SHARE YOUR WORK. JOIN THE FUN!

Welcome to the launch pad for the second annual Georgetown Steam Plant Science Fair. As a celebration grounded in SHTEAM (Science, History, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), we are on the flight path of discovery, inviting creatives of all ages to share their work and join in the fun of reimagining the traditional science fair through the lens of community engagement.

The Georgetown Steam Plant is the great exhibit. This historic landmark represents the transformative power that creative and adaptive reuse can have on breathing new life into retired industrial buildings. As we come together for the second annual Science Fair, our goal is to showcase and document the progress being made towards its transition into a thriving Duwamish Valley Community Center, SHTEAM educational HUB, and a unique event venue for future generations to explore and enjoy.

Join us on this journey to uncover the wonders of invention, explore the intricate beauty of our natural and mechanical world, and the boundless potential that co-creation wields when unleashed.

Its time to unleash your inner mad scientist, share your grand experiments, proof of concepts, data visualizations, creative fire storms, optical illusions, gizmos and gadgets, and everything in between.

There are many ways for you to participate, please explore the Science Fair drop-down menu in the navigation bar to access project guide, registration forms, including sponsorship options.

We can’t wait to see all your amazing projects come to life.

THIS YEAR’S THEME:

EVERY ACT OF DESTRUCTION IS AN ACT OF CREATION

. . .

Our current system is a dirty machine, its gears are grinding relentlessly, wearing down from age, requiring constant care. It has served its purpose well, bringing into the world an industrial landscape rich in its ability to convert natural resources into all the goods, gear, and gadgets fueling the demands of our modern consumer culture.

However, the current system is failing us. It is outdated, inefficient, and incapable of solving the challenges it has created for all Life on Earth: industrial pollution, rising CO2 levels, climate change, species extinction, ecosystem collapse, and growing inequalities are just some of the challenges confronting us as a species. To adapt we must dismantle the system to make room for the new.

As creatives, builders, inventors, and engineers you see the flaws in our current system. Motivated by the promise of the next great Industrial Revolution, you are more determined than ever to create something new, something better.

You’ve spent countless hours thinking, tinkering in your workshops, and experimenting with new materials and methodologies, while remaining committed to the tried and true. As scientists, historians, technologists, engineers, artists, and mathematicians you are inspired by design, and possess the ability to build bridges to future landscapes.

Finally, you have a breakthrough—you have designed a new system, a new process, a new mechanism that makes the existing one obsolete. Now it's time to bring your ideas and inventions into the shared arena of the Georgetown Steam Plant Science Fair where others that share your passion for disruptive innovation are gathering. It’s time for us to work together!

To implement new systems, we must join together to challenge the status quo by convincing the greater community to let go of the old ways of doing things and to embrace the new. It is a difficult task, but we are determined. We know that together, emergent systems of co-creation will make a real difference in the world of tomorrow, today.

Join us on this adventure.

If you have questions about participating in this year’s Science Fair please email us: sciencefair@georgetownsteamplant.org

PROJECT SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

AUGUST 15, 2025