7th Annual Nantucket Science Festival

Website Editor • March 5, 2021

Nantucket, MA – The Nantucket Science Festival is back for another exciting year. From March 13 – March 20, join the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) and the Nantucket Community School (NCS) for a week-long celebration of all things STEAM. The Nantucket Science Festival aims to connect people with their inner scientist by providing fun, interactive activities designed to engage people of all ages, opportunities to learn about science-based organizations on the island, and by giving participants ideas and materials to continue science activities at home. This event is completely free-of-charge and has grown to be the largest mid-winter event for the community. Like 2020, we are planning a COVID-safe version of this event, complete with take-home activity kits, online science demonstrations, video contests, and more!


Kim Botelho, the MMA’s Director of Education, states, “This is one of our favorite events of the year! It is so rewarding to see families excited to learn science together. It also feels wonderful to be part of an event that has so much community support and impact.”


For the full schedule of events, please continue checking our website for updates and follow us on Facebook (Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket Community School, Nantucket Community School Early Childhood) or Instagram (@maria_mitchell_association, @nantucketcommunityschool @ncsearlychildhood). Use the hashtag #ACKSciFest or tag us to be featured in our stories and on our website!


Pauline Cronin, the Early Childhood Education Coordinator at the NCS, said, “Each year Nantucket Community School looks forward to this opportunity to bring all ages together to strengthen, connect, and engage our community and to participate in science together in collaboration with the Maria Mitchell Association.” Beginning on March 8, the NCS is launching a Scavenger Hunt activity to lead up to the Nantucket Science Festival. Visit the Nantucket Community School Early Childhood Facebook page for more information and to participate.


The Nantucket Science Festival is made possible with thanks to the generosity of our partners, volunteers, and sponsors. We would like to give a huge thank you to the Cape Cod 5 Foundation, Nantucket Land Council, the National Informal STEM Education Network, Dr. & Mrs. David and Beverly Barlow, the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, the Nantucket Atheneum, and UMass Boston's Nantucket Field Station.

 

The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

 

Nantucket Community School is a community organization that provides a diverse level of high-quality, affordable programs, encourages life-long personal growth and reaches out to all members of the community; spanning every age and stage. For more information on the Nantucket Community School’s offerings, please visit http://www.nantucketcommunityschool.org/ 

For Immediate Release

March 5, 2021

Contact: Kelly Bernatzky, MMA Development Associate

kbernatzky@mariamitchell.org

Recent Posts

Women’s History Month

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 23, 2026
March is Women’s History Month – though all months should be women’s history month! Maria Mitchell was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Women (AAW), was its president for a term (1875), and founded its Science Committee which she chaired for the remainder of her life. When the fourth Congress of the AAW met in Philadelphia in October 1876, Julia Ward Howe (also a friend of Maria’s) was serving with Maria on the executive committee. Maria presented a paper, “The Need for Women in Science.” In it she stated, Does anyone suppose that any woman in all the ages has had a fair chance to show what she could do in science? . . . The laws of nature are not discovered by accidents; theories do not come by chance, even to the greatest minds; they are not born of the hurry and worry of daily toil; they are diligently sought, they are patiently waited for, they are received with cautious reserve, they are accepted with reverence and awe. And until able women have given their lives to investigation, it is idle to discuss the question of their capacity for original work. She is not saying that women cannot be scientists – she is saying they need to be given the opportunities. Maria was incredibly busy with the AAW – it took up a great deal of her time – and at the next meeting in November of that year some aspects of the meeting were wonderful according to her account –“excellent” papers, “newspapers treated us very well. The institutions opened their doors to us, the Centennial gave us a reception. But – we didn’t have a good time!” It appears there was discord among the women. A few opposed the subject of “Woman Suffrage,” but Lucy Stone was able to present her paper on the subject despite this. And, some women felt that the West was not well represented and was overshadowed by New England, thus women representing the western states protested the nomination and election of Julia Ward Howe as president of the AAW. But she won. Whew! It was not always easy and controversies constantly abounded with many schisms over time within the women’s rights movement. I often wonder what Maria might think of the place of women today – how far things have come from her time or would she be surprised that there still is inequality? What would she think? In honor of Women’s History Month, visit the National Women’s History Alliance, the National Women’s History Museum, and the National Collaborative of Women’s History Sites. These places will also point you in the directions of women’s history sites across the country and how to find out more information about all these women who paved the way for us!  JNLF

Women’s History Month – On the Road with the NHA

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 17, 2026
For several years now, we have been teaming up with the Nantucket Historical Association in March for Women’s History Month. We visit each senior living or meeting site on island – five in all over the course of the month. We work to unique history of the place of women in our community then and through today – an incredible legacy that in the nineteenth century and earlier was quite unusual. We highlight women from all walks of island life, their accomplishments, and how they helped and influenced others. You see, Maria Mitchell was not the only incredible woman that Nantucket produced. For example, Eliza Codd was the island's first woman architect - and the leading architect on island when she practiced. Nantucket women shared their knowledge, path, support, and guidance with others both here and away and became major influences in the rights of women, women’s education, and the general place of women in society. Pretty incredible for such a small island! JNLF

Women’s Suffrage and Lady Gaga

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 9, 2026
I have posted this during Women’s History Month before but because it is March and again Women’s History Month, I think it’s worth repeating. It’s clever and helps to tell an important story in women’s history while giving it a bit of a 21 st century twist. It comes via the National Women’s History Project. JNLF
Show More