Teams of high school and college students all over Los Angeles will compete in the Los Angeles region’s 2nd Annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest this weekend.
Students will build S.T.E.A.M. machines, incorporating science, technology, engineering, art and math using art as the medium and fun as the common denominator.
The S.T.E.A.M. Machines will be displayed and demonstrated on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 11:30 am to 5 pm at the east end of the Santa Monica Pier.
The free event is hosted by Heal the Bay and presenting sponsor Time Warner Cable, in support of their Connect a Million Minds initiative.
The S.T.E.A.M. theme continues at Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, beach level, just beneath the Carousel.
The Aquarium will be also be open from 11:30 am to 5 pm during the science expo.
Aquarium guests can practice piloting an underwater ROV, build model boats and learn about deep-sea exploration during a family-friendly presentation at 2:30 p.m.
Above on the Pier deck, S.T.E.A.M. Machines innovative exhibitors like Trash For Teaching will stage a make-your-own recycling machine station; try games galore courtesy Marbles the Brain Store; Toy Builder Labs will demonstrate 3-D printing, creating objects on the spot; operate one of artist/inventor Steve Craig’s machines that draw a picture for you; join the reDiscover Center to play with wind tubes.
The Pier’s own Pacific Park and Time Warner Cable will have interactive, innovative stations. Work up an appetite with all this science fun and enjoy tasty treats by Peddlers Creamery: artisan quality ice cream and non-dairy frozen delights churned by bicycle power.
The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is Heal the Bay’s marine education facility located beach-level, just below the Carousel, at the Santa Monica Pier.
The Aquarium is open to the general public and attracts more than 85,000 visitors per year.
Since Heal the Bay acquired the Aquarium in 2003 from UCLA, more than half a million visitors have been welcomed during public hours and nearly 140,000 students have been educated during in-house education programs.
For more information, visit http://www.healthebay.org/event/steam-machines-santa-monica-pier.
