Get STEM Ready for the STEM Alliances' 8th Annual STEM-tastic Festival

Experiences such as coding robots with MakeInspires, flying lessons with Drone Cadets or exploring the microworld on the Biobus are in store.

May 8, 2024, 8:10 p.m. EDT | Update May 8, 2024, 9:01 p.m. EDT

LARCHMONT, NY — What families take away most from the STEM-tastic festival each year is that the event was great, but that good time could end up causing side effects, like lifelong curiosity, a thirst for learning and a compulsion to explore.

The STEM Alliance’s highly anticipated STEM-tastic event, a free annual festival that brings science, technology, engineering and math to life, will return this year on Friday, May 10. The festival will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hommocks College in Larchmont. For the second year in a row, Veolia is a STEM-tastic Platinum Sponsor.

Now in its eighth year, organizers say STEM-tastic aims to provide fun and learning for all ages, allowing children and families to explore STEM disciplines through various challenges. Participants will take part in more than 40 expert-led experiences, such as robot coding with MakeInspires, pilot lessons with Drone Cadets, microworld exploration on the Biobus, and sewing with Sew Fun 4 Kids. The STEM Alliance says this evening festival redefines STEM learning, inspiring children to explore, create and innovate.

Not only is Veolia sponsoring the event, but it is also leading one of the STEM learning activities, Creative Chromatography, where students will explore the color spectrum using water and markers.

“The sooner we can engage students and spark their interest in STEM, the better,” said Chris Graziano, vice president and general manager of Veolia’s New York operations. “That’s why Veolia appreciates and is proud to support events like STEM-tastic.”

Veolia says it is committed to helping its customers save water in schools, municipal buildings and offices, with the aim of becoming a benchmark company in ecological transformation. The company has also made substantial commitments to philanthropic causes in Westchester County, including sponsoring the STEM Alliance Festival.

“Veolia truly understands the importance of inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders,” said Margaret Käufer, President of the STEM Alliance. “Science festivals play a central role in our mission to provide equal access to STEM enrichment opportunities for all. Their sponsorship and support of STEM-tastic is essential to our shared goals.

Learn more about the event here.

The STEM Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates a network of STEM learning opportunities. As STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) jobs grow at an accelerating rate, there is a high demand for qualified graduates. The STEM Alliance grows the next generation of STEM leaders by creating a community where all are empowered to embrace STEM as a way to solve problems and drive innovation.