Jonesboro, Arkansas – The Arkansas State University Museum is getting ready to welcome families and visitors for its annual STEAMFest, a free event designed to bring science, technology, engineering, art and math to life through hands-on activities.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Arkansas State University Museum, located at 320 University Loop.
Rather than simply watching demonstrations, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities throughout the event. The program is built around exploration, allowing attendees to experiment, solve problems and create things while learning along the way.
According to the university, guests can expect activities that combine several areas of STEAM education. Participants will solve problems, tinker with different projects, conduct experiments and make art. Some activities are expected to get a little messy as visitors explore scientific ideas for themselves.
The event will also feature an unusual activity involving plants and sound. Guests will have the chance to make plants sing, adding a creative element to the science-focused program.
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Museum officials say the goal is to make learning feel less like a traditional classroom lesson and more like an opportunity to discover something through play and experimentation.
“We’re most creative when we’re playing,” said Jill Kary, curator of education at the museum. “In other words, true genius happens when we allow ourselves to fail without fear.”
That idea is at the center of the event, encouraging participants to try different approaches and learn from what happens. Instead of worrying about getting every activity right on the first attempt, visitors can experiment and see where their curiosity takes them.
STEAMFest brings together five areas of learning that are often connected in everyday life. Science and technology can lead to new ideas, engineering involves finding ways to solve problems, mathematics helps explain how things work, and art adds another way to approach creativity and communication.
Admission to the annual event is free, giving families and other community members an opportunity to take part without a cost.
People looking for more information about STEAMFest can contact Kary by email at [email protected] or by calling 870-972-2074.
