What's Happening in Chandler, AZ…

Over 380,000 people across the state recently took part in the annual Arizona SciTech Festival.

The festival took place at over 800 locations around the state, with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects being the focus. Approximately 700 collaborators, an increase of 200 from last year, were involved in the state-wide effort, which included companies in Maricopa, Tempe, and Chandler, among others.

Fifty-one municipalities took part, along with even more communities in rural areas, according to Jeremy Babendure, the festival’s executive director. There were 2,500 attendees the festival's first year.

Babendure revealed that the festival brings companies in, before putting them together with universities and school districts, which learn about the projects the businesses are working on. Babendure added that the festival organizers help strategically, but leave it to the community to decide what type of event they want to put together.

In Chandler, Intel, Garmin, and Orbital Sciences Corporation joined with local arts vendors and colleges to put on a two-day festival. About 5,000 people attended the Chandler event, which included rockets, simulators, and hands-on activities for children. Rick Heumann, a Chandler councilman, said the festival served two purposes, which were getting young people to appreciate STEM, and a way to show off Chandler's companies, schools, and the economic impact businesses have on the city.

Festival organizers could work with brochure printers to develop a booklet to distribute at schools, describing the events and urging them to participate next year.