The North Carolina Science Festival has been dedicated to making science accessible to all since its inception in 2010. This statewide program is held every spring and features a wide range of scientific events throughout the state, with the goal of promoting STEM awareness and accessibility. With a particular focus on reaching all 100 counties in North Carolina, the festival aims to ensure that everyone has access to STEM education.
One of the festival’s flagship events is the Duke Energy Science Night program, which has already reached all 100 N.C. counties. This program allows children and families to explore science through interactive programs held in schools after instruction hours, making science education accessible to students across the state. While the festival primarily aims to educate children and high school students about science, many events are open to people of all ages and cater to adult students, scholars, and enthusiasts.
The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on UNC’s campus produces the festival, which includes the annual UNC Science Expo. The Morehead Planetarium serves as the main organizer for the festival, collecting and coordinating all the events and posting them on the festival’s website. The festival was inspired by the Cambridge Science Festival sponsored by the MIT Museum, with a unique focus on expanding the event to cover all 100 counties in North Carolina. Todd Boyette, co-founder of the festival and director of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, played a key role in bringing the festival to life.
