2025 Maine Science Festival
CALL FOR IDEAS
Do you have an idea for an exciting panel, workshop, or hands-on activity for the 2025 Maine Science Festival? Let us know by applying to present!
Please read through the programming options below and complete the application for the type of
session you are interested in presenting. If you have any questions reach out to us at info@mainesciencefestival.org
*PLEASE NOTE*
If you wish to reach a middle school aged audience in your session,
sign up for a hands-on activity or a workshop for Friday FIELD TRIP DAY on the forms below.
Descriptions of Types of Proposals:
Hands-on Activities
An interactive hands-on activity is an activity where festival goers walk up to you and dive into the science you’re presenting. The set up is similar to a vendor space at a conference, but all of the tables have engaging activities!
Options:
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Friday March 21, 2025 9am-1pm - Cool Science - 7th and 8th graders for Field Trip Day
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Saturday March 22, 2025 9am-4:00pm - Exploration Stations - All ages audience
**You can request to participate in both days; both options require a full day time commitment
Forums/Panels/Talk
A forum is "a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged" and MSF forums are based around audience interaction with experts. Our forums generally include a panel of experts on a topic who will give an introduction to their work, followed by Q&A with the audience and other panelists. Presenters should assume that the audience has a high school level education. Preference if given to panels that include collaboration between multiple organizations. If you would like assistance finding other scientists/panelists, please note that when you submit the form.
Options:
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These sessions are typically 1 hour in length
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Sessions can take place Saturday, March 22 or Sunday, March 23, 2025
Workshops
Workshops are a set period of time where you present a topic and work through it (for example, nature illustration, Minecraft workshop, cheese making). The festival goer often (but not always) ends the workshop with something they can take home. The audience is determined by you and the difficulty of the science and/or the workshop approach.
Options:
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Friday March 21, 2025 9am-1pm - Cool Science - 7th and 8th graders for Field Trip Day
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Saturday March 22, 2025 - General audience on Saturday or Sunday, state your age preference on the form
Exhibits
In the past, the MSF has included exhibits in multiple capacities - from portraits of Americans Who Tell the Truth, to an interactive exhibit exploring human musculature and anatomy, to Maine Public's panels about climate change throughout Maine. Exhibits can be up for one day or the whole week, and are often hosted at locations Downtown or at the Cross Insurance Center.
Decisions about programming for the 2025 MSF will be based on types
of programming, space availability, types of science, and reaching as
wide an audience as possible. Please note - Submissions close Dec. 2nd and we will send confirmations in January.
A few things to keep in mind: we don’t charge for any event/activity so we
are unable to provide any honorarium for speakers or presenters.
We can help cover travel costs (within reason) if needed.