FAQs
Is the Festival happening this year?
Yes! BASF is returning as an inspiring one-day event on October 25, 2025 on UCSF’s Mission Bay Campus. Please sign up for our newsletter to stay updated. Thank you for your continued interest and support!
How can I stay updated on the Festival?
The best way to stay in the know is to follow us:
And subscribe to our Newsletter
Will it cost anything to attend the Festival?
The Bay Area Science Festival will be FREE of charge and open to all. The Festival is a perfect opportunity to bring together science role models, families, youth and adults to discover science together.
How do I become a Festival Volunteer?
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Bay Area Science Festival! Soon, we will add details to this Volunteer information page. When it’s ready, please fill out the Volunteer Application Form to be added to our contact list for volunteering. Volunteer opportunities will become available in August. Please note that we require volunteers to be age 16+. Thank you for your continued interest and support!
How do I become a Festival Sponsor?
We offer a variety of sponsorship opportunities and exhibit options. Please contact us at sponsor@bayareasciencefestival.org to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits.
I am a teacher. What opportunities are there for my students?
The Bay Area Science Festival will seek participation by every Bay Area resident, especially K-12 students & teachers! We have found that K-12 teachers are integral partners in the Festival’s success.
We have multiple opportunities for teachers and students. We invite science clubs or students from local middle and high schools to join us (with their teacher advisor or another responsible adult) by hosting a booth at the Festival. We’ve had teams of students from Bay Area schools exhibiting robots, biotechnology activities and other great science activities. If you have questions, please email us at info@bayareasciencefestival.org.
Is the festival accessible?
Several nearby UCSF parking lots have ADA spaces for parking and a reduced rate of $7 per day with a valid DMV-issued disabled placard.
UCSF Community Center Garage, Rutter Center
1625 Owens St
UCSF Third Street Garage
1650 Third St
Wheelchairs are not provided and must be brought in by visitors. The BASF is less than 0.2 miles from parking lots along paved sidewalks and pathways.
Most BASF exhibits are located along a paved pathway or indoors and are wheelchair accessible. Some exhibits are located on grass, which can be accessed via the paved walkway that runs the perimeter of Koret Quad.
ADA compliant portable restrooms are available as well as restrooms inside the Rutter Conference Center and Genentech Hall.
This will be a well-attended event with families and children along with 100+ exhibitors. Expect louder volumes and prepare headphones or support as necessary.
Is there a cost for exhibitors?
The Bay Area Science Festival is free for the public to attend. Exhibitors from Bay Area K-12 schools, University groups, and Non-profits can all exhibit for free. Robotics Teams are encouraged to register and exhibit in our “Robot Zoo”. To make the Festival sustainable year after year, we ask that businesses participate by becoming a sponsor.
How do I become an exhibitor?
We anticipate significant demand for space. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling bases and will require that all forms are complete and that activities meet compliance for safety and appropriateness before confirming space. Robotics Teams are encouraged to register and exhibit in our “Robot Zoo”. If you have questions about exhibiting, please email us at: exhibit@bayareasciencefestival.org
What is included with The Science Festival Exhibit Space?
- Exhibitor listing on the Bay Area Science Festival website
- Exhibitor listing on onsite map
- 6’x8’ space with 6’x2′ table and 2 chairs
When does registration close?
The deadline to apply as an exhibitor is on September 14, 2025. We strongly advise, as space is limited, that you sign up as soon as possible to guarantee your spot and your activity. BASF will review applications for activity safety, compliance and appropriateness for a family audience, and, once approved exhibitors will be notified.
Is the Science Festival the Same thing as a Science Fair?
No, a science fair is a competition where students present their science and engineering projects, while a science festival is a broader, more public event that aims to engage the community with science through various activities, demonstrations, and exhibits. Our event is a large public Science Festival with over 100 exhibitors that are STEM organizations (universities, non-profits), businesses, and science robotics teams, not individual people.
