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Evaluation of the First Annual San Diego Science Festival (SDSF)
Karen Peterman, Ph.D.Marianne McPherson, M.A.
June 2009
This report presents results collected throughout the month-long SDSF to describe:
The students and general public who participated in Festival events
Ways that the SDSF influenced attendees’ interest in and awareness of science
A Description of SDSF Events and Participants
The SDSF evaluation focused on five types of events:
Nifty Fifty
Science on the Mesa
Festival Programs Small Wonders
Expo Day at Balboa Park
Almost 70,000 people attended SDSF events.
# Attendees
Nifty Fifty 14,965
Science on the Mesa and Beyond 1,024
Festival Programs 3,628
Small Wonders 19
Expo Day at Balboa Park 50,000
Total 69,636
In addition, 924 people volunteered their time to host SDSF events.
# Volunteers
Nifty Fifty 85
Science on the Mesa and Beyond 220
Festival Programs 236
Expo Day at Balboa Park 383
Total 924
Attendees provided high ratings of the SDSF.
3.934.22 4.13
3.89
4.36
1
2
3
4
5
Nifty Fifty Science on theMesa
Festival Programs Small Wonders Expo at BalboaPark
Science on the Mesa and Beyond
Science on the Mesa and Beyond (SMB)
Science organizations from around the county opened their doors to students
2.5 hour events included hands-on activities and exposed students to the science being conducted in San Diego
SMB involved:
24 companies, organizations, and institutions
220 volunteers (scientists, staff, etc.)
1,024 students
51 teachers
SOM was hosted by companies in a concentrated area, and attended by students from across the county.
Map created in Google maps.
47%
53%
Male Female
A similar number of boys and girls attended SMB.
N=982
Over half of SMB students were Hispanic.
African American American
Indian
Asian
Hispanic
Pacific Islander
White
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
N=1,024
Students are unaware of the science going on in the county.
Before coming to SMB: Only 35% of students had ever heard of
the company/organization that hosed their event.
An even smaller number (29%) knew what kind of work the organization did.
N=1,024
SMB was quite effective at exposing students to local organizations and the science they conduct.
Heard of Before Event Knew about Work
Before Event
Knew about Work After Event
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
N=1,024
Over half of the SOM students rated the event as very or extremely successful at influencing them in key ways.
% Students
Providing you with examples of science careers
69%
Inspiring you to learn more about science 65%
Providing you with examples of the science around you every day
64%
Making you more interested in science? 64%
Changing how you think about science? 59%
Increasing your interest in science careers 58%
N=1,024; very and extremely were the top points on the 5-point scale.
SOMs were effective at helping students feel more connected with the science community.
Not at all
Some
A great deal
A little
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
N=1,024
The Nifty Fifty
The Nifty Fifty
Science role models presented to middle- and high-school students at their schools
Presentations focused on accomplishments and careers paths
Nifty Fifties involved:
85 scientists
98 schools
14,965 students
449 teachers
Nifty Fifty schools were from across the county; half were from schools south of the city.
Map created in Google maps.
47%
53%
Male Female
Nifty Fifties reached a similar number of boys and girls.
Just under half of all Nifty Fifty students identified as Hispanic.
African American
American Indian
Asian
Hispanic
Pacific Islander
White
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
About half of the Nifty Fifty students rated the event as very or extremely successful at influencing them in key ways.
% Students
Providing you with examples of the science around you every day?
61%
Teaching you about the science that is going on in San Diego?
56%
Inspiring you to learn more about science? 49%
Making you more interested in science? 48%
Increasing your interest in science careers? 42%
N=8,086; very and extremely were the top points on the 5-point scale.
A majority of students felt more connected to the science community after participating in Nifty Fifties.
Not at all
Some
A great dealA little
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
N=7,884
Science Festival Expo
Science Festival Expo (Expo)
A day-long event at Balboa Park that included hands-on science activities and several performances
203 exhibit booths
The Expo involved:
203 companies, organizations, and institutions
180 volunteers
At least 30 schools
50,000 attendees
Schools from across the county hosted booths at the Expo.
Map created in Google maps.
Additional schools bussed students in for the event.
Map created in Google maps.
43%
57%
Male Female
More women than men completed the Expo survey.
N=762
The majority of Expo survey participants identified as White.
African American
AsianHispanic
Pacific Islander
White
American Indian
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
N=762
Expo survey participants were from a variety of age groups.
N=762
<14
15-17
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-6465+
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Over half of the Expo survey participants rated the event as very or extremely successful at influencing them in key ways.
% Students
Providing you with examples of the science around you every day
76%
Inspiring you to learn more about science 68%
Making you more interested in science 66%
Changing how you think about science 58%
Providing you with new examples of science careers
55%
N=762; very and extremely were the top points on the 5-point scale.
Attendees felt more connected to the science community after participating in the Expo.
None
Some A great deal
A little
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
N=762
Summary
Participants Thousands of people attended the first
annual SDSF. The majority of students who participated were
Hispanic. Most participants who attended events for the
general public were White.
The SDSF also provided the opportunity for hundreds of scientists and volunteers to engage the public in science.
Feedback
Participants provided positive feedback about their SDSF experiences.
Outcomes and Impact
SOMs were quite effective at helping students learn about science opportunities in San Diego county.
The majority of participants considered the SDSF very or extremely successful at meeting its goals.
Outcomes and Impact, cont.
Of its learning goals, the SDSF was most successful at: Providing examples of the science around
attendees every day, and Inspiring attendees to learn more about science.
In most cases, at least half of the student participants also indicated that the SDSF improved their opinion of science and their interest in science careers.
Acknowledgements The SDSF team collected and entered
the survey data.
Photos in this report were downloaded from the SDSF Web site.
The Google maps in this report were created by students from The Preuss School.
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