Through inquiry-based, collaborative investigations, family engagement and interactions with female role models, SciTech aims to:
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Build self-confidence and science interest among girls in San Diego area schools.
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Foster an interest in science, technology and engineering careers.
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Make science accessible to girls in underrepresented communities.
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Develop connections between girls and the local scientific community.
SciTech is an after-school program for girls in grades 4–6 at San Diego-area elementary and middle schools. Each participating school selects 30 students and hosts the weekly two-hour SciTech program on school campus from October to May. Students engage in hands-on science investigations on everything from solar car design to household chemistry. Through project-based learning, students make concrete connections to everyday life while developing creative thinking and problem-solving skills that they will use throughout their lives.
SciTech Application Forms
Applications for SciTech are NOW OPEN. For the upcoming year, the Fleet Science Center will be working closely with six SciTech school partners to provide opportunities onsite and/or virtually in order to fit each schools' scheduling needs or constraints.
Applications for the 2022-23 school year are open now through May 31, 2022.
Feel free to send SciTech-related questions at any time of year.
The Tech Challenge
Saturday, May 7, 2022
One of the biggest events in the SciTech program is the Tech Challenge. In the weeks leading up to the challenge, students must problem solve and design inventions to complete a specific task. This year's challenge is building a device that helps clean trash and debris from the Ocean. Leading up to the challenge, the lessons focused on the types of trash and animals that reside in these large gyres scattered across our globe, as well as efforts already in place to help clean up the oceans. The SciTech girls work in teams to build unique devices that could retrieve the trash from the ocean, while ensuring plants and animals remained unharmed in their environment.
This year's Tech Challenge will have students from:
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Avondale Elementary (Spring Valley)
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Vista Square Elementary (Chula Vista)
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Johnson Elementary (SE San Diego)
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Valencia Park (SE San Diego)
Everyone is invited to attend the SciTech Challenge! This competition will be viewable to the public with community scientists participating as judges. The main eventwill be taking place in the William & Grayson Boehm Community Forum and the exhibit galleries next to Studio X at the Fleet Science Center. While the SciTech Challenge is open to the public, regular admission rates apply.
Making an Impact
Fleet Science Center - SciTech Girls from Katherine McDonald on Vimeo.
Click here for information on challenge scenarios that you can try with your school!
Thank You
Partial funding for SciTech is currently provided by ResMed Foundation, The Shiley Foundation, SDG&E, Verizon and Qualcomm.
