Over 200,000 Arizonans Participate in First Arizona SciTech Festival Celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

PHOENIX, Ariz., May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring the success of a collaborative celebration of both the achievements and promise of Arizona's world-class science and engineering community, the Arizona Technology Council Foundation, Arizona State University and Arizona Science Center revealed today that over 200,000 citizens participated in the state's first Arizona SciTech Festival.  The Festival was organized as a series of events held over six weeks centered during February, 2012 to coincide with Arizona's centennial.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120203/MM47146LOGO)

The findings of the Festival results released by the organizers revealed a tremendous enthusiasm and support for the events that inspired diverse community neighborhoods located around the state and stakeholders ranging from higher education, business, and the K-12 system.

A summary of the Festival finding includes:

• Attendees of the 200+  Festival events exceeded 200,000
• Over 350 collaborators in education, industry and community participated to organize, promote and create the Festival
• There was a 50% general public awareness of the Festival and related signature events in Pima and Maricopa counties; a 23% public awareness in Arizona's rural areas
• 96% of visitors indicated the Festival was successful at promoting science and technology related learning
• 98% of visitors said they would recommend the Festival to others
• 97% of visitors indicate that opportunities to learn science and technology outside of classrooms are important
• 52% of visitors indicated they looked something up on internet based on experience
• 65% of collaborators found opportunities for new partnerships
• 65% of collaborators increased their confidence to interact with the public

"It was tremendously satisfying to see how the Festival empowered and inspired youth from across the state and provided them with the opportunity to connect with community mentors," said Chevy Humphrey, president and CEO, Arizona Science Center.  "The Arizona Science Center is proud of its part in this partnership and will continue its commitment to forge more of these connections in the future."

"The imperative to advance STEM education cannot be overstated," said Sethuraman (Panch) Panchanathan, Ph.D., senior vice president, Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development, Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing and Foundation Chair in Computing and Informatics, Arizona State University. "ASU spearheaded Arizona's first SciTech Festival to enhance the academic experience of our state's citizenry by promoting meaningful civic participation and creative scientific expression so that we can all take part in building a sound economic future for our state."

"The Festival was a grassroots-led collaboration for both young people and adults in venues located not only in Greater Phoenix and Tucson, but also in communities such as Casa Grande, Flagstaff and Showlow," said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO, Arizona Technology Council. "The diversity of the participation both geographically and from industry, education and community is a testimony to the effectiveness of the collaboration."

"We'd like to thank our Cox SciTech reporters that demonstrated a passion from promoting the amazing Festival events," said Ivan D. Johnson, vice president of Public Affairs, Cox Communications. "We were honored to serve as a Platinum sponsor and help communicate insights of technology innovation in Arizona."

The Arizona SciTech Festival would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors. These generous businesses, agencies, institutions and individuals are ensuring that the future of Arizona is full of innovation and growth. The festival organizers proudly recognize and extend appreciation to the following 2012 Arizona SciTech Festival Sponsors:

Platinum:        Cox Communications

Gold:               Flinn Foundation and Helios Education Foundation

Silver:            Eight, Arizona PBS, The Arizona Renaissance Festival, AVNET, Arizona Commerce Authority, Creative Engine, Phoenix Business Journal, Thomas R. Broun Foundations, US Airways

Copper:          KJZZ, ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Freeport-McMoRan, Microchip, ClearBox Media, Chicanos Por La Causa, Maricopa Community Colleges, Pinal Partnership, SRP, Identity Studios

Krypton:        Microsoft Store, Maricopa County Education Support Agency, Boeing, Rodel Foundation of Arizona

Titanium:       Immedia Edu, You CAN do the Rubik's Cube, DPR Construction, Bear Essential News for Kids

About the SciTech Festival
The Arizona SciTech festival is a 4-week, state-wide celebration of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) held annually in February and March. Through a series of 250+ expos, workshops, conversations, exhibitions and tours held in diverse neighborhoods throughout the state, the festival excites and informs Arizonans age 3 to 103 how STEM will drive our state for next 100 years. Spearheaded by Arizona Science Center, the Arizona Technology Council Foundation and Arizona State University, the Arizona SciTech Festival is a grass roots collaboration of over 350 organizations in industry, academia, arts, civic, community and K-12.

For more information please contact:

Media contact:                                          Organization contact:
Linda Capcara                                           Jeremy Babendure
Global Connect Communications                Director, Arizona SCITECH Festival
[email protected]                  [email protected]
(480) 229 -7090                                         (480) 250-7764

SOURCE Arizona Technology Council Foundation