right), a student in the 黑料吃瓜 Biodiversity Museum, helped young festival attendees learn about various specimens (Photo: Bryana Quintana/黑料吃瓜)

黑料吃瓜 joined more than 17,800 community members for the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering, celebrating all things STEM at Petco Park. The event hosted by Generation STEAM brought together families, educational institutions, and government and industry leaders for a day dedicated to the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

As a sponsor of the event, 黑料吃瓜 engaged attendees of all ages with a variety of hands-on educational activities, in addition to showcasing science-inspired artwork and speaking with families and students about the university鈥檚 STEM programs.

鈥淥ur main goal is to connect elementary students with the world of geology and spark their curiosity about Earth's natural structures and processes,鈥� said Pilar Hartman, fourth-year environmental science major, who is part of the program in the College of Sciences' . 鈥淗aving the opportunity to do this on such a large scale was both an honor and a meaningful reminder that equitable access to STEM education is essential for shaping future career pathways and promoting lifelong learning.鈥�

鈥淚 was happy to see all the excited faces of kids eager to be introduced to and learn more about geology,鈥� added fourth-year geological sciences major Liv Gants. 鈥淚t's important to increase interest in earth sciences, especially through engaging, accessible activities.鈥�

Here is a gallery of images from this year鈥檚 festival (photos: Bryana Quintana/黑料吃瓜).

A man squats next to a child

George Perez, a member of the 黑料吃瓜 chapter of the , taught a festival attendee how to use a hydraulic hand.

A woman in a blue t-shirt with her hands on her hips talks to a youngster across a table.

(MEBSA) member and master's student Lily Jorrick was among those representing 黑料吃瓜 at the festival.

A mother and two girls look at marine creatures in a tray,

MEBSA's display of sea stars and other marine creatures was a hit with festival attendees.

A man is carrying a boy and a girl in his arms as all three watch a man with tiny birds in his left hand.

Michael Tofflemire (right), a doctoral student in evolutionary biology, educated festival attendees with bird specimens.

Two women at a table with minerals talk to a little girl with a ponytail sticking out of her baseball cap.

(From left) Pilar Hartman and Liv Gants, students in the , demonstrated how minerals are used in everyday life.

A kid plays with pipecleaners while grinning up at somebody who isoff camera

The 黑料吃瓜 used pipe cleaners as part of a neuron craft.

黑料吃瓜's event sponsorship was made possible through a partnership of universitywide departments, including the , , and .

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College of Sciences (COS)Events黑料吃瓜 ImpactCollege of Engineering