A Dream Festival Partner: University of Maryland, College Park

Participating significantly at virtually every level of the USA Science & Engineering Festival - from start to finish - the University of Maryland, College Park is recognized as a "Dream Festival Partner."

In addition to serving as a valued Festival Sponsor, the university will host the Festival's opening and closing ceremonies, and will also participate in Nifty Fifty speaking sessions at schools, Lunch with a Laureate brown bag meetings, and in the Festival's exciting Expo exhibits and stage performances at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

UM President C.D. Mote, Jr.
University of Maryland President C.D. Mote, Jr.

"The University of Maryland is committed to inspiring and recruiting the brightest minds to STEM fields," says UM President C.D. Mote, Jr., who serves on the Festival's Advisory Board. "Events like the USA Science & Engineering Festival go a long way in capturing the imaginations of young people, helping them to experience how thrilling science and engineering can be."

With its high-profile involvement in the event from beginning to end, the university is aptly being called the "Bookends of the Festival."

Matthew Borborowsky

"Our deep involvement with the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival is testament to the high priority we at Maryland place on sharing our knowledge and passion with young minds and the general public through exciting, hands-on outreach programs in science that intrigue, educate, and inspire," says astrophysicist Mattthew Bobrowsky, who directs Maryland's Physics Lecture-Demonstration Facility and serves as a Nifty Fifty speaker.

Here's a brief look at key roles the University of Maryland, College Park will play in the Festival:

* The Powers of Ten: Hosted by the university at its beautiful Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, this majestic choral presentation directed by celebrated British composer David Haines (the "Science Musician"), will kick off the Festival in grand style on 10/10/10 with an array of inspiring science-themed songs performed by choirs and singers from schools and community groups.

* Lunch with a Laureate: In a session this October, sponsored by the University of Maryland, Nobel laureate William Phillips will speak at Bladensburg High School, Bladensburg, MD. Dr. Phillips received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997. Also participating will be Nobel laureate Dr. John Mather, a NASA scientist and adjunct professor of physics at the university.

* Nifty Fifty: In addition to astrophysicist Matthew Bobrowsky, other Nifty Fifty speakers from the University of Maryland include theoretical physicist James Sylvester Gates, and mathematician Konstantina Trivisa.

* Exhibits: A total of 18 interactive, hands-on exhibits will be sponsored by the university at the Expo, exploring fascinating areas of science and technology - from how electric guitars produce sound to the latest on deadly microbes, and how robotics are used to perform neurosurgery.

* Stage Shows: The university will sponsor four exciting stage shows, including its renowned "Physics Is Phun" program, guaranteed to wow you with engaging experiments involving illusions, sound, light, energy, electricity, and electromagnetism.

* Sponsor Thank You Event: The university will host the Sponsor Thank You Event on October 25th.

We thank the University of Maryland, College Park and our other valued Sponsors as they join us in our goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers!