L.A. Clippers to Celebrate STEM on the West Coast at New “Clippers SciFest SoCal”
Clippers and USA Science & Engineering Festival Team Up to Host STEM Festival at L.A. Convention Center March 22-23
Los Angeles, CA – The L.A. Clippers and the USA Science & Engineering Festival have teamed up to present “Clippers SciFest SoCal,” a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Festival new to the West Coast. The event, which will take place at the L.A. Convention Center March 22-23, will be free to attend and will feature student exhibitions, large-scale displays of STEM in action, hands-on activities from leading STEM organizations, live demonstrations and more, all geared towards influencing the next generation of STEM professionals on the West Coast.
“The USA Science & Engineering family is excited to bring our unique brand of ‘edutainment’ and outreach to Southern California,” said Marc Schulman, Executive Director, USA Science & Engineering Festival. “Expanding our festival to include a West Coast location is an ideal complement to the nation’s largest K-12 STEM education and workforce development event. This partnership with the Clippers is an amazing opportunity to leverage the popularity of their organization to showcase to our youth the diversity in STEM careers.”
The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the nation’s largest celebration of STEM. Based in Washington, DC, the Festival Expo is a K-12 biennial event that welcomes more than 350,000 attendees to its DC events. Leading up to the Expo Finale, the USASEF team hosts annual events like the X-STEM Symposium, which features interactive presentations and workshops from an exclusive group of visionaries, and the educational program Nifty Fifty, which sends more than 200 noted scientists and engineers to schools across the Mid-Atlantic and California. At past Expos, attendees have explored life on Mars, studied the physics of music, learned about the science of the five senses, advances in medical technology and the mysteries of the deep blue sea and much more.
The first day of Clippers SciFest SoCal, Friday, March 22, will feature a special Sneak Peek Friday event for school groups as an expansion of the L.A. Clippers Challenge Fair. Elementary and middle school students have been challenged to apply their knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) to the world of basketball, with winners receiving grants from the L.A. Clippers Foundation to support STEAM curriculum at their schools. On the second day, Saturday, March 23, the Expo will be open to the public. The two-day event will inspire attendees with exciting, interactive exhibits and activities.
Innovation and technology are in the Clippers’ DNA, from the team’s tech-led, league-best game introductions to the revolutionary new Clippers CourtVision digital game-watching experience. With technology pioneer Steve Ballmer at the helm and President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker leading the charge, the Clippers are consistently finding ways to expand into the STEM sphere to enhance the Clippers experience. The Clippers and L.A. Clippers Foundation, through the Clippers Mentorship Assist Zone and Read to Achieve programming, regularly host coding events and give students access to technology by renovating and expanding school learning and computer centers.
Organizations showcasing their creativity and innovation in STEM at this inaugural event include sponsors and exhibitors such as Laserfiche, NASA JPL, Southern California Gas Company, Hitachi, UCSD, Society of Women Engineers, Black Girls Code and much more!
For more information about exhibiting or participating in Clippers SciFest SoCal, visit usasciencefestival.org. Fans can register for free tickets now at www.clippers.com/scifest.
About the L.A. Clippers
Led by Chairman Steve Ballmer, the L.A. Clippers in 2018-19 are competing in the franchise’s 49th season and 35th in Los Angeles. They recently extended a franchise record, completing their seventh consecutive winning season in 2017-18. The team has logged the NBA’s 5th-best record over the course of head coach Doc Rivers’ five-year tenure. The Clippers are committed to the city of Los Angeles and through the L.A. Clippers Foundation, provide resources and opportunities that make a positive difference toward leveling the playing field for youth in Southern California. Visit the Clippers online at www.clippers.com or follow them on social media @LAClippers.
About the USA Science & Engineering Festival
Founded by the late entrepreneur Larry Bock to address the severe shortage in science and tech talent, the USA Science & Engineering Festival is the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the country. For nearly a decade, its events and educational programs have inspired kids to pursue the vast career opportunities in the STEM fields. Through hands-on activities and engaging presentations with some of the nation’s most innovative visionaries, the next generation of explorers and discovers see that STEM can take them wherever they want to go.
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