SAN DIEGO — Families and kids can see all types of innovative experiments. Check this out. They can even talk to an AI robot! I’m going to ask it a question! Ready! How deep is the ocean?
“The ocean is so deep even Spongebob can’t touch the bottom. On average, it’s about 12,080 feet deep,” the robot responded.
"I do my homework every day. I do more homework every day," some rappers sang on the stage.
Yet it is not a rap concert, it’s the 16th annual San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering Expo Day welcoming explorers, stargazers, dreamers, and adventurers of all ages.
"We have reptiles, we have robotics, we have DNA extractions. We have slime, we have explosions," said Silvana Delpiccolo, Director of Community Relations for Generation STEAM.
"It's really inventing, hands-on and fun!" said 9-year-old student, Julius Soto.
This is the first time the free event was held at Snapdragon Stadium with 150 exhibitors, aiming to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
"Yeah, so this was really important to camp the seeds of curiosity of science across children of all ages because we're really trying to expose that sciences among us every single day with really simple experiments," said Jessica Torres, PhD and NASA Graduate Fellow at SDSU.
CBS 8 is a proud partner. Meteorologist Evan Noorani emceed Saturday’s event.
Even in the rain, crowds of eager students immersed themselves in interactive exhibits, hands-on workshops, and captivating demonstrations. From robotics showcases to virtual reality experiences, every corner of the stadium offered something to spark curiosity and ignite creativity.
"My favorite part is just kind of seeing children have like that 'aha' moment!" said Torres.
"San Diego is you know, it's it's a hub for the life science. It's a hub for technology and engineering. It's a hub for innovation. All of these companies are here in the student's backyard. So, we really want students to see these are the jobs available here," said Delpiccolo.
The festival ignites a passion for steam and promotes a brighter future of innovation in San Diego and beyond.