On September 30, 2023, over 40 campus groups gathered on west campus to provide family-friendly hands-on STEM activities for the greater community. This year’s event featured 41 activity stations and three behind-the-scenes tours.

Molecular Genetics ran several activities centered on “FUNdamentals of Genetics”, including Punnett squares, zebrafish and pollen microscopy, and DNA decoding. We estimate that a total of 400 guests attended the event. We thank our volunteers: undergraduates Kailey Metz and Meera Rajagopal, graduate students Clare Austin, Lauren Levesque, Isabella Mendes, Nels O’Connell, Ian Santiago, and Isabella Walter, and faculty, postdocs, and staff Sharon Amacher, Rene Arvola, Anna Dobritsa, Tom Gallagher, and Amrit Singh.

The event was featured in The Lantern with a short written piece and a 2.5 minute video story. https://www.thelantern.com/2023/10/westfest-aims-to-spark-stem-passion-in-kids/ (See Molecular Genetics at about the 1:12 mark!)