The University of Arizona's College of Science and BIO5 Institute are proud to once again co-host Science City, spanning the exciting worlds of science and technology.
Science City, the largest STEM event in Arizona, is designed to spark curiosity,
encourage literacy and promote an interest in science.
Visitors to Science City will experience the connection between their daily lives and advances in science, as well as learn about groundbreaking research being done at the UA.
Free Lectures and Shows
Saturday March 10
Science Main Stage
Seats 195
The Science Main Stage features a variety of authors, interactive panels and entertaining, informative shows. A book signing follows each author presentation in the Science City Bookstore located nearby.
10 a.m.
Storm and Stress: Our Changing Climate and the Human Ecology
Most scientists agree -climate change is real and affecting the entire planet in ways that may be irreversible. Drought, fires, desertification, immigration, animal extinction, pollution- these are all effects of dramatic climate change. The authors will discuss our changing climate and its impact on our water supply, immigration and the future of humanity.
Speakers: Francisco Cantú, Todd Miller, David Owen.
11:30 a.m.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Live Animal Show
Staff from the museum showcase and discuss various denizens of the Sonoran Desert with live animals.
1 p.m.
E=MC ² : Light, Time and Human Perceptions
Why does time seem to fly sometimes and, at others, drag on forever? What is the speed of light? What is the biography of light and time? Leading authors will discuss these and other topics that will help you understand our current dimension and how light and time intersect to create a sense of reality.
Speakers: Alan Burdick, Bruce Watson.
2:30 p.m.
Mind Over Matter: Exploring Inner and Outer Space
Spanning the breadth of the human experience, these authors will discuss mankind's exploration of the boundaries of human exploration and endurance as well as the grit needed to push through adversity. Come and be inspired by real-life stories of life's challenges that become the building blocks of later success and why anything is possible.
Speakers: Leland Melvin, Mark Nelson, Jennifer Swanson.
4 p.m.
The Science of First Impressions
Alexander Todorov, the author of 'Face Value,' draws on cognitive and neuroscience to discuss the fascinating research into how we make first impressions in split seconds, just based on how others look.
Speakers: Alexander Todorov.
Science Café
Seats 52
The Science Café lineup features a series of informative presentations by University of Arizona researchers on topics that affect you, your family and our world. Each presentation is followed by the opportunity for those in the audience to ask questions and meet our scientists. Attendees are encouraged to bring their food and enjoy the shade.
10:30 a.m.
Woman-Ochre, A Stolen De Kooning Painting Comes Home
How conservators use critical thinking to do a preliminary authentication.
Speaker: Nancy Odegaard, Ph.D.
Noon
A New Hope in Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance
Speaker: Michael Johnson, Ph.D.
1:30 p.m.
Conquering Pain
About 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Dr. Rajesh Khanna will describe his efforts to develop therapeutics targeted to provide patients with relief from chronic pain without the need of prescribing opioids.
Speaker: Rajesh Khanna, Ph.D.
3 p.m.
Powers of 10: A Cosmic Perspective
Adding zeros to numbers can be quite powerful. It can vastly change the scale of things. We will examine the size, scale and scope of our universe by just adding zeros to the length of a city block.
Speaker: Thomas Fleming, Ph.D.
Sunday March 11
Science Main Stage
Seats 195
The Science Main Stage features a variety of authors, interactive panels and entertaining, informative shows. A book signing follows each author presentation in the Science City Bookstore located nearby.
10 a.m.
Mondo Fauna: Animals and the People Who Love Them
Nearly everyone loves animals for the comfort and joy they bring to our lives.
Darwin had his tortoise, Harriet, while Mozart has his starling. There was even Koko, the gorilla who could 'speak.' And people of the Sonoran Desert love their bats for the role they play in the pollination of the iconic saguaros. These authors will build a bridge between the old-fashioned love of nature and science of animal intelligence and emotions. Participate with them in a discussion of the animals in our lives, the people who care about them and the important roles they play in our survival as a species.
Speakers: Theodore Fleming, Elena Passarello, Brandon Keim.
11:30 a.m.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Live Animal Show
Staff from the museum will showcase and discuss various denizens of the Sonoran Desert with live animals.
1 p.m.
Who Owns the Past: Science, Archaeology and Culture
How do we understand the past? And who gets to tell that story? Archaeology is a powerful tool for illuminating past behaviors and evolutionary trajectories, but it can also be limited- there's a lot that archaeology can't tell us about the past. How is the past understood? How is it represented and who gets to tell that story? These authors, along with an archaeologist, will discuss the process of archaeology and the challenges behind excavation, preservation of the past and interpretation of past history.
Speakers: Beebe Bahrami, Chip Colwell, Harold Dibble.
2:30 p.m.
Do No Harm: Medical Practices Re-Examined
Two authors from distinct backgrounds will discuss the changes and uncertainties in medical practice .
Speakers: Kristin Pothier, Elizabeth Silver.
4 p.m.
Sweet Spot: Our Passion for Dessert
You're in for a treat- literally! Come hear two fabulous authors discuss America's favorite part of any meal- dessert. Amy Ettinger's new book on ice cream will get you all frosty with envy, and Stella Parks will get you salivating with her stories of tasty desserts. This session is the icing on the festival cake. Plus, the first 100 attendees will receive a free ice cream cone! Bon appetit!
Speakers: Amy Ettinger, Stella Parks.
Science Café
Seats 52
The Science Café lineup features a series of informative presentations by University of Arizona researchers on topics that affect you, your family and our world. Each presentation is followed by the opportunity for those in the audience to ask questions and meet our scientists. Attendees are encouraged to bring their food and enjoy the shade.
10:30 a.m.
Gravitational Waves: A Message from Space
Learn about a tool with the potential to answer one of the most fundamental questions in our universe: How quickly is it expanding?
Speaker: David Sand, Ph.D.
Noon
The Minds of Machines
In this talk, we will illustrate that artificial intelligence (AI) does not think the way we think: Machines do not have a good way to represent and reason with world knowledge.
Speaker: Mihai Surdeanu, Ph.D.
1:30 p.m.
Looking Back to the Beginning of Time
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and its cameras and spectrometers have been designed to look for the most-distant galaxies. It will also be useful in studying exoplanets.
Speaker: Marcia Rieke, Ph.D.
3 p.m.
Finding the Silent Killer: Imaging Cancer
Taking on ovarian cancer with teamwork. Speaker: Jennifer Barton, Ph.D.
Science of Natural World
Explore the beauty and diversity of Earth's plant and animal kingdoms. Experience the wonder of landscapes and oceans that make up our planet.
Arizona Pest Management Center
Learn about the do's and don'ts of pest management.
Arizona State Parks Kartchner Caverns State Park
Learn about cavern research and participate in adventures in conservation.
Cooper Center for Environmental Learning
Use your senses to experience the wonders of the Sonoran Desert.
El Aribabi Conservation Ranch
Discover the ecology of the Southwest with animal-themed board games.
Marine Awareness and Conservation Society
Learn how sharks and fish play an important role in our oceans.
The Fin Foundation
Experience hands-on learning with ocean artifacts like shark jaws.
Tohono Chul
Get to know pollinators and learn their importance in the natural world.
Tucson Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society
Learn about native plants of the Sonoran Desert.
U. S. Geological Survey
Play with things that beep, hiss and rock.
UA Biosphere 2
Learn about Earth systems from soil to water with fun, hands-on models.
UA Campus Arboretum
Get to know the best trees for southwestern climates; join a tree tour.
UA Department of Geosciences
Learn about earthquakes, minerals and volcanoes with UA Geosciences.
UA Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Explore the tree of life and food webs, meet a bearded dragon.
UA Insect Discovery
Discover the world of insects, cuddle cockroaches, dig for decomposers.
UA VIPER Institute and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Learn about Arizona's venomous creatures and get a temporary tattoo.
Wildcat Water Lab
Learn how to keep water safe by doing water-quality investigations.
Science of Tomorrow
Experience how scientists challenge today's understanding of the physical world and advance the frontiers of space, technology and information systems to shape our future.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Learn the basic principles of flight.
Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) Observatory
Virtually tour the MMT Observatory, one of the largest optical telescopes.
OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission
Explore NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-return mission heading for Bennu.
Pima Community College STEAM Innovation Club
Give me an 'A,' from STEM to STEAM! Join us for creative activities.
Pima County 4-H
Rockets to the rescue: Use imagination and engineering to solve problems.
Planetary Science Institute
Hold rocks from space that are older than the Earth.
Raytheon
Come build a paper rocket and watch it fly.
Rincon Research Corp.
Discover the wireless world of signals that surround you every day.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
Learn about model eclipses in advance of the Great American Solar Eclipse.
Tucson L5 Space Society
Join us as we build toward a future among the stars.
TUSD Palo Verde High Magnet School Robotics Team
We are wired to build, are you?
Come interact directly with robots.
UA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry is everywhere. Take part in hands-on chemistry demonstrations.
UA Lunar and Planetary Lab, Teaching Teams Program
Exploring solar system extremes - biggest, smallest, hottest and coldest.
UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Graduate Students
Explore our solar system and beyond: planets, moons and more.
UA School of Information
Be creative with an illuminated bookmark from the School of Information.
UA Science Sky School at Mt. Lemmon
See the amazing details of the sun.
Vatican Observatory
Create a scale model of our solar system and compare other star systems.
Science of Everyday Life
Every moment of our lives is shaped by science. It's the air we breathe, the cars we drive, the sports we play and in all of the everyday items we use.
K7UAZ Amateur Radio Club
Speak with people all over the world. Discover communication using radios.
Kuiper Circle Community Outreach
Learn flight characteristics by folding paper airplanes and testing them.
Pima Smartscape
Learn about efficient irrigation and sustainable landscapes.
Program to Advance Women Scientists
She blinded me with science: experiments with light and color.
SARSEF: Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation
Discover scientific principles by participating in activities for all ages.
Statistical Research
Be an archaeologist for a day: How do artifacts reveal Arizona's past?
UA College of Agriculture and Life Science - Graham County
Washing dollars down the drain: Water counts, take an audit.
UA Department of Computer Science
Use computer science to create the software for your everyday life.
UA Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows
Discover brick-making and solar lights in homes around the world.
UA Physics Department
Explore 'DIY physics' using materials found at home- with instructions.
UA Project WET
Use problem-solving to explore and manage Tucson's water resources.
Science of Food
Learn how scientists are thinking about food in new ways to fuel our world, cure hunger, create medicine and promote healing.
Desert Legume and Seed Banking Program of Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Taste the health benefits of legumes and learn about seed banks.
Heifer International
Eat nourishing bugs and discuss farming and health in the third world.
Native Seeds/SEARCH
Learn how to save seeds; take some home to plant in your garden.
Pima Community College
Take a look at cooking, kitchen safety and local foods.
Pima County Cooperative Extension: The Garden Kitchen
Go with your gut: Learn about the benefits of probiotics from food.
Pima County Master Gardeners
Learn how to become a more successful gardener.
Tucson AquaPonics Project
Aquaponics: Grow great-tasting food using less water, energy and effort.
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service
Visit our honey bees and learn how they ensure our food supply.
UA Department of Nutritional Sciences
Satisfy your sweet-tooth cravings with Mother Nature's sweetest treat.
UA Food Product and Safety Lab
Experience the science of food quality and food safety.
UA MycoCats
Learn to grow gourmet mushrooms on landscape and consumer waste.
UA School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Science
E. coli and salmonellas can be sticky fellas. Learn to keep your food safe.
UA School of Anthropology
Explore the past and present connections between people, culture and food.
Science in Art
Discover how the worlds of science and art intersect to provoke thought, wonder, creativity, beauty and discovery.
Arizona State Museum
Participate in hands-on conservation activities.
CATalyst
Discover art in science with harmonographs, light and hexaflexagons.
National Art Education Association Student Chapter
Explore color-mixing and how our eyes see color.
The Biodiversity Group
Leaving 'no child inside' with biodiversity. Peek into STEAM.
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
Explore the world of miniatures and see it in a magical light.
Tohono Chul Park
Oh, what a relief it is! A brief history of printmaking as an art form.
Tucson Chapter of the International Association of Astronomical Artists
See how science inspires art and how art inspires science.
UA Center for Creative Photography
Watch photography develop before your eyes with a hands-on experiment.
UA Department of Mathematics
Discover how geometric patterns yield beautiful artwork.
UA Mathematics Road Show
Harmonographs, paper folding, random patterns show math in the real world.
UA Museum of Art
Make paint and pigments from minerals and natural materials.
Science of You
Unveil the mysteries of the mind, body and brain to gain a better understanding of humankind.
Discover scientific breakthroughs that affect you and those you love.
Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center
Poison, venom, danger!
Interactive fun about poisons, venomous creatures.
Ironwood Ridge High School SMART Team
Learn about proteins and extract your own DNA.
SACNAS
Spend a day in the forensics laboratory and see what makes you unique.
The Center for Neurosciences Foundation
Each brain matters. Participate in activities about brain disorders.
Tucson Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience
Real brains, eye-hand coordination, kid games, reaction times and more.
UA BIO5 Institute
How do you create #BetterTomorrows? Research at BIO5 is key.
UA Biochemistry Club
Make a lung and conduct your own experiments to learn about biochemistry.
UA Department of Immunobiology
Discover the wonderful world of microbes and your immune system.
UA Linguistics
Learn how the brain processes language and see your tongue with ultrasound.
UA Molecular and Cellular Biology
Explore and understand the molecules of life.
UA School of Mind, Brain and Behavior
Hands-on fun exploring the brain.
