Technology Review, published by MIT since 1899, continues today to provide unparalleled insights into cutting edge technologies that are changing the world and the way science and engineering do business.

In returning as a Media Partner, the magazine joins a growing list of other top science media leaders who are also serving as Festival sponsors, including Popular Mechanics, Scientific American, Popular Science, Chemical & Engineering News, School Tube.com, ENGINEERING.com, EE Times, The Epoch Times, and PBS Kids.

"In many ways, the mission of the USA Science & Engineering Festival in educating tomorrow's innovators and the general public on the future of technology coincides with our publication's mission as well," says Kathleen Kennedy, Technology Review's Chief Strategy Officer. "Technology Review identifies emerging technologies and analyzes their impact for technology and business leaders-the senior executives, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, engineers, developers, and researchers who create and fund the innovations that drive the global economy," she adds.

Technology Review is also an invaluable resource for early adopters, students, the media, those in government, and anyone who needs to understand trends in technology, including the hottest happenings in computing, the web and social media, communications, sci fi-inspired innovations, energy, materials, biomedicine and news from its thought-provoking blogs.

As a Media Partner in the Festival, Technology Review, like other key media sponsors for next year's event, will run advertisements pro bono via their respective media outlets. This will play a key role in not only giving the Festival heightened visibility on a national and international scale, but will also help the event recruit for new satellite venues and participation in the Expo, contests and other activities.

Owned by MIT as an independent media company,Technology Review boasts a worldwide readership of more than three million. The publication is published in five languages (including, Chinese, Spanish, Italian and an English edition for India) and is also available on a variety of digital and print platforms.

We thank Technology Review and our other Media Partners for their valued participation!

Leading up to the Festival, we have decided to implement a "Featured Fan" segment. Our first Featured Fan is Dr. Jessica Carilli. Jessica shares her insight into her passion: science and her excitement for the Festival below. Enjoy!

Dr. Jessica Carilli happy at work

I'm a big fan of science outreach, and am always looking for ideas to improve my own outreach by seeing presentations and exhibits from other scientists. I also like to learn about totally different realms of science from what I study, so many of the Meet the Scientist talks would appeal to me. For those reasons I'd also enjoy seeing presentations such as the various science comedians, and the Eat a Bug and the Women in Science presentations. As a new parent and scientist, presentations such as Babies and Sound and Geek Dad also caught my eye.

In addition, I think it's important to spread ideas on what normal people can do to prevent global climate change, and for those reasons I'd really like to visit the exhibits relating to "Preventing Global Warming," "Making Agriculture More "Green"," and "Solar Energy."

Finally, I'm an aspiring science writer, working on a book about my experience earning a PhD in marine science. I'd love to meet some of the authors at the Festival, especially those who've written books about Stories in Science and Discovery in Science.

Corals and Climate Change in the Marshall Islands from Jessica Carilli on Vimeo.

If you would like to be considered as a Featured Fan then please send an email to: festivaltwitter@gmail.com.

It's both funny and remarkable how some of the most simple and natural acts we do each day are teeming in science.

Take for example, the kiss.

A kiss, especially a passionate one, sets off a cascade of emotions and chemical reactions in our brain and body that would surprise most of us if we knew the whole story.

Well, just in time for Valentine's Day, Sheril Kirshenbaum, science writer and author of the recent book, The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us, sheds light on exactly what goes on biologically when we lock lips. Kissing basically "acts like a drug by stimulating the natural chemicals in our bodies, yet unlike other human behaviors, science has barely begun to put kissing under the microscope" to study this intriguing evolutionary behavior," says Sheril, who serves as director of the University of Texas Project on Energy Communication and appeared last year as a speaker at TEDGlobal 2011.

This April, as a featured author at the USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo and Book Fair hosted by Lockheed Martin, she'll bring insight into the kiss by discussing her book, answering questions and sharing other information that research is revealing about the science of kissing. But in the meantime, for all you sweethearts out there, here's a timely message from Sheril to take to heart. She writes:

On Valentine's Day, many of us will acknowledge those we love with chocolates, flowers, and cards. But the most meaningful messages will be exchanged without spending a dime: It's kisses that leave the most indelible impression of all.

Our lips are packed with sensitive nerve endings so that even the slightest brush sends a flurry of information to our brains that often feels very good. Although we often don't think of them in this way, our lips are the body's most exposed erogenous zone. When they are involved in a passionate kiss, our blood vessels dilate as our brain receives more oxygen than normal. Our pulse quickens and our breathing can become irregular. Our cheeks flush as our pupils dilate causing many of us to close our eyes. Five of our 12 cranial nerves jump into action as we engage all of OUR senses in interpreting what's going on and anticipating what may happen next.

When there's real chemistry between two individuals, a kiss sparks romance by triggering a cocktail of hormones and neurotransmitters that cascade through our bodies and brains. In this manner, locking lips serves as humanity's most intimate experience because it conveys more than our words can possibly express. It's nature's ultimate litmus test telling us when to pursue a deeper connection with someone special or to step back because we're incompatible with a partner. And understanding the science behind how this happens doesn't take any magic out of the moment. Instead, it provides a better understanding and appreciation of our ourselves and our relationships.

Sheril is one of many intriguing authors who will take the public behind the mystery and wonders of science, engineering and technology April 28-29 at the Festival Expo and Book Fair in Washington, D.C. (the nation's largest celebration of science and engineering). This free-of-charge weekend celebration, scheduled for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, culminates a month-long series of Festival events which will be held nationwide to inspire the next generation of science and technology innovators. The Expo allows kids, their families and others to participate in over 2,500 exciting, interactive activities and see more than 150 live performances by science celebrities, best-selling authors, explorers, innovative entrepreneurs and world-renowned experts.

At the Expo's Book Fair, visitors will get the chance to meet and hear some of the country's most intriguing authors who are regaling readers worldwide through their work. In addition to Sheril Kirshenbaum, these include:

--Astrophysicist and former NASA scientist Jeffrey Bennett who has not only authored best-selling college textbooks in astronomy, astrobiology and mathematics, but is also the author of the award-winning children's books such as, Max Goes to the Moon, Max Goes to Mars and Max Goes to Jupiter.

--Alfredo Quiñones, esteemed neurosurgeon and neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, who in his autobiography Becoming Dr. Q, tells the amazing story of how he rose from an impoverished background as an migrant worker to become one of the most renowned physicians in his field.

>--Robin Cook, a physician and Naval officer, whose string of 30 best-selling books include such medically-based works as Coma and The Year of the Intern.

--Harvard physicist Lisa Randall, whose works such as Knocking on Heaven's Door has made her among the most cited and influential theoretical physicists today.

--Former NASA engineer Homer Hickam, whose autobiographical book, Rocket Boys formed the basis of the Hollywood movie October Sky.

--Seymour Simon, whom the New York Times called "the dean of the [children's science] field," and is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books, more than 75 of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association.

Experience these and other authors who never let us forget that, like the wonder of a kiss, science is indeed all around us. Join us in April at the Festival!

What a difference a digit makes! There I was preoccupied with making my own eggnog, checking page proofs, and It's a Wonderful Life on television. Then along comes January 1, and with it that odometer switch from "1" to "2" at the end. Suddenly 2012 is this year.

And this year means a trip to DC in late April for the USA Science and Engineering Festival. A festival appearance gets us authors out of our garrets, blinking as we meet the real people out there. And it's those real people--particularly the young ones--who make it all so much fun.

I can draw them into my world of bad puns ("science friction," "give peas a chance") but also into the wider world of science. And on "Pi Day" (March 14) this year, Workman will publish The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math: 24 Death-Defying Challenges for Young Mathematicians.

Writing it has given me the chance to replace those old "two trains leave Chicago" word problems with challenges that have real bite. Speaking of which, if one vampire drinks the blood of two humans at each Full Moon, turning them into vampires, how long will it take for Washington to be populated by vampires (and don't say it is already)?

Germs are everywhere. According to Dr. Charles Gerba (aka, "Dr. Germ"), 71% of gas pump handles and 68% of mailbox handles are contaminated with highly contagious germs. At least we have some notion how to fight them. Imagine living a hundred years ago, when most people didn't even know what germs were. Most thought that diseases were spread by miasmas, or bad air from trash.

In my young adult novel, Deadly, which takes place in 1906, an epidemic of typhoid fever (caused by the salmonella typhi bacteria) spread in New York City from house to house. No one knew what caused it. Not until one man, Dr. George Soper, a sanitary engineer, had an idea. He thought that maybe a healthy person was carrying it inside her body and spreading it through her cooking. No one had ever heard of such a thing! Healthy people didn't carry disease.

In Deadly, along with his (fictional) assistant, 16-year-old Prudence Galewski, George Soper hunts down this carrier of typhoid fever, a cook named Mary Mallon. This cook really existed, as did the doctor who found her. Today, she is known to the public as Typhoid Mary.

In doing so, PopSci joins a growing list of other top science media leaders who will be serving as Festival sponsors, including Popular Mechanics, Scientific American, MIT's Technology Review, Chemical & Engineering News, School Tube.com, ENGINEERING.com, EE Times and PBS Kids.

PopSci has been a major source of science and technology news since its award-winning magazine Popular Science was founded back in 1872. Its online version, PopSci.com, was launched in 1999, and in 2008 this site was redesigned and upgraded to give viewers even more up-to-the-minute tech news and insightful commentary on new innovations, and even scientific angles on the hottest Hollywood movies and stories.

Returning from its stint as a valued Media Partner in the 2010 Festival, Popular Science, like other key media sponsors in next year's event, will run advertisements pro bono via their respective media outlets which will play a key role in not only giving the Festival heightened visibility on a national and international scale, but also will help the event recruit for new satellite venues and participation in the Expo, contests and other activities.

Published by the Bonnier Magazine Group (which also publishes Science Illustrated), Popular Science is long known for its commitment to journalistic excellence in reporting on the latest in innovation, while giving readers an insightful look into what the future of technology holds.

Says Gregg Hano, Senior Vice President of Bonnier Corporate Sales & Technology Group, "We invest in that vision with our media properties everyday, and supporting the USA Science & Engineering Festival is one more way for us to ensure that the next generation will have the skills, knowledge and interest to deliver on that bright future."

We thank Popular Science and our other Media Partners for their valued participation!

Theodore Gray's Elements Vault picks up where The Elements left off. Organized into the nine major groups of the periodic table, including the alkali metals, the alkali earth metals, the transition metals, the nonmetals, the metalloids, the halogens, the noble gases, the actinides, and the lanthanides, Elements Vault includes all new text, new photographs, and even more information about the elements.

Elements Vault also includes 20 removable historic documents related to the elements and the field of chemistry, such as Einstein's famous letter to Roosevelt explaining the potential of uranium for use in nuclear weapons, a genuine advertisement for lithium-laced 7UP soda, Mendeleev's original notes on the periodic table, and more. Each of these documents is individually packaged in an envelope attached to the book page. The document can be removed and handled and then put back into the book for safekeeping. Also included is a gorgeous 20″ x 10″ poster of the unique rainbow spectrum emitted by each element in the periodic table.

Along with all the information and fascinating facts about the elements, readers will discover the irresistible dry wit and humor of chemist and Popular Science contributor Theodore Gray. Cecil Adams, of "The Straight Dope" says, "Gray...has attained a level of near superhuman geekery that the rest of us can only mutely admire."

"Even if this book weren't absolutely gorgeous, it would still be a worthwhile investment because of how well it works as Coffee Table Education. This is when you leave a book lying around that is so tempting the kids pick it up and start learning stuff without even being asked! Delightful."
--Wired's "GeekDad"

For more information about the Festival Featured Author Theodore Gray visit our website and once again don't miss out on the opportunity to hear Gray in person on April 28th.

Tinkering -- that hands-on, garage-based tradition which sparked inventions ranging from the airplane and electric light bulb to the Apple computer -- is making a comeback among average Americans, promising to change our lives for the better on several fronts.

Known by such monikers as DIY (Do It Yourself) and the Maker Movement, its resurrection, fueled by the current economic downturn and the falling cost of high-tech tools and materials, stands not only to boost innovation and change how science is taught in the classroom, but could herald a new industrial revolution, suggest the Economist, the Wall Street Journal and other luminaries.

The potential power of this movement is indeed thought-provoking. It rests on DIYers (who range from young students to everyday adults) believing that the average person has the ability to understand and apply technology in ways like never before, enabling ordinary individuals to build, even invent, meaningful creations of their own that they are passionate about -- from robots and sophisticated LED (light emitting diode) systems for movie film production to energy-smart conveniences for the home.

Through robust support networks that they've developed nationwide, DIYers delight in joining with like-minded friends, mentors and peers (either online or in-person) to tinker, create, hack and re-use materials, while learning to use such tools as computer-controlled table saws, 3-D printers, welding equipment and laser cutters to produce prototypes of their creations.

For me, as founder and chief organizer of the USA Science & Engineering Festival (the nation's largest celebration of science and engineering), the merging of DIY with technology represents a vibrant breath of fresh air across America, particularly what it means for inspiring the next generation of innovators. And I am not alone: Educators are realizing that hands-on experiences represented by such activities as tinkering and building may be one of the most powerful keys to improving STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics education) in this country. That's because students learn best by doing, especially when done in an engaging environment with peers and mentors.

Not surprisingly, engineering schools across the country, for example, report that undergrad students are showing an enthusiasm for hands-on work in DIY technology activities that hasn't been seen in years.

DIY also cannot help but to have a positive impact on the human spirit itself, says Naomi Lamoreaux, an economic historian at the University of California, Los Angeles. "The really dynamic times in our history are times when you have lots of ordinary people who think they have a chance to make a difference," she opines.

Yes, the chance to make a difference is indeed a powerful motivator, especially for young students. That is why the USA Science & Engineering Festival hosted by Lockheed Martin this April is devoting a significant portion of the event to exciting, hands-on DIY encounters -- all designed to inspire budding inventors and entrepreneurs with ideas, tools and resources to help them make their dreams a reality. From robotic technology to amazing desktop manufacturing technology that makes prototype development easy and cost-effective, future innovators will find it all during the Festival's finale Expo (as well as in the Robot Fest and DIY Expo pavilion) in Washington, DC on April 28-29.

The Festival is also a fantastic place for technical experts of all kinds to learn about the amazing advances that have been made in technology to help them make product prototypes find designs online for parts and components, and meet an array of experts to help them bring their product ideas to life.

Participants and activities such as the following will make the Festival an unforgettable one-stop experience in DIY:

--Organizations like MakerBot Industries, Fab Lab DC and Fab@Home by Cornell University and Dassault Systèmes Americas will demonstrate how to develop product prototypes via digital fabrication and 3D printers, while Sparkfun Electronics will show how to develop new product ideas more easily and inexpensively through electronics and microcontroller kits. The Festival will also feature an array of robotic technology ranging from military, manufacturing and surgical robots to more entertaining robots like R2DC's Star Wars droids and other exhibits that allow attendees to build their own robots.

--At the DIY Expo, budding entrepreneurs will be able to network with members of various "hackerspace" groups, such as the Baltimore Node, Unallocated Space and HacDC, who work collaboratively to network, socialize and develop technical solutions and new innovative products in their spare time, simply because they love to tinker with new ideas, create something from nothing, and solve problems!

--In addition, the Festival also features a Book Fair that includes some of the leading authors and experts in the DIY world, including William Gurstelle, author of The Practical Pyromaniac. Gurstelle, a professional engineer, has been researching and building model catapults, ballistic devices and flamethrowers for more than 30 years. Dustyn Roberts, author of Making Things Move: DIY Mechanisms for Inventors, Hobbyists and Artists, will also appear at the Festival. Roberts, also an engineer, started her career at Honeybee Robotics working on a project for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission.

The late Steve Jobs (who was perhaps the ultimate modern-day DIYer), was right when he said individuals who invent, build and make things have the power to change the
world -- or at least a part of it.

This is why global biotech leader Life Technologies -- as it prepares to return as a major Sponsor of the USA Science & Engineering Festival next spring.-- will devote a major portion of its outreach exhibits at the finale Expo to wowing elementary and middle school students through a wide range of interactive science activities.

"We know how important it is for kids, especially young girls, to remain engaged and motivated in science at that age," says Heather Virdo, head of Community Relations for Life Technologies." And we know how powerful science outreach can be when it is combined with exciting hands-on interaction with real-life scientists and other professionals.

"That's why," she says, "Life Technologies looks forward to returning as a Sponsor of a major public event like the Science & Engineering Festival as this gathering works to help inspire young students to become leading scientists of tomorrow and to prepare them to play an important role in developing new applications and technologies that will lead our society into the future."

Life Technologies Corporation and its Foundation, with its long history of scientific excellence and community involvement, is also known for its deep commitment to supporting the next generation of scientific leaders through education and outreach in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

At the Life Technologies exhibits during the finale Expo in April, elementary and middle school students and their teachers will get an up-close-and personal look into the
intriguing world of bioscience research, including how Life Technologies scientists are using DNA sequencing techniques to not only better diagnose, treat and investigate disease, but to also save wild cheetahs and other endangered species, in addition to improving farming and agriculture techniques for the food we eat.

And through hands-on interaction with Life Technologies scientists and research technicians, Expo goers will also participate in genetic sequencing and human identification exercises.

"The Festival also offers a great way for our non-scientist employees at Life Technologies to also become involved with outreach," says Heather. "So members of our Human Resources, Finance and other departments will also be present to talk to students about career opportunities in these fields as well at our corporation."

Known worldwide for its innovation and leadership in scientific discovery, Life Technologies is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Its systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc., and manufactures both in-vitro diagnostic products and research use only-labeled products.

We thank Life Technologies and our other valued Sponsors as they join us in our goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers!

"The Festival is a fantastic place for technical experts of all kinds to learn about the amazing advances that have been made in technology to help them make product prototypes from 3D printers, find designs online for parts and components, and meet an array of experts to help them bring their product ideas to life," said Larry Bock, serial entrepreneur and Executive Director of the USA Science & Engineering Festival-- the nation's largest celebration of science and engineering that will take place April 28-29, 2012 in Washington, D.C. "If you're an inventor or entrepreneur looking for inspiration, the Festival will be a wealth of ideas and the DIY Expo will provide the tools to get your ideas in motion."

See our recent press release to read more.

The NAS 149th Annual Meeting will feature the Festival on Saturday, April 28th from 10am-4pm. In this special activity for guests and family members of new members, registered guests may attend the opening of the USA Science and Engineering Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

We are thrilled to be a part of this annual tradition!

The Expo is open to all ages and is free of charge! The Festival will feature over 2000 fun, interactive exhibits, more than 100 stage shows and 33 Author Presentations. Major Science Celebrities including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman from the hit TV Series the MythBusters will be performing.

Also, we have some new and exciting events this year including the USA Science & Engineering Festival Book Fair, and a Career Pavilion for high-school students that includes a College Fair, a Job Fair and a Meet the Scientist/Engineer Networking area. Teachers - Bring your students to a special Sneak Peek Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Expo.

Be sure to pre-register for the finale Expo on April 28-29 and enter your name to win some great prizes.

So don't miss out on the largest celebration in science!

Recently our volunteers got together on January 15th in Springfield, Virginia to gear up for the upcoming Festival this April. Be sure to visit our website for more details.

Ahh celebrities. From music and acting to the world of supermodeling and sports -- they are respected, admired, even worshiped, for their talent and magnetism. But herein lies the danger when these stars publicly espouse or endorse viewpoints and products in health and medicine without first thoroughly exploring the scientific validity of such claims.

Why danger? For segments of the population -- especially kids who are easily influenced by star role models -- celebrity statements and viewpoints (however misguided and unfounded they may be) are read with interest and often accepted without challenge.

Consider the impact that this statement from supermodel Gisele Bundchen could likely have on a fashion-conscious teenage girl when Bundchen publicly expressed disdain for sunscreen: "I cannot put this poison on my skin... I do not use anything synthetic," she said in 2011. Her comments brought this more correct perspective from pharmaceutical scientist Gary Moss: "Cosmetic products -- including sunscreens -- are regulated and are tested extensively before they are allowed onto the market. And you might be surprised," he continues, "that we use a wide variety of synthetic materials in many aspects of life. 'Synthetic' does not automatically mean bad, just as 'natural' does not automatically mean safe or beneficial."

From a growing compendium, here are several more questionable health and medical claims made recently by celebrities:

-- In espousing the nutritional value of sperm, Britain's famed martial artist and kick boxing star Alex Reid, says, "It's actually very good for a man to have unprotected sex as long as he doesn't ejaculate. Because I believe that all that semen has a lot of nutrition." He adds: "A tablespoon of semen has your equivalent of steak, eggs, lemons and oranges. I am reabsorbing it into my body and it makes me go raaaaahh." The irresponsibility of advocating unprotected sex aside, reproductive research scientist John Aplin reports: "The nutritional content of the ejaculate is really rather small."

-- Former actress Suzanne Somers, a breast cancer survivor, claims that her success in beating cancer is linked to injections of mistletoe extract (despite the fact that she also had a lumpectomy and radiation treatment). And in her book Knockout, she lauds the effectiveness of certain dietary supplements, coffee enemas and other unconventional means in "curing cancer," even though these methods are not supported by scientific evidence.

-- Film star Demi Moore thinks our health can be optimized by treatment with leeches. "They [leeches] have a little enzyme and when they are biting down on you, it gets released in your blood and generally you bleed for quite a bit and then your health is optimized -- it detoxifies your blood."

Even Elle magazine, whose job it is to cover the world of fashion and stars, has to admit the power that such questionable statements can have on influencing the public. "Chances are, most readers chuckled at such celebrities' statements rather than treating them as legitimate, informed beliefs," says Elle UK.com, the magazine's online edition in Britain. "But responding to celeb health claims at face value underlines the extent to which prominent figures' views can sway public behaviours."

Needless to say we need better truth detectors to help the public discern between fact and falsehood in the realm of health, medicine and science. I'm happy to learn that such responsible detectors are on the rise with such organizations as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the British group Sense About Science, as well as Dr. Ben Goldacre's Bad Science website in England -- all of which monitor, and correct when necessary, scientific claims made by celebrities, the news media and others.

As founder and chief organizer of the USA Science & Engineering Festival, the nation's largest celebration of science and engineering, I am proud to include the Festival as among such timely efforts in advancing the accurate perception of scientific research.

The Festival's second national gathering will take place next April in satellite events across the nation, and culminate in a massive expo on April 28 and 29 in Washington, D.C. -- an event that will not only celebrate the wonders of technology, but will also, through highly interactive stage shows, exhibits and other activities, help young students and others develop critical thinking skills needed to discern between fact and myth in scientific research.

In these discovery sessions, students will meet and engage with such celebrities and "stars" in science and engineering as: Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman -- hosts of the Discovery Channel's hit TV series Myth Busters -- who will tell how they go about dispelling science myths on their show; Bill Nye the Science Guy, who will take kids inside the known and unknown in science; Chemist Joseph Schwarcz, Ph.D., will help demystify aspects of science through magic; James Kakalios, Ph.D., a physicist that applies science in letting kids know how realistic Hollywood superhero movies are; modern-day storm chaser Karen Kosiba, Ph.D., helps students discern fact vs. fiction in the occurrence of tornadoes and other storms; Seth Shostak, Ph.D., an astronomer involved in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) explains what science can say about life on other planets; sleight-of-hand performer Apollo Robbins takes you inside the art of telling reality from illusion, and award-winning New York Times science reporter Benedict Carey tells why accuracy in science writing is so important.

The excitement does not stop there. The Festival's Expo also features day-long "Encounters With Scientists and Engineers" sessions in which students can meet real-life role models in these fields and ask them face to face about the accuracy of science and engineering topics in the news and other related subjects.

And leading up to the Expo during the month of April will be a series of other interactive events which will expose kids to leading scientists and engineers, including our Nifty Fifty school visit program sponsored by AT&T, and the Lunch with a Laureate program that gives small groups of middle and high school students the chance to engage in informal conversations with 15 Nobel Prize-winning scientists during a brown bag lunch.

The fight against scientific inaccuracy and misconceptions in the public realm begins with each of us taking the time and effort to be more critical and questioning of what we read and hear, and by exposing our kids to sound experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In our celebrity-driven world, that's something we all need to take to heart.

Follow Larry Bock on Twitter.

Visit our website for all of the upcoming events leading up to the Festival, to plan your day at the Expo and to browse our exhibits. Best of all- don't miss out on the chance to pre-register for the Expo for an opportunity to win a cool prize! You will automatically be signed up to win a chance to meet Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of the Mythbusters OR Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory; an iPad 2; a Cool Video Game; Science Books; or 1 of 50 T-shirts!

Also, be sure to become a fan of our facebook page to receive important information regarding the Festival as well as an opportunity to connect with other fans and to view engaging STEM articles and facts!

And just a refresher- the mission of the USA Science and Engineering Festival is to re-invigorate the interest of our nation's youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by producing and presenting the most compelling, exciting, educational and entertaining science festival in the United States.

Thank you for helping us to achieve our mission!