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Submit a Public Program Proposal

The form below will walk you through the steps to submit a proposal. The form has been split into several pages; you can use the Next and Back buttons at the bottom of each page to move between them.

Your submission will not be saved unless you complete the entire form and press the submit button at the end. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your submission immediately, and a member of the Science Festival planning team will contact you later after reviewing it.

  • Presenter Contacts
  • Presentation Category
  • Presentation Information
  • Other Information
  • Finish and Submit

Presenter Contacts

Add as many presenters as needed. They will be listed in the order you enter them here.

MSU Presenters: Enter your department and leave organization set to MSU.

Non-MSU Presenters: Enter your organization; you may also optionally add your department.

Add/Delete First Name Last Name Email Department Organization Job Title
Deleted

Cannot delete the only presenter

Primary contact information

Names not included in the presenter list above, phone numbers, and e-mail or postal addresses will never be shown to the public or used by anyone outside the Science Festival Core team.

We ask all proposals to include a cell phone number where one of the presenters can be reached on the day of their event. It will only be used to contact you in the event of an emergency.

Mailing Address

We ask that you please provide us with a mailing address in case we need to send bulk deliveries (e.g.; marketing materials, give-aways, etc.). Due to restrictions on these types of materials, please do not use a P.O. Box.

Presentation Category

Please complete the previous section.

Below is a list of current Science Festival presentation opportunities. Please select the category you would like to be considered for. Choose more than one where appropriate. If you're not sure which is the best format for your presentation, choose all that may apply; we will work with you to decide the category as the presentation is finalized.

If you have an idea for an event or activity that doesn't quite fit the categories, please reach out to our team. We're always excited to dream up new programs!

STEAM Expo Weekend

Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12 from 11am – 4pm at the STEM Teaching & Learning Facility on MSU's Campus

Invite audiences of all ages to get hands-on with activities across the STEAM disciplines. Presenters will be provided with space, tables, chairs, electricity access, Wi-Fi, and water access if needed.

Host special activities and demonstrations for families with young children under 8 years old that support early childhood development. Presenters will be provided with space, tables, chairs, electricity access, Wi-Fi, and water access if needed.

Talks, panel discussions, musical performances, story slams, poetry slams, chemistry demonstrations, and more! The sky is the limit. Below is a list of featured topics we are especially excited about this year:

  • Michigan Science: Join us in celebrating Michigan’s unique ecosystems, species preservation efforts, and the importance of protecting our rich biodiversity.
  • Finally Some Good News! We could all use a little good news these days to keep us going. Join us to share uplifting scientific breakthroughs, conservation success stories, innovative solutions to global challenges, and inspiring research discoveries that showcase humanity's potential to create positive change and offer genuine hope for a brighter future.
  • Take Action! Transform attendees from science enthusiasts into active participants through hands-on citizen science projects, advocacy, environmental stewardship activities, and collaborative initiatives that empower individuals to make a tangible difference in their communities and beyond.

Presentations may be scheduled during Expo Weekend (4/11 & 4/12), Science After Dark events, or other festival events throughout April. Festival staff will reach out to you in January/February 2026 to discuss scheduling options.

Invite visitors on a special behind-the-scenes guided tour of your lab, museum, garden, archives, or facility. Host an open house for your space where visitors can drop by and explore at their own leisure.

This year, the festival is hosting a campus tour and open house day on Saturday, April 18. Tours will be scheduled on this day or during other public or youth programs throughout the spring. Festival staff will reach out to you in January/February 2026 to discuss scheduling options.

Explore the wonders of the universe with local audiences at your planetarium or observatory. Dates and more information will be announced later in the fall of 2025.

Programs designed for adult audiences: science pub nights, brewery and distillery tours, musical performances, late-night events, and more! Program venues and dates are TBD, but a festival staff member will reach out in January/February 2026 with scheduling options.

Program Information

Please complete the previous section.

Choose an eye-catching title with 20 words or less. Avoid any technical jargon or language that could alienate audiences.

The description must be 100 words or less (about 5-6 average sentences) and will be used on the web.

The short description must be 150 characters or less (about 1-2 sentences).

Briefly describe any audience participation, questions, list of materials required for hands-on activities, etc. (This information will only be seen by the Science Festival planning team.)

You may select additional disciplines that will display on the web site.

Additional Disciplines

These additional disciplines will be shown on the web only can be used to search for your presentation.

Please check all age groups that are appropriate for your presentation.

This proposal is intended for public programs only. However, if you are interested in learning more about our school programs, check this box and our team will reach out to you with more information.

NOTE: We are looking for images of materials used in your event, people attending or presenting, or otherwise unique to your event. Please do not submit unit or college logos, wordmarks, etc.

Indicate all applicable hazards materials or activities. If you indicate any hazards, please supply details in the form fields that will appear. You will be contacted by MSU Environmental Health and Safety.

Open flame, power tools, ladders, etc.
High voltage, arcs, vehicle batteries, etc.
Household or laboratory chemicals, compressed gasses, dry ice, reactions creating gasses, smoke or explosions
Specimens preserved in formalin, human tissues, live animals, microbes or bacteria
No hazardous materials or activities

Other Information

Options on this page depend on your earlier choices. Please complete all prior sections.

Note that URLs must begin with http:// or https://. Copy & paste the address for best results

 

Schedule

Please provide or more times when your event is taking place. To indicate a time, first check the box at the beginning of the row, then select a start and end time using the dialogs provided. All times must fall completely within 4/1/2026 12:00 AM - 4/30/2026 11:59 PM.

Date/Time Select Duration
(minutes)		 Start Time End Time Max group size Requires preregistration / Reg. URL

Finish and Submit Proposal

Please complete the previous sections.

Final Confirmation

Please indicate that you understand your commitment and have read the required information.

  • Meetings to solidify presentation logistics, presentation outline, slide deck (if applicable), and any other important details will be scheduled by the SciFest team in January and February.

  • Please read: Presenter guide

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