Prepare to take off for the best STEMFest yet as New Zealand’s largest science, technology, engineering, and mathematics festival (STEM) returns after a two-year hiatus.
TMBC will join more than 50 exhibitors that are expected in Tauranga from all over Aotearoa for the free, family-friendly street festival on Sunday 2 October, 2022.
Highlights include an International Space Zone supported by Kiwi-led company Rocket Lab, with a nationwide space competition funded by the United States Department; and a local competition to design a new sustainability-themed STEM Superhero.
After being cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, STEMFest organiser, registered charity STEM Wana Trust, is planning a blockbuster interactive event to engage and inspire a new generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians.
STEMFest Founder Tia Lush says: “It’s been an extremely challenging and disappointing couple of years. Now we’re in a better climate to deliver the festival, we can’t wait to gather New Zealand’s future problem solvers together for some hands-on experiments and a celebration of STEM.”
This year’s festival has attracted some heavy-hitting support in its aim to bolster the STEM sector, with Coastal Bay of Plenty and TECT signed on as principal funders.
There will also be a focus on the strong STEM knowledge base in the Bay of Plenty region, thanks to support from food science specialists Zespri, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, engineering leader Beca Group, and start up tech software company Lawvu. Fellow sponsors include Xero and the University of Waikato.
The event will be held during the first weekend of the October school holidays, in a bid to attract holidaying families and encourage holiday makers to the region.
FREE Tickets for STEMFest will be released in August.
Sign up on the website www.stemfest.nz to receive information and announcements of early bird tickets.