The Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Santa Cruz COE) is seeking new partners to join us as we expand the annual countywide Science & Engineering Fair into the Santa Cruz County STEAM Expo. For the first time, the 2023 event will go beyond the traditional competition to include mentorship support, professional learning, and deeper industry connections including demonstrations and activities.

The need for a stronger academic focus on critical thinking and STEAM skills within our region is abundantly clear. As one way we are working to meet this need, the COE is working to connect with more industry representatives and other partners who share our vision of widening the path into STEAM careers for a more diverse range of local youth.

The Santa Cruz County STEAM Expo will showcase hundreds of projects created by students in grades K-12. The 2022-23 Santa Cruz County Science & Engineering Fair will be held in-person at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds on March 11, 2023. Students will be uploading their electronic inquiry notebooks, images, video presentation, etc. for judges to preview prior to March 1, 2023. Judging will take place on March 11 in-person at the fairgrounds.

For many students, participation in this competition marks a major milestone on their path toward becoming scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and critical thinkers. It is a collaborative event sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education with community partners and volunteers. Affiliated with the Society for Science & the Public, selected projects go on to compete — and win — in state and national competitions, including the prestigious Broadcom Masters and International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF). Find out more about the STEAM Expo at sccoe.link/steamexpo. 

If you represent an organization that believes when our youth succeed, our community and businesses succeed, contact Santa Cruz COE Science Coordinator Heather Wygant at hwygant@santacruzcoe.org to learn more about how to get involved.