Reach for the Stars STEM Festival 2026

Join us for a fun and exciting day of STEM!

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ESPECIALLY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS (grades 4-8, ages 9-13). Come join us for a terrific day exploring STEM science and STEM careers! We are having our "Reach for the Stars STEM Festival" on March 28 from 9:45 am to 3:30 pm (check-in starts 9:00 am). REGISTER NOW for the best choice of interest track (your preferred track may fill up). Our focus is on inspiring girls at this critical time in their lives; boys may attend if desired.

The event will include:

1. Inspiring keynote talk by an amazing woman engineer: Nijoud Merancy of NASA headquarters, speaking on the ARTEMIS project.

2. A selection of hands-on exhibits in the street fair

3. Two hands-on workshops led by women scientists, physicians or engineers

4. A panel discussion by women scientists about the challenges and opportunities of their profession in your selected track.

5. Outdoor box lunch

Each teacher or parent can register up to 10 students (the groups must all choose the same track, and a parent or designated adult must register and stay in attendance). Each group of students selects one of four tracks: A. Space science and astronomy B. Medicine including Space Medicine and biosciences C. Physical Science: Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science or Math or D. Engineering and Robotics. Each group of 25 students will have a designated "Guide". If a student needs to leave for any reason, the chaperone must check out with the Guide before leaving. Each student will receive a souvenir backpack and refillable water bottle. Try to come in groups; no more than one parent per student participant.

REGISTRATION IS LIMITED to 200 students. If you cannot afford the registration fee, contact us at starfest@rice.edu and we will provide a special sponsored registration, thanks to our sponsors Rice University, Babs Foundation, and Discovery Dome. Masks are optional. If your students can't agree on which track they want, please split them into two groups (register each group separately, but each group will need its own chaperone to stay with them). Each participant and chaperone must agree to fill out a survey afterwards so we can see what they learned and how we can make it better next time.

Before you sign up your group, get from each student:

1. Cell phone and email (the chaperone can use theirs if the student does not have one)

2. Interest track A/B/C/D (all participants in a group must choose the same track - if they want two different tracks, you will need another chaperone and register the students in the second track separately). NOTE: most of the workshops are the same as last year, so choose a different track if you are returning!

3. Lunch selection: Turkey with cheese / poboy / tuna / vegan (falafel with tahini) or "no lunch requested" (note no substitutions please)

4. Minor release form: (not needed for registration but required before participating) . Download from https://space.rice.edu/ReachForTheStars/pdf/ReachForTheStars_Release_minors.pdf and https://space.rice.edu/ReachForTheStars/pdf/Parent_Guardian_Emergency_Contact_Sheet.pdf and have parents fill out (email to starfest@rice.edu and also bring along).

More details: https://space.rice.edu/ReachForTheStars/

PARKING:

The closest parking for participants is the "North Lot" (between entrances 20 and 21. and the "North Annex Lot" (Enter 20 but turn right (west) into the parking lot. Use your credit card to enter and the same one to exit. No parking on any Rice street (some allow 10 minute drop off only.) Parking also available near Entrances 1 and 2 off Main St. Parking fees are not included in the registration price - please carpool or use busses. Free bus parking - contact starfest@rice.edu. Or ride Metro Redline to the "Hermann Park/Rice University" stop.

SCHEDULE: (Each block is a workshop, or a panel, or time in the exhibits. See schedule below).

9:00 - 9:45: CHECK IN (YOU MUST PREREGISTER - NO WALK-INS)

10 - 10:45: BLOCK 1

11-11:45: BLOCK 2

11:45-12:30 LUNCH

12:30-1:30: KEYNOTE (Keck 100)

1:45-2:30: BLOCK 3

2:45-3:30: BLOCK 4

3:30 - 4: Check out and return to vehicles

LOCATION: Brockman Hall for Physics (Google map link.)

Enter entrance 20 or 21 and park in the "North Lot" (paid parking all day $13). Cheaper parking (but a longer walk) in Greenbriar lot (entrance 16). Chaperone must stay with students all day. Check in at the portico of Brockman Hall for Physics. Events will be on the north side of campus. Area map of the Rice Campus

Detail of the campus map. Check in at Brockman Hall for Physics to get your map for the day. Park in North lot (between entrance 20 and 21) and walk with the students to the registration. No children left unattended AT ANY TIME. Parking fees NOT INCLUDED in registration.

Schedule for this year's event. Items in orange are in Brockman Hall for Physics. In blue are in Herman Brown Hall. In yellow are in Keck 100, and in green are in the graduate commons. Please go to the page https://space.rice.edu/ReachForTheStars/2026/ for more details and permission forms.