Duke Research at the NC Science Festival

Three public events offer interactive activities during the monthlong celebration of science in our state

NC SciFest logo over a photo of the engineering quad at Duke with people walking around.
Duke researchers are inviting community members to engaging engineering and psychology events on and off campus.

Each April, the North Carolina Science Festival brings science out of labs and into communities across the state, turning everyday spaces into places for discovery. Organized by the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, the festival connects researchers directly with the public through hands-on events, lectures and demonstrations.

At its core is a simple idea: Research does not happen in a vacuum. It shapes how people understand the world and, in turn, it is shaped by the communities it serves.

At Duke, that connection is central. Researchers are not only advancing knowledge, they’re working for and alongside communities to make that knowledge meaningful, accessible, and useful in everyday life.

This year, three Duke events invite you to step into that process and experience firsthand how research moves beyond campus and into the world. These local events are open to everyone – for students, parents looking for kid-friendly activities or curious community members.

Duke CHILD Studies Group at UNC Science Expo

Saturday, April 11, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

At the UNC Science Expo, the marquee event of the festival, the Duke CHILD Studies Group is bringing developmental science directly to families through drop-in activities designed to be interactive and accessible for all ages. This team is a consortium of five labs in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences that studies how children learn and grow.

Four people sit at a blue clothed table smiling, outside near a playground. Stickers and signs are strewn about the table.
Members of the Duke CHILD Studies Group table at a past event.

The research behind the event focuses on understanding child development across all ages, with the goal of shaping the environments where children learn and grow. By bringing this work into a public space, the team aims to make research more inclusive, visible, and community driven. The team will be recruiting families for its studies as well.

“We at Duke CHILD Studies believe research is strongest when families from all backgrounds see themselves as part of it,” said Mariam Wahba, recruitment coordinator for the group. “By partnering with families through engaging, research-based activities, we can better understand child development and help create a world that supports every child.”

For more info, go to the UNC Science Expo event page. And if you or your family are interested in getting involved in the group’s studies, connect with them in the community or visit their website.

Discover Engineering @ Duke

Saturday, April 11, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

What does engineering actually look like up close?

Aerial of glass and brick building on Duke campus on a cloudy day
The Wilkinson building on campus will be home base for Discover Engineering @ Duke.

At the Wilkinson Building on campus, the Pratt School of Engineering will host Discover Engineering @ Duke. The afternoon will feature more than 20 hands-on activities and demonstrations across fields like robotics, wearable technology, materials science, and digital health. Visitors can build, test and explore alongside Duke students and faculty, turning complex concepts into tangible experiences.

The program also includes “STEM-ulating Conversations,” featuring engineering professor Ken Brown and Duke engineering students sharing stories of imagination, problem-solving, and belonging in STEM. Guided tours of the Engineering Quad will give attendees a closer look at Duke’s research spaces and learning environment.

“Welcoming the community into academic spaces like this not only helps our neighbors understand our work and impact, it also provides an opportunity for our researchers and students to inspire the next generation and practice their communication skills,” said Adrienne Stiff-Roberts, associate dean for community-based innovation.

Taking place during Duke Reunion weekend, the event also highlights the university’s broader mission: connect research, education and community in meaningful ways.

For more info, go to the Discover Engineering @ Duke event page.

Child smiling, wearing oversized lab white suit, blue gloves, and eye protection while standing in front of chalkboard with colorful equations.
Attendees are encouraged to try out scientific equipment and see themselves as researchers.

Discover the Unseen: Exploring Science’s Tiny Marvels

Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m

At the Durham County Main Library, science shifts to the microscopic scale with Discover the Unseen: Exploring Science’s Tiny Marvels. Hosted by the Duke Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (SMIF) in partnership with Duke’s PreMiEr Engineering Research Center and the library’s Maker + STEAM team, this event will give visitors a chance to explore the hidden world behind everyday technology through hands-on activities grounded in real research.

Participants can use light microscopes and a scanning electron microscope to examine objects at extreme magnification, design UV-printed artwork inspired by how computer chips are made, and create petri dish paintings that model how scientists culture bacteria. Interactive stations introduce cleanroom science and engineering, offering a rare glimpse into processes typically confined to specialized labs – a welcoming and accessible experience for all ages.

“We’re excited to bring these hands-on experiences to community members in a public setting,” said Emily Snell, outreach and lab engineer at SMIF. “Reaching off campus is important to introducing new audiences to research and getting them interested in participating.”

For more info, go to the Discover the Unseen: Exploring Science’s Tiny Marvels event page.