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NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina Science Festival (NCSciFest), the largest statewide celebration of science, will return for its 15th year in April 2025. With an exciting lineup of over 500 events happening from the mountains to the coast, this year’s festival will engage audiences of all ages in STEM exploration through hands-on experiences, interactive programming and inspiring discussions.
Todd Boyette, director of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, states: “The NC Science Festival is an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to discover, explore, and appreciate the wonders of science. We are proud to bring this annual celebration to the people of North Carolina and we look forward to collaborating with our partners across the state."
This year’s theme is, “Everyday, Everywhere, Everyone.” The 2025 season aims to encourage audiences to see that science is in their daily lives, extends far beyond the confines of laboratory settings and is accessible for all. The goal is to bring together students, families, researchers, and science enthusiasts from all walks of life to celebrate the wonders of discovery. NCSciFest will feature a range of activities, from field trips and lab tours to large-scale community events.
"We're excited to celebrate 15 years of the NC Science Festival,” says Crystal Harden, director of program and access initiatives. “This year's theme reminds us that science is a universal language that connects us all—no matter where we are or what we do."
Key Festival initiatives facilitate meaningful interactions between educators, scientists, students, partners, sponsors and the public including: STEMville Science Summit, Duke Energy Science Nights, Statewide Star Party, the UNC Science Expo and SciMatch, where science professionals join classrooms for hands-on learning.
Other events across the state include major expos at UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, NC Central, NC A&T, the NC Arboretum, UNC Wilmington, and other UNC System campuses; behind the scenes tours at institutions such as the Queen Anne’s Revenge Conservation Lab; citizen science opportunities including the City Nature Challenge; Science On Deck at the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers baseball game; adults-only programming like Science on the Rocks at Discovery Place in Charlotte, and nearly 500 other unique and exciting events including more than 100 at local libraries.
RTI International will play a pivotal role in public engagement throughout the year as a multi-year presenting sponsor. By providing foundational support for the Festival’s endeavors, RTI will help build on the event’s success of bringing hands-on STEM activities to children and families across North Carolina.”
“We’re proud to partner with NCSciFest as they celebrate their 15th year,” said RTI President and CEO Tim J. Gabel. “Together, we’re inspiring the future scientists who will advance the progress of North Carolina.”
Event dates and locations will be announced on February 14 with the NCSciFest calendar launch. The North Carolina Executive Mansion will host a reception on March 20 at 6 p.m. to kick off STEM Education Month. NCSciFest has reached more than 3.5 million participants of all ages, in every county in the state since it was established in 2010 by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.
About North Carolina Science Festival
Founded in 2010, the North Carolina Science Festival is the first statewide science festival in the United States. Through a series of community-based events each April (hosted by schools, colleges, libraries, museums, parks, businesses, and other local organizations), NCSciFest celebrates the economic, educational, and cultural impacts of science in North Carolina. It is an initiative of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For more information, please visit ncscifest.org.
About Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is a unit of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Morehead serves North Carolina and beyond by bringing together the unique resources of UNC to engage the public for an enhanced understanding of science.
About RTI International
RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach — one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.rti.org.
