Pasadena Embarks on an Educational Voyage Celebrating STEAM18 in Advance of the World’s Largest Science Conference, COSPAR This July

Pasadena, CA, (March 2, 2018) – Pasadena and its institutions will embark on a year of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM18), bringing together some of the city’s greatest minds.

The first of its kind initiative will promote activities, events and curriculum to help audiences discover the world of space exploration inspired by the 2018 COSPAR conference which encourages international cooperation in the pursuit of scientific research in space. The conference will take place July 14-22 at the Pasadena Convention Center. Known for its historical landmarks, annual Tournament of Roses® Parade and the Rose Bowl Game, Pasadena will host a series of events celebrating the city’s rich background in science and the arts. Several STEAM inspired events will take place for the public to enjoy.

They include:

Dreaming the Universe: The Intersection of Science Fiction & Southern California March 3 – September 2; Pasadena Museum of History The Pasadena Museum of History will explore the history of science fiction in Southern California from 1930 to 1980, and how it interacted with the advances of science, the changes in technology, and shifts in American society. The exhibition will feature historic artifacts, fine and graphic art, books and ephemera, and historic photographs. Southern California ushered in the Rocket Age in 1936 with the first rocket tests in Pasadena's Arroyo Seco. The growth of the aeronautics industry in the area was closely paralleled by the growth of the creative science fiction community. Dreaming the Universe will examine visionary creators such as Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler, Frank Kelly Freas, Ray Harryhausen, and Emil Petaja, and the books, fanzines, art, and media they created; attention will also be given to the fans of science fiction, individuals such as Forrest Ackerman, as well as fan organizations.

ArtNight March 9; Citywide During ArtNight, the city’s most prominent museums and cultural institutions open their doors for free and offer special programming. Explore Science in the Artwork of Frida Kahlo; Rocketry at Caltech; or Visual Futurist, a documentary on automotive, industrial and film design at the Pasadena Public Library.

No Boundaries March 9-18; Pasadena Unified School District Our annual all-district exhibition "No Boundaries" will include a STEAM Wall of artworks that reflect STEAM instruction in PUSD. Opening night is part of ArtNight Pasadena and includes lively student performances. The Innovation Exposition is Pasadena Unified School District’s alternative to the typical science fair. This exciting event will showcase elementary through middle school student-generated work - connecting students with their community. For the Expo, students chose to compete in 1 of 6 categories: Scientific Inquiry, Environmental Innovation, Invention, Reverse Engineering, Science Fiction and Creativity with 3D printing. Student projects are judged by community STEM experts. For the 2017 Innovation Exposition, judges were recruited from local doctor's offices Caltech and JPL.

Roswell Award Best Short Sci-Fi Readings and Awards Presentation at LitFest Pasadena May 19, 2018 Pasadena Playhouse District The Roswell Award is an international competition for short science fiction by adults. The finalists will be chosen and their stories read dramatically by celebrity guests on stage at LitFest Pasadena on Saturday, May 19, 2018. Info

Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair March 23-24; Pasadena Convention Center The 68th Annual Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair will showcase the talented work from 6th to 12th grade students from more than 150 area schools at the Pasadena Convention Center. The students show off their investigative skills and creativity to compete for medals, special awards and scholarships. The Los Angeles County Science Fair will present Interactive Exhibits designed to inspire and entertain students and the public.

Eyes on the Universe: Southern California’s Leadership in Astronomy Today March 24; Pasadena Public Library, Linda Vista Branch Join Dr. John Mulchaey, Director of the Carnegie Observatories, as he discusses the history and accomplishments of the Carnegie Observatories. All ages welcome.

Caltech Science for March March 31; Caltech Beckman Mall The first Science for March open house aims to bring the local community and scientists together at Caltech to enjoy, share, and celebrate science. The event will feature multiple interactive booths and learning stations from Caltech labs, affiliates, and organizations in the greater LA area, as well as an indoor speakers series including a keynote addresses by Caltech professor and Mars 2020 Project Scientist Ken Farley and Project Scientist Founder Sandy Marshall, and a series of TED-style talks delivered by Caltech students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty members.

ArtWorks April 17-19, 2018; Chandler School This annual event celebrates the visual arts and the power of creative expression. A curated art gallery in Chandler's Ahmanson Performing Arts Center displays art pieces from every K-8 student, across a wide range of mediums including painting, drawing, etching, mosaic, photography, wire sculpture, ceramics, and digital design. During the Thursday night reception, families enjoy hands-on craft projects and student-performed live music. Chandler School is a closed campus - reservations to attend are required.

STEAM Expo May 17, 2018; Chandler School Showcases K-8 projects that apply students' knowledge in science, technology, engineering, art and math. Student teams use a design-thinking process to envision, design, prototype, and create new solutions to real-world problems such as ocean pollution, water conservation, solar-powered transportation, and biodiversity protection. This year's fifth grader's project will be on space, where small groups will work on creating a future colony on the moon or other planet. Chandler School is a closed campus - reservations to attend are required.

LitFest Pasadena presents the Roswell Award Best Short Sci-Fi Readings and Awards May 19; Pasadena Playhouse District The Roswell Award is an international competition for short science fiction by adults. The finalists will be chosen and their stories read dramatically by celebrity guests on stage at LitFest Pasadena.

PEF Summer Enrichment Program June 11 - July 12; Pasadena Educational FoundationThe 2018 PEF Summer Enrichment Program will mark the 15th year of our 5-week program. This year there is a special focus on STEAM with classes like: Robotics, Coding, Mission to Mars, Innovation Club, Alien Worlds, and more. The program mixes academic subjects with creative hands-on projects taught by local educators. Students are inspired while having fun learning as their classes prepare them for the upcoming school year.

Journey to Space! July 9-27; Summer@Chandler A summer class in collaboration with Chandler School, NASA's JPL, Cal Tech and the Carnegie Observatories. A three-week course for rising 5th-7th graders to learn about the stars & galaxies, explore the planets & moons, and discover the unknown through space missions & exploration. Each week will have different visiting speakers, experts and scientists from the organizations, hands on activities and special field trips. In conjunction with Pasadena's Astronomy Week and the 2018 COSPAR conference in July, this summer class will be a great introduction and celebration of space and astronomy along with Pasadena city-wide events! Students must enroll for the class through Summer@Chandler.

AstroFest and AstroWeek July 14-22; Citywide Pasadena AstroWeek features a week-long series of public events celebrating Pasadena’s rich history as the “City of Astronomy” and a world leader for telescopic celestial discovery and robotic space science. The week coincides with the 42nd COSPAR Assembly at the Pasadena Convention Center, which will welcome thousands of space science professionals from all the over the world. AstroWeek will begin with an Astronomy Festival (AstroFest) at the Convention Center on July 14, 2018, on COSPAR opening day.

Moons July 19, 2018; Williamson Gallery, ArtCenter College of Design MOONS, an exhibition debuting to the public and COSPAR Conference attendees on July 19 (7 to 10pm) will be an immersive exploration of some of our most alluring astronomical mysteries, as seen through the lens of science and contemporary art. Celestial bodies tethered by orbital physics to our solar system’s planets, commonly known as moons, comprise a consortium of enticing worlds that are rocky, wet, icy, cratered, hot, cold, and puzzling, some of whose veneers are also textured with mountains, lakes, concealed oceans, valleys, volcanoes, geysers, canyons, and plains, and that contain water and heat to fuel tantalizing speculations. Such objects are a path to both knowledge and poetry, dividends for having pondered reality beyond the planet in which we were cradled.

AxS Festival Nov. 2-11; Citywide The Pasadena Arts Council (PAC) produces the AxS Festival, a two-week citywide celebration of art and science featuring exhibitions, performances, educational activities and a Conversation Series which honors and reflects on the allied importance of both the arts and the sciences to the dynamic tenor of our time. While often described as occupying opposite ends of a spectrum, art and science are instead united in the AxS Festival’s recognition that both domains are powerful engines of contemporary culture.

Great Minds in STEM’s, 30^th HENAAC Conference October 17-21; Pasadena Center Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) is pleased to host the 30th HENAAC Conference “Generation Xcellence.” The nation’s most prestigious stage for honoring STEM talent, as well as building and reinforcing networks, the HENAAC Conference is the place where top executives, innovative professionals, and the brightest STEM students convene. Individuals looking for jobs, internships or to further their education in STEM, are welcome at the Career and Graduate School Fair on Saturday October 20, 2018 at the Pasadena Convention Center. Free and open to the public, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., the Career Fair will host a large number of companies, military and government agencies, looking for interns and full time hires, as well as Graduate Schools from across the country.

Rise of the Rocket Girls Pasadena Public Libraries The City of Pasadena designed the One City, One Story to broaden and deepen an appreciation of reading and literature by recommending a compelling book that sparks a community conversation on important issues. Rise of the Rocket Girls is the riveting true story of the women who launched America into space. In the 1940s and 50s, when the newly minted Jet Propulsion Laboratory needed quick-thinking mathematicians to calculate velocities and plot trajectories, they didn't turn to male graduates. Rather, they recruited an elite group of young women who, with only pencil, paper and mathematical prowess, transformed rocket design, helped bring about the first American satellites, and made the exploration of the solar system possible.

Stargazing & Lecture Series February 23 at 7 p.m. – Matt Orr March 23 at 8 p.m. – Leo Stein April 20, 8 p.m. – Marta Bryan May 25, 8 p.m. – Heather Knutson June 22, 8 p.m. – Gregg Hallinan Location: Caltech Astronomy One Friday each month, Caltech Astronomy provides a free public lecture and guided stargazing through telescopes.

About the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau The Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau is a non-profit marketing organization dedicated to promoting Pasadena as a leading meeting, convention and leisure travel destination. With over 500 restaurants for guests to enjoy, including shopping and entertainment, Pasadena offers something everyone can enjoy. For more information about planning a trip to Pasadena, contact the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 307-7977 or log on to www.VisitPasadena.com.

# # #

Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau Contacts:

Christina Susa Director

Marketing & Communications

Office: (626) 395-0211

csusa@visitpasadena.com

Crystal Williams

Communications Manager

Office: (626) 817-5606

cwilliams@visitpasadena.com