By the numbers 2023

The Festival took place at the Nantucket High School, with a total of over 350 patrons visiting the half-day Festival and interacting with over twenty-five diverse hands-on learning activities.

The event was free and open to the public, with over thirteen event hosts taking part – including individuals, community groups, organizations, corporations and institutions.

Nantucket Science Festival is run by the community, for the community, and we’re delighted each year with the number of proposals we receive.  Festival events celebrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics and their impacts on our state. Festival events are fun, engaging, and demonstrate that everyone can “do science” — and enjoy it!

ACKSciFest invites you to become part of the fun! We seek proposals from organizations interested in hosting events or activities. These events and activities can come in an array of formats. Small intimate events such as nature walks, constellation tours and hands-on activities may attract many participants. The Festival RFP period runs from November – January, inviting everyone to submit their ideas for events or activities.

If you’d like to host an event but need an idea, we can help. The Festival team is happy to consult with members of your organization to discuss event possibilities. For more information, or to discuss complex proposals that may require a longer lead time, please contact Jónelle Gurley, Director of Science and Programs.

Festival Support

ACKSciFest organizers work with hosts to maximize attendance and to ensure that every event meets Festival standards. To assist hosts, the Festival:

• Promotes activities and events on the Festival website as part of the Festival’s online calendar.

• Promotes activities and events via the Festival's social media feeds and through an island-wide marketing campaign.

• Provides hosts with ACKSciFest branding tools, such as event signage, advertising templates and the ACKSciFest logo for use with print and electronic marketing efforts.

Each year, Festival organizers choose a broad theme that partners can engage with in a variety of ways (or not at all - it isn't mandatory). The 2024 ACKSciFest theme is "Cultivating Curiosity" - we're excited to celebrate how Nantucket is fostering a sense of continuous learning and exploration.