CITY OF STEM SCIENCE FESTIVAL PROGRAM CELEBRATES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN APRIL 2018

Los Angeles ( February , 2018 ) The Columbia Memorial Space Center , along with participating partners , today announced that the City of STEM , Los Angeles ’ largest science festival , is set for launch in April 2018 . The month-long , community-focused celebration of science , technology , engineering , and math ( STEM ) is composed of numerous events for all ages taking place throughout Los Angeles County from dozens of partner organizations .

“ Los Angeles is an innovation incubator — a place where the world comes to develop new ideas and pioneer groundbreaking technologies ,” said Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti . “ City of STEM is an opportunity for L . A . to showcase a science , technology , and engineering ecosystem that is creating new opportunities every day and putting L . A . at the center of a global movement to envision tomorrow and build it today .” Participating partners for the 2018 City of STEM include the City of Los Angeles , Northrop Grumman , The Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs , Biocom , Amgen , The Los Angeles Public Library , YMCA , SpaceX , Aerojet-Rocketdyne , The Planetary Society , The Sierra Club , Two Bit Circus , The Natural History Museum , The Aquarium of the Pacific , Virgin Orbit , JPL , Impossible Science and Financial Partners Credit Union .

“ City of STEM is a platform to unite the diversity of Greater Los Angeles , rallying the public around science and drawing attention to the region ’ s continued national importance in STEM research , education and industry , from aerospace to biotech . We will bring STEM activities to a variety of audiences , opening access to STEM throughout the region ,” said Ben Dickow , City of STEM organizer , and President of the Columbia Memorial Space Center .

Unique events throughout April 2018 will appeal to all ages , making STEM accessible to everyone . April ’ s activities include the world ’ s only kids-themed event connected to the international Yuri ’ s Night celebration , science hikes led by the LA Sierra Club , family nature-themed days at the Natural History Museum and LA Zoo , a gala for retired Southern California aerospace workers , and an adults-only biotech evening at an LA pub hosted by Biocom . New events in April are being added every day , so check cityofstem . org for an updated calendar .

The month-long series of events will culminate in a City of STEM celebration on Saturday , April 28 at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey , CA . This large-scale event will feature dozens of STEM partner booths , indoor and outdoor activities , music , food trucks , and special guest Jason Latimer of Impossible Science and the Discovery Channel show “ SciJinks .”

The City of STEM Science Festival has been recognized as a member by the Science Festival Alliance , the national organization dedicated to connecting and promoting unique STEM events . City of STEM is part of the Science Festival Accelerator , a program of the Science Festival Alliance , funded by the Alfred P . Sloan Foundation . Organizations that would like to participate in the City of STEM Science Festival in April should visit www . cityofstem . org . The website will have an updated list of partners and event calendar . For media inquiries please contact Sarah Medina at the Columbia Memorial Space Center , ( 562 ) 231-1200 or smedina @ downeyspacecenter . org

Jason Latimer is American illusionist who in 2003 became one of four Americans to ever win the title Grand Prix " Best Overall " at the World Championships of Magic . In 2012 , Jason starred in the six live British television specials on the BBC One ' s " The Magicians ," and won UK competition overall .

In , 2014 , Latimer joined Penn & Teller and Christen Gerhart of the American magic competition television series Wizard Wars on the Syfy channel .

In 2015 , Jason launched the Impossible Science program in San Diego , CA . Currently , Latimer is the curator of Impossible Science for the Fleet Science Center and oversees the Impossible Science Initiative in science centers throughout Southern California . Jason ' s role would be to coordinate the Impossible Science Experience and Program by designing interactive science experiments to engage curiosity and wonder in an educational environment .

Jason continues to be a keynote speaker for many summits including the E3 Summit , the Department of Education for Wyoming on the new approach the Impossible Science Initiative has brought to STEM education .

8 VANISH Magazine www . VanishMagazine . com