STEM Exhibition Pavilion Coming to Conejo Valley Days

While marking its six decades in the community, the 60th annual Conejo Valley Days (CVD) will also be celebrating the future by hosting a STEM Exhibition Pavilion at this year’s event, May 11 through May 15, at Conejo Creek Park South in Thousand Oaks. UCLA Health is a pavilion sponsor.

The STEM Exhibition Pavilion will recognize the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) accomplishments of students in third grade through secondary schooling and community college. It will also feature science and award-winning robotics demonstrations by high school and college students.

The pavilion’s 100’ x 30’ tent will be divided into four major areas: elementary school engineering and construction (including a LEGO building project), intermediate and high school robotics and engineering, intermediate and high school science, bioscience and medical and Internet applications (all education levels).

“We want to encourage young people to develop scientific and technological knowledge and then share what they’ve learned with the public,” says Ron Block, chair of the STEM Exhibition Pavilion project. “The pavilion will also be a place where young festival goers can take part in science and engineering-based hands-on experiments and activities.”

Only about 18 exhibits can be accepted this year. Students who have submitted projects to the Ventura County or State science fairs can also submit the same projects to the CVD pavilion. The STEM Exhibition Pavilion advisory board, made up of scientists, educators and business leaders, will select the exhibitors.

While entries will not be judged, students with exhibits will receive a certificate acknowledging their project’s acceptance and participation. “This is the STEM Exhibition Pavilion’s first year,” says Block. “We have a strong advisory board with plans to make this a permanent fixture at CVD.”

Last year, CVD was one of the sponsors of the giant LEGO project during the City of Thousand Oaks’ 50th anniversary celebration. Jared Brems (LEGO/robotics instructor), a pavilion advisory board member, will be coordinating the LEGO demonstration at the pavilion.

Entry forms and more information are at http://www.conejovalleydays.us/stem-pavilion. The deadline to complete and submit the form is April 15. For more information, contact Ron Block, 805-402-0889, rjblock9@gmail.com.

CVD hours are Wednesday and Thursday, May 11 and 12, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday, May 13, 5:00 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, May 14, noon to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 15, noon to 8:00 p.m.

The Pets Central Education and Welfare Foundation is the nonprofit partner for this year’s Conejo Valley Days. In addition, more than 30 local nonprofit groups participate in CVD each year, raising money that is invested back into the community.

Live entertainment and hands-on exhibits are included with general admission. Entry: $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6 through 12 and free for kids 5 and under. For more information and ticket information go to www.conejovalleydays.us, 805-498-0624, info@conejovalleydays.us, or follow Conejo Valley Days on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ConejoValleyDays and Twitter, @CVDays60.

Conejo Valley Days STEM Exhibition Pavilion Advisory Committee

Ron Block, Chair

Phil Hampton, PhD, CSUCI Prof. of Chemistry, director, CSUCI’s Project ACCESO (Achieving Cooperative College Education through STEM Opportunities) and VC STEM

Nikki Malhotra, PhD, Biochemistry, coordinator, The Center for Advanced Studies and Research, Thousand Oaks High School College Board consultant for AP research and Science Fair coordinator

William Pratt, VP operations, director of creative design, Kinamed, Inc, Workforce Development Board member

Karen Brower, industry liaison, VC Innovates for STEM, Aviation and Naval Base Ventura County

Marybeth Jacobsen, president, Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Workforce Education Coalition

Jared Brems, LEGO/Robotics instructor

Peter Jardine, PhD, president, Shape Change Technologies

Harold Siegel, enterprise business intelligence lead, Aerojet Rocketdyne

Kristin Majda, M.S. Biotechnology, MBA, president, Gold Coast Science Network