Dates
Open class with keynote speaker: details TBD
Keynote speaker: March 21, 2024, 7:30 p.m., Smith Hall Theatre at Randolph College
Free, no tickets required.
2024 SciFest Keynote Speaker: Grace Stanke, Miss America 2023
The Keynote is always the highlight of SciFest weekend!
We are so excited to have nuclear engineer and Miss America 2023, Grace Stanke, as our keynote speaker for SciFest 2024! Grace has traveled the world to advocate for “Clean Energy, Cleaner Future,” encouraging worldwide change towards zero-carbon emission energy sources. Stanke, who earned her nuclear engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, seeks to dispel the myths around nuclear energy while inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. We look forward to having her here to share her insight about clean energy is the path to a cleaner future, and how nuclear energy is a part of that!
The 2024 Keynote program was graciously sponsored by the Runk & Pratt family of companies, including the Miss Virginia Volunteer organization.
Past Keynote Speakers
- 2023: Greg Kennedy, Innovative Juggler
- 2022: Joe Hanson, “PBS’s It’s Okay To Be Smart”
- 2021: James Kakalios (virtual)
- 2020: James Kakalios (postponed)
- 2019: Robert J. Lang, “From Flapping Birds to Space Telescopes: The Art and Science of Origami”
- 2018: Nicholas Perna,” Science of the Voice”
- 2017: Greg Kennedy, Innovative Juggler
- 2016: Nicholas Giordano, “Physics of the Piano”
- 2015: Rebecca Thompson, American Physical Society, “Physics of Frozen”
- 2014: Leland Melvin, NASA astronaut
- 2013: Don Lincoln, Fermilab and Higgs Boson scientist
- 2012: Michael Shermer, Science writer
- 2011: Ken Laws, physics of dance expert, and Randolph College dancers
- 2010: Lisa Heinzerling, EPA associate administrator
- 2009: Dr. Pete Caprice, orthopedic surgeon