Family Science Days 2016: Programmatic Space Request
Saturday and Sunday
February 13-14, 2016
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Marriott Wardman Park
Washington, DC
RFP Deadline: May 25, 2015
As part of efforts to advance science and serve society, AAAS hosts Family Science Days over the weekend during its five-day Annual Meeting. This event is free and open to the public, offering science engagement organizations the opportunity to showcase their programming to the local community. Family Science Days will be promoted in and around the Washington, DC metro area.
The main audience and attendees of Family Science Days are young people and their families. Historically, our primary age range for children has been 6-10 year olds, but we are interested in expanding programming for older students as well as other audiences.
AAAS's goals for Family Science Days are to:
- Demonstrate excellence and encourage participation in public engagement with science to Annual Meeting participants. AAAS defines public engagement with science as intentional, meaningful interactions with opportunities for mutual learning between scientists and members of the public;
- Connect scientists with audiences not usually exposed to science;
- Create connections between the public and public engagement practitioners;
- Continue to learn and share best practices in public engagement with science.
AAAS is looking for partners to organize an interactive science program appropriate for public participants within the setting of Family Science Days. Collaborations between organizations are welcome. Partners must organize activities for one or both days of the event, and they are responsible for organizing the space for the duration.
This RFP is NOT the call for our traditional Family Science Day booths with hands-on activities or stage shows. That call will go out in early summer. This request is for more involved, programmatic space.
Some examples of activities for this RFP might include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Collection of activities based on a science 'theme' where different organizations participate
- Collaborative art project
- "Maker" or other building/project space
- Interactive area for online audiences, scientists, and Family Science Days attendees
Due to space limitations or logistical considerations, AAAS may not be able to accommodate all requests. Accepted proposals will be notified in early summer 2015 and will work with AAAS to refine and finalize the proposal until Labor Day 2015. AAAS maintains editorial control of all activities that are part of Family Science Days.
If you have ideas for programs outside of the Family Science Days schedule or space, please contact Linda Hosler at
lhosler@aaas.org or (202) 326-6656. Please also get in touch with Linda with questions about Family Science Days or this RFP.