STEM Zone

City of Santa Clara

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

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.<h4>INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER PANELS</h4>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:<ul><li>Sirisha Bandla - is an American <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_engineering" title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_engineering" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">aeronautical engineer</a> and astronaut. She was the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Galactic" title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Galactic" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Virgin Galactic</a>.</li><li>Dr. Tracy Fanara – NOAA Scientist &amp; Environmental Engineer <a href="https://inspectorplanet.com/" title="https://inspectorplanet.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Inspector Planet</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/therealkaribyron/" title="https://www.instagram.com/therealkaribyron/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kari Byron – Science Communicator (MythBusters)</a> Host: Jenny Buccos is a multi-award-winning director and producer. She is the founder and Head of Content of <a href="https://explr.com/" title="https://explr.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">EXPLR Media</a>, a multimedia education strategist, and an agent for global citizenship.</li></ul>Listen to 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:<ul><li><a href="https://www.scu.edu/engineering/faculty/kyrarini-maria/" title="https://www.scu.edu/engineering/faculty/kyrarini-maria/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Maria Kyrarini</a>, Lead, Human-Machine Interaction &amp; Innovation (HMI²) Research Group, Santa Clara University</li><li><a href="https://www.scu.edu/engineering/faculty/ignat-oana/" title="https://www.scu.edu/engineering/faculty/ignat-oana/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Oana Ignat</a>, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Engineering, Santa Clara University</li><li>Amit Sandhu, Senior Design Engineer, <a href="https://thinksurgical.com/" title="https://thinksurgical.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">THINK Surgical, Inc.</a></li><li>Nicholas Smith, New Product Introduction (NPI) Operations Supervisor for <a href="https://www.intuitive.com/en-us" title="https://www.intuitive.com/en-us" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Intuitive Surgical</a></li></ul>Host: Kajal Awasthi, PhD Student SCUAdditional 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 &amp; Sutter Health Sports Medicine MD<ul><li>Sam Delfino from Bay FC Senior Associate of Business Analytic &amp; Insights</li><li>Tara Deane SVP of Business Analytics &amp; Technology</li><li>Richard Gayle, MD of Sutter Health, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Head Team Physician, Bay FC</li></ul>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 &amp; H<ul><li>Design your own Sports Jersey with <a href="https://www.svefoundation.org/programs/49ers-sli" title="https://www.svefoundation.org/programs/49ers-sli" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">49ers STEM Leadership Students</a> from Santa Clara Unified School District</li><li>Build a Mars Rover with <a href="https://www.sjsurobotics.org/" title="https://www.sjsurobotics.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">SJSU Robotics</a></li><li>Cartooning for the Whole Family with <a href="https://www.cartoonart.org/" title="https://www.cartoonart.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Cartoon Art Museum</a></li><li><a href="https://med.stanford.edu/genetics.html" title="https://med.stanford.edu/genetics.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Stanford Genetics Lab</a>: Extract your own DNA and take it home in a necklace</li><li><a href="https://www.sjsurobotics.org/" title="https://www.sjsurobotics.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">SJSU Robotics Challenge: Build a Mars Rover</a></li><li><a href="https://ischool.sjsu.edu/library-technology-integration-lti-lab" title="https://ischool.sjsu.edu/library-technology-integration-lti-lab" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">SJSU iSchool Library Technology Innovation Lab</a>: Scratch Coding &amp; Drone Experiment</li><li>What's Up with the Weather: Q&amp;A with Meteorologist Marc Austin</li><li>Snakes and Lizards and Roaches! Oh My with <a href="http://pythonron.com/" title="http://pythonron.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Python Ron</a></li><li>Seeing Sound - the Amazing World of Cymatics with <a href="https://www.thephysicsshow.com/" title="https://www.thephysicsshow.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Foothill College’s Physics Show </a></li></ul><h4>HANDS ON ACTIVITY BOOTHS</h4><ul><li>Santa Clara University</li><li>FIRST Robotics – Playing at Learning</li><li>Grant Imahara – RoboBattles</li><li>Santa Clara Water Department</li><li>SJSU iSchool</li><li>Valley Water</li><li>Mission College</li><li>West Valley College</li><li>Santa Clara Unified School District 49ers Institute</li><li>Silicon Valley Chess</li><li>Cartoon Art Museum</li><li>Stanford University (Dept of Genetics) at the Tech Museum</li><li>SJSU Robotics Team</li><li>SJSU iSchool</li><li>Foothill College STEM Division</li><li>Meteorologist Marc Austin</li><li>CuriOdyssey</li><li>RAFT</li><li>BAY LUG</li><li>Brick Blast</li><li>Playing at Learning</li></ul>

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STEM Zone

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