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High TechCarnival Aims To Entertain, Inspire, and Educate

Posted by samzenpus on from the don't-send-in-the-cyborg-clowns dept.

kkleiner writes "A self-described think tank of engineers and inventors called Two Bit Circus have completed a successful crowdfunding campaign to launch a high tech reinvention of carnivals from yesteryear. The campaign raised over $100k to launch the STEAM Carnival (as in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) to take place in Los Angeles and San Francisco next year. Showcasing robots, fire, and lasers, the goal of the carnival is to inspire young people into science and technology through these entertaining and educational events."

6 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. lolwut? by girlintraining · · Score: 4, Funny

    (as in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)

    One of these things is not like the other. Circle your answer.

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    1. Re:lolwut? by thoughtlover · · Score: 2

      Obvious Guy says, 'Art'. And I say, BRING IT ON! It's about damn time that the public realizes that the brain (whether child or adult) needs a little downtime from all the rote memorization most schools force unto their students. Art, whether it's drawing/painting, acting, music or otherwise, is a necessary outlet for the human condition. Too many children don't have access to music or theater programs at their school due to budget cuts. The thing is that the wrong programs were cut and we're starting to realize how important the arts are to all other subjects. I feel really sad for the kids in K-6 schools that cut recess time, too. The thing is, I don't think most parents realize how fundamentally different the schools of today are relative to their days.

      Regarding the four words in STEM, I always thought that 'Science and Technology' and 'Technology and Engineering' are too close, semantically, to be used in that acronym. But I agree that Art should have been in it from the start!

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    2. Re:lolwut? by girlintraining · · Score: 2

      Regarding the four words in STEM, I always thought that 'Science and Technology' and 'Technology and Engineering' are too close, semantically, to be used in that acronym. But I agree that Art should have been in it from the start!

      Yes... they're very similar to each other and make a natural acronym in english. Let's fuck with that because I want to shove unrelated things into it that I think are a benefit to me and then follow with a "for the children" argument. Are you from Congress per-chance?

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    3. Re:lolwut? by kwerle · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Carnival. Inspire young people.

      How much of drawing and painting is describing our surroundings? How much of science is not that same thing at a different level? Is there any overlap?

      How much is music steeped in math? What is not steeped in math? Why would you not use music to appeal to someone's mathematical curiosity?

      I, for one, am happy to have a little entertainment in my education.

  2. Do we really need... by PhantomHarlock · · Score: 2

    ...more than one MakerFaire?

    You can only make so many blinkenlight, laser and propane torch based arduino projects.

  3. county fairs are doing this already... by slew · · Score: 2

    http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/fair-is-taking-digital-leap/Content?oid=2442281
    http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/06/13/hi-tech-exhibits-join-farm-animals-carnival-games-at-san-mateo-county-fair/

    Among the additions this year are a 3-D printer, a Frisbee-throwing robot made by students at Aragon High School, and a "reverse-engineering" exhibit where kids can take apart VCRs and computers to see how they work. Colaluca also has organized competitions in coding and app-making, and he deputized employees of local computer companies to judge them.