2025 STEAM Week Retrospective
The complete daily itinerary, visiting researcher abstracts, lunchtime quad demonstrations, open art studio workshops, and stage performances that powered the 2025 MVHS STEAM Week.
2025 Week at a Glance
Oct 20–24, 2025STEAM Speaker Series & Livestream
Seven keynote presentations from leading researchers and executives across biotechnology, NASA, drone aviation, particle physics, and 3D printing, accompanied by full-day YouTube livestreaming.
Quad STEAM Fair Takeover
11 academic departments and student clubs set up interactive experiment stations, fire bubble demos, UV bead bracelets, and engineering robotics displays.
The Paper Airplane Guy & Open Art Studios
World-record holder John Collins revealed aerodynamic principles with stunt paper airplanes, followed by 4 open visual art studio sessions at lunch.
Mole Day Chemistry Celebration
Honoring Avogadro’s number (6.02 × 10²³) with student-crafted mole puns, baked goods, atomic mass trivia, and peer voting.
Grand Finale Science Show
Analytical chemist Stephen Treder performed jaw-dropping physics demonstrations, bubble manipulation, and surface tension phenomena.
Monday, Oct 20: STEAM Speaker Series
Spartan Theater (Periods 1–7) & Campus-Wide Livestream
Dr. Ikhide Imumorin
From an African Village to the American Ivy League: Story of Motivation, Ambition and Grit
Dr. Ikhide Imumorin is Executive Director of CSUBIOTECH, bringing more than 30 years of experience as a professor, researcher, and bioentrepreneur. He previously held faculty positions at Cornell University, Georgia Tech, Spelman College, and earned a PhD from Texas A&M. His presentation shared lessons about motivation, ambition, and grit.
Dr. Molly Morse
From Lab to Life: Commercializing Engineering Research to Transform the Plastics Industry
Dr. Molly Morse is the CEO and co-founder of Mango Materials, a Bay Area biomanufacturing startup converting methane gas into biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) materials. She earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University and discussed commercializing breakthrough bio-materials.
Dr. Reem Hannun
A Day in the Life of an Atmospheric Chemist
Dr. Reem Hannun is an atmospheric chemist who develops and deploys airborne and ground instruments to measure Earth’s atmospheric composition and trace gases. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University.
Alexander Norman
How Drones Are Changing the World — and Why You Could Build the Next One
Alexander Norman is Chief Operating Officer at Matternet, pioneering urban autonomous drone delivery systems for critical medical payloads across Europe and the United States.
Damon Tighe
History and Future of Biotech
Damon worked on the Human Genome Project and large-scale genetic sequencing at National Labs. At Bio-Rad, he empowers educators to bring cutting-edge hands-on CRISPR and molecular biology into classrooms.
Dr. Nicole Neveu
My Career in Accelerator Physics
Dr. Nicole Neveu is a staff scientist at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Her research focuses on electron beam dynamics simulations for the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) operations.
Jason Reynolds
Empowerment Through Making: How 3D Printing Changes Everything
Founder of Jinxbot 3D Printing and Director of Advanced Development at Peak Technology, Jason explored how additive manufacturing enables anyone to transition from passive consumer to innovative creator.
John Collins
Aerodynamics of Origami: The Science of Flight
John Collins held the world record for paper airplane distance for ten years. He brought fluid dynamics, lift, drag, and wing loading alive with world-record folding demonstrations in the Spartan Theater.
Stephen Treder
Magic Science Grand Finale
Analytical chemist and science demonstrator Stephen Treder combined physics, chemistry, thermodynamics, and surface tension into an unforgettable grand finale show.
Tuesday, Oct 21: Quad STEAM Fair
Lunch 11:45 AM – 12:25 PM • Main Quad • 11 Interactive Academic Stations
MVHS Physics
- Solar Telescope direct solar viewing
- Electrostatic Fly Sticks & static charge levitation
MVHS AP Environmental Science (APES)
- UV bead bracelet crafting (photochromic polymer reaction to sunlight)
MVHS Biology
- Human cheek cell swab & compound microscope staining
MVHS Chemistry (Exothermic)
- Thermo color-changing thermochromic slime synthesis
- Large exploding exothermic elephant toothpaste foam demonstration
MVHS Chemistry (Combustion)
- Methane soap bubble hand combustion spectacle
MVHS Mathematics
- Probability games & Monty Hall problem challenges
- Rubik’s and 3D geometric cube puzzle race
MVHS CTE Computer Science
- Student game design & software development project demonstrations
MVHS CTE Engineering
- Autonomous obstacle-avoiding cars & CAD-milled puzzle cubes
MVHS CTE Commercial Art
- Custom metal button press printing
MVHS Photography
- Historical Camera Museum display & green screen digital photography studio
MVHS Fine Arts
- Student canvas drawing and painting open exhibition
Wednesday, Oct 22: Aerodynamics & Open Art Studios
Tutorial in Spartan Theater • Lunch Open Art Studios across Visual Art Rooms
John Collins — “The Paper Airplane Guy”
World Record Holder • Academic EntertainmentJohn held the world record for paper aircraft distance for 10 years (226 feet, 10 inches). He demonstrated fluid dynamics, wing loading, center of gravity, drag, and lift to hundreds of students in the Spartan Theater using specialized folded aircraft designs.
Lunch Open Art Studios (11:45 AM – 12:25 PM)
Watercolor Mosaic Doodles
Step-by-step watercolor mosaic patterns, color wheel theory, and creative mindful illustration.
Make Your Own Buttons Workshop
Graphic design workstation with die-cutters and manual button press machinery.
Darkroom Photogram Post Cards
Silver gelatin darkroom photo exposure using objects, stencils, and chemical developer baths.
Wheel Throwing Demo: Marbling Clays
Centering clay on potter wheels, mixing porcelain with colored slips, and shaping vessels.
Thursday, Oct 23: Mole Day Celebration
Lunch • Science Quad • Commemorating Avogadro’s Number (6.02 × 10²³)
Mole Day Madness & Creative Displays
It's Mole Day Madness! Check out the wackiest mole creations in the science quad at lunch, vote for your favorite, and grab a sweet treat to commemorate Avogadro's Number (6.02 × 10²³)!
Friday, Oct 24: Magic Science Grand Finale
Tutorial in Spartan Theater • Pre-Registration via Minga
Stephen Treder — Magic Bubbles & Balloons
Analytical Chemist & Science DemonstratorStephen brings over 8 years of analytical chemistry experience repairing analytical equipment across Silicon Valley. His grand finale presentation explored thermodynamics, surface tension, and polymer physics through giant bubble sculpting, combustion effects, and interactive physics tricks.
Ready for STEAM Week 2026?
Discover the 2026 AI theme, keynote speakers from RB Labs, Aurora, NURO, and WISK, Wildmind live animals, and Friday Vibe Coding!