The 36th Flagstaff Festival of Science promises to be a tasty treat.
This year, the free festival’s theme is Harvesting Knowledge, with talks, workshops, tours and other experiences uncovering traditional food science and its relevance to the environment, community health and cultural significance. The festival runs from Sept. 19-28 with more than 100 events.
While the festival is journeying all over northern Arizona—from state parks to observatories to historic landmarks—there’s plenty to do without even leaving NAU. We’ve picked eight awesome festival events to check out on the Flagstaff mountain campus. What will you discover?
Nourishment Through Movement Keynote Ballet
When: Friday, Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Ardrey Auditorium
This year’s keynote speaker, food sovereignty advocate Mariah Gladstone, is sure to be a hit with her talk on Indigenous food systems science. But if you’re more of a visual learner, check out the NAU Community Dance Academy’s artistic interpretation of Gladstone’s keynote. The powerful performance will merge ballet with messages about Indigenous land stewardship, health and sustainability, immersing audiences in visual poetry while educating them on cultural heritage, sustenance and ecology. Reservations are required.
Astrophotography at the BLT
When: Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Barry Lutz Telescope
Capture images of faint objects like galaxies, globular star clusters and nebulae in fantastic detail, weather permitting.
NAU Robotics Open House
When: Sunday, Sept. 21, 1-3 p.m.
Where: Learning Resource Center, Room 106A
Join NAU Robotics for a hands-on open house where kids can learn about robotics education and research at NAU. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience interactive demos with robotic exoskeletons, autonomous vehicles, robotic arms, motors and other cool inventions. If you’re driving, park in lot P42 and grab a parking pass at the event. Reservations are required.
Indigenous Foods, Community Seed Banks and Climate Resilience
When: Monday, Sept. 22, 5 p.m.
Where: Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures
Hear about a National Science Foundation-sponsored research project at NAU examining the role community seed banks can play in climate resilience. In Arizona and Appalachia, researchers are examining the effectiveness of seed banks that prioritize Indigenous and heritage crops and target historically underserved populations—and they’ve made some interesting discoveries.
Exploring the Rhythm of the Seasons Using Time Lapse Digital Photography
When: Monday, Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Physical Sciences building, Room 232
Get ready for a virtual trip through time and space with PhenoCam, a network of more than 700 time-lapse cameras in North America and beyond. Learn how you can explore the online image archive and view the changing seasons across our continent and find out how scientists use PhenoCam to understand changes in plants and nature over time. Reservations are required.
STEM Poster Session
When: Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1-4 p.m.
Where: Ashurst Auditorium
Come see what NAU’s STEM students and researchers are working on and explore other research happening at institutions throughout the region.
The Human Side of Science Through Storytelling
When: Thursday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Kitt Recital Hall
Step into an evening of funny, moving and true stories from NAU faculty and graduate students, crafted in collaboration with the Writing Class Radio podcast. Hear firsthand accounts of adventures in science—the challenges, the breakthroughs, the stumbles and the unexpected lessons that change people. It’s science as you’ve never heard it before: raw, human, unforgettable.
NAU Discovery Fair
When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 1-3 p.m.
Where: Courtyard of Science & Health Building
Explore the wonders of science through interactive activities designed to spark imaginations of all ages. From the mysteries of the universe to the marvels of the natural world, dive into topics like astronomy, chemistry, biology, ecology, engineering, physics, anthropology, conservation, environmental humanities, science education and more.
For a full list of Flagstaff Festival of Science events, visit the festival website.
(Top photo courtesy of Shonri Begay)
Jill Kimball | NAU Communications
(928) 523-2282 | jill.kimball@nau.edu