Lunch with a Laureate

Our 'Lunch with a Laureate' Program is a rare opportunity for a small group of middle and high school students to engage in an informal conversation with a Nobel Prize winning Scientist over a brown bag lunch.  The meetings are a chance to learn first-hand about some of the most exciting scientific discoveries, to hear about the trials and tribulation of fast-paced research, and to find out what makes a Nobel Laureate tick.  These Lunches, typically hosted by School Districts or individual schools, will be taking place all over the greater Washington D.C. area.

Click here to find out about participating Nobel Laureates.
Details about how your school can be involved will be announced soon.

Nifty Fifty

The ‘Nifty Fifty’ are a group of noted professionals who will fan out across the Washington, DC area next October to speak about their work and careers at various middle and high schools.  The Nifty Fifty will feature individuals who have made a major impact on the field of science and engineering either through research or through other fields such as law, business, government and public service. Speakers’ talks will center on three key areas – the science and/or engineering they are passionate about, their career path (including how they became interested in what they do, who or what influenced them as young students, and stumbling blocks or challenges they encountered along the way) and what opportunities they see for young people in their field.

Click here to find out about participating Nifty Fifty
Click here to nominate a Nifty Fifty

Schools can apply to host a Nifty Fifty speaker here. Complete the online application by visiting http://www.usasciencefestival.org/2010festival/niftyfifty/applytohostniftyfifty. The deadline to apply is May 31.

Participate in a performance of Powers of Ten on 10/10/10 with your entire school!

Your choir, school or other group can be an important part of the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival on Powers of Ten Day – 10.10.10 (October 10th this year)! We are seeking choirs, schools (possibly whole schools – not  just their choirs!) and other groups to open the Festival with a rousing community performance of David Haines’s secular science oratorio Powers of Ten on the unique ‘Powers of Ten Day’ - 10.10.10.  No one choir, group or school will need to learn more than 3 to 5 songs to take part, since the performance of around 21 numbers will be shared out, with only a few songs being performed by the whole ensemble combined.

Teaching and practice materials will be easily available online and participation is free.  There are no auditions or other criteria to take part – just your commitment to learn the songs and turn up to rehearse and perform on the day – dress rehearsal 2-4 pm, performance 5-7pm including intermission.  The Washington DC venue will be chosen shortly depending on how many performers we need to accommodate.

Powers of Ten is a celebratory exploration of the universe at many scales of magnitude – in song! – from string theory at the smallest up through quarks, atoms, viruses, bacteria, amoebae and parasites through the human level and on via landscape, tectonic plates, the solar system and its constituents to galaxies and clusters of galaxies.

Powers of Ten has been performed by children and adults of all ages from 5 to 85 in both the UK and USA.  All you need is a willingness to explore a new way of expressing your enthusiasm for science through wonderful, accessible music that touches both hearts and minds. David will be available to visit participating schools in the days leading up to the performance, but performers will need to be up to performance level by this time.

If interested in the project, email Nancy Huddleston at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .