Activities
Interactive Science Booths
Discover about 20 hands-on booths highlighting Caltech's latest science and engineering. Try the demos, chat with student researchers, and feel the thrill of real discovery. All booths are located in Beckman Mall; see the full lineup below.
Hands-on painting activity to illustrate abstract math concepts (non-commutativity, topology in art)
Demonstrations on neutron stars (e.g. hearing pulsar signals) and a model radio interferometer for astronomy
Chemistry demonstrations with Caltech Chemistry Club (flame tests, dry ice balloon experiments, color-changing reactions)
Chess games and puzzles for attendees (strategy challenges, playing with visitors)
Hands-on DNA extraction from strawberries
Electrochemistry battery module demonstration
Experiments in food chemistry (e.g. using natural pH indicators)
Green Labs sustainability practices booth (energy-saving in labs, eco-friendly lab equipment demos)
Laser and optics demonstrations (diffraction gratings, fluorescence, spectrometers, etc.)
STEAM activities and information on Pasadena Public Library programs (community science outreach)
Table-top LIGO detector model and "spandex gravity" demo to explain gravitational waves
Interactive math games, puzzles, and demonstrations
Microbiology quiz, microbe trading cards, petri dish "thumb-print" experiments (hands-on microbiology activities)
Neuroscience outreach demos (in collaboration with the Neurotechers student club; specific activities TBD)
Interactive plasma physics demonstrations (on the fourth state of matter, fusion energy, electromagnetism, etc.)
Showcasing student-built robots and educating visitors about robotics
Explaining how solar power and solar cells work (Caltech Space Solar Power Project)
Presentations on women in STEM and various NASA/JPL missions (PUNCH, Mars helicopter, Mars rover, etc.) with hands-on activities
Demonstrating sun printing (cyanotype) technique
Demos of viscoelastic fluids (cornstarch shear-thickening) and small electrical motors
TED-Style Talks
Immerse yourself in a fast-paced series of 10-minute talks from Caltech researchers and students. Held in the lecture hall inside The Mabel and Arnold Beckman Laboratories of Behavioral Biology—see the schedule and talk topics below, and drop in for one or stay for the set.
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Meet a Scientist Panels
Have face-to-face chats with Caltech scientists—hear the stories behind the research and what life in science is really like. Held in Beckman Hall; see the schedule below.
Other Activities
Stroll through Caltech's iconic courtyards with a student guide. Hear bite-size stories of discovery and hidden campus gems you won't find on a map.
Watch colorful balloons twist into playful creatures in seconds—perfect for kids and the young at heart.
Spark some color with quick, kid-friendly designs or bold festival looks. Non-toxic paints, big smiles guaranteed.
Enter for a chance to win Caltech-themed goodies and more. Winners announced during the event—must be present to win.