STEM Zone

The STEM Zone celebrates Santa Clara as the heart of Silicon Valley—bringing together innovation, creativity, and community.

STEM Zone
April 19, 2026 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Santa Clara Convention Center

Where Silicon Valley Sparks Innovation and Fun! The STEM Zone brings Santa Clara’s identity as the heart of Silicon Valley into the spotlight. It’s more than just an event — it’s a platform where our students, innovators, and local companies can showcase technology, sustainability, and creativity alongside the global excitement of major sports.

INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER PANELS

Droid Building: From Hobby to Career
Panelist: Mike Senna, Head of the Droid Department (Skeleton Crew)
Host: Amy SennaGo behind the scenes of your favorite galaxy and discover how iconic droids and creatures are brought to life for the screen! Hear from industry expert Mike Senna engineering, creativity, and craftsmanship that power film magic. Learn how a passion hobby can grow into a career in the movie industry—and see Grogu up close!

STEM Power: Women Driving Discovery and Change

Panelists:

• Sirisha Bandla - is an American aeronautical engineer and astronaut. She was the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations for Virgin Galactic.
• Dr. Tracy Fanara – NOAA Scientist & Environmental Engineer Inspector Planet
• Kari Byron – Science Communicator (MythBusters)
  Host: Jenny Buccos is a multi-award-winning director and producer. She is the founder and Head of Content of EXPLR Media, a multimedia education strategist, and an agent for global citizenship.

Listen to real women who are breaking barriers and changing the world—plus tips for your own STEM journey!

From Lab to Reality: Human–Machine Interaction in Action

Panelists:

• Maria Kyrarini, Lead, Human-Machine Interaction & Innovation (HMI²) Research Group, Santa Clara University
• Oana Ignat, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Engineering, Santa Clara University
• Amit Sandhu, Senior Design Engineer, THINK Surgical, Inc.
• Nicholas Smith, Mechanical Engineering, Intuitive

Host: Kajal Awasthi, PhD Student SCU

Additional Panelists:

How does research move from a university lab into the real world? This panel explores how human–machine interaction, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies are designed, tested, and translated into practical applications. Panelists will share perspectives from academia and industry, highlighting real-world use cases across healthcare, accessibility, education, and industrial settings, and examining the pathways—and challenges—of turning research into real-world impact.

The STEM Behind the Sports

Careers Panel

Panelists: STEM professionals in Local Sports Teams & Sutter Health Sports Medicine MD

· Sam Delfino from Bay FC Senior Associate of Business Analytic & Insights

· Tara Deane SVP of Business Analytics & Technology

· Richard Gayle, MD of Sutter Health, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Head Team Physician, Bay FC

Go behind the scenes of professional sports and discover the STEM careers that make game day happen—off the field. Panelists share how technology, data, and sports medicine and engineering drive the sports industry.

STEM Workshops: Ballroom G & H

· Design your own Sports Jersey with 49ers STEM Leadership Students from Santa Clara Unified School District

· Build a Mars Rover with SJSU Robotics

· Cartooning for the Whole Family with Cartoon Art Museum

· Stanford Genetics Lab: Extract your own DNA and take it home in a necklace

· SJSU Robotics Challenge: Build a Mars Rover

· SJSU iSchool Library Technology Innovation Lab: Scratch Coding & Drone Experiment

· What's Up with the Weather: Q&A with Meteorologist Marc Austin

· Snakes and Lizards and Roaches! Oh My with Python Ron

· Seeing Sound - the Amazing World of Cymatics with Foothill College’s Physics Show

HANDS ON ACTIVITY BOOTHS

Santa Clara University

FIRST Robotics – Playing at Learning

Grant Imahara – RoboBattles

Santa Clara Water Department

SJSU iSchool

Valley Water

Mission College

West Valley College

Santa Clara Unified School District 49ers Institute

Silicon Valley Chess
Don Bugito

Cartoon Art Museum

Stanford University (Dept of Genetics) at the Tech Museum

SJSU Robotics Team

SJSU iSchool

Foothill College Physics Show

Meteorologist Marc Austin

CuriOdyssey

RAFT
BAY LUG
Brick Blast
Playing at Learning