By Jeremy Babendure, SciTech Institute Executive Director
As the Arizona SciTech Festival celebrates its 15th year, it’s remarkable to reflect on how far we’ve come — and where we’re headed. 
When the first festival launched in 2012, we truly didn’t know what to expect. Would anyone come? Thankfully, Arizona answered with enthusiasm. More than 200 events across the state drew over 220,000 people in our inaugural year,
revealing an unmet interest in hands-on learning, discovery, and connection.
Since then, the festival has grown into one of the largest STEM celebrations in the nation, with thousands of events annually reaching hundreds of thousands of participants across more than 80 Arizona communities. But the real impact goes beyond scale.
From the start, the festival was built as a grassroots effort. Libraries, schools, museums, universities, companies, and nonprofits create and host events that reflect their local communities. That local ownership helps make STEM accessible, relatable, and fun for people of all ages.
The SciTech Festival has also become a powerful workforce development engine. As Arizona’s economy grows in sectors like advanced manufacturing, aerospace, bioscience, and semiconductors, demand for STEM talent continues to rise. The festival helps build that pipeline by introducing students to careers early, connecting them with mentors, and showcasing real-world applications of classroom learning.
Programs like Chief Science Officers empower students to take leadership roles in shaping STEM experiences in their schools and communities. Meanwhile, adult learners gain access to new skills and career pathways, reinforcing the importance of lifelong learning.
Fifteen years in, the Arizona SciTech Festival is more than an event, it’s a statewide ecosystem inspiring learning, building confidence, and preparing Arizona’s workforce of tomorrow.
