Societies to Participate in Science and Engineering Festival

Newswise — Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - Top researchers and celebrities in science and engineering, along with stage shows, up-close interaction and hands-on exhibits from the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America are a few of the highlights expected at the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo hosted by Lockheed Martin and set for April 28-29, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The Festival Expo is a free weekend event and considered a must-see for families, students and others from around the country and globe. The Expo takes place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and culminates a month-long series of Festival events encouraging students to take an active interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). "The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America proudly take part in this festival aimed at inspiring and educating young minds about the sciences. Agribusiness offers many opportunities and with the huge task ahead of us-- trying to feed a growing global population-- we will need more students in STEM professions, " says ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Director of Member Services and Education Susan Chapman. Larry Bock, Founder and Executive Director of the USA Science & Engineering Festival says, "The Expo promises a fun and exciting weekend allowing kids, their families and others to participate in more than 2,000 interactive exhibits and other activities; plus seeing more than 100 live perfomances by science celebrities, explorers, best-selling authors, innovative entrepreneurs and world-renowned experts." ASA will be sharing agriculture's tie-in with the food system featuring an interactive display in area #637. CSSA's exhibit is a hands-on opportunity with different types of plants, following each through the process of becoming food, feed, fuel or fiber. It will be in area # 639. And a display revealing the secrets of soil, including its importance to everyday life will be presented by SSSA at #641 of the Washington Convention Center. The USA Science & Engineering Festival is a grassroots collaboration of more than 500 of the leading science and engineering organizations in the United States. For more infromation on the USA Science & Engineering Festival, go to: www.usasciencefestival.org