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April 1, 2025

SciFest 2025 Recap: NASA engineer Moogega Cooper, Science Day, Maker Faire, and more

Randolph College’s 2025 Science Festival ran from March 27-30. Events included a keynote by NASA planetary protection engineer Moogega Cooper, the announcement of the Science Teaching Award from Randolph (STAR) recipient, our annual Women in Science Panel, a poetry jam featuring local students, Science Day activities for area children, the Lynchburg Maker Faire, the Lynchburg Regional KidWind Challenge, two LEGO build competitions, and more.

Sunday, March 30

Maker Faire Lynchburg, First LEGO League Explore Build Challenge Expo, SMASH @ SciFest esports tournament, and the Lynchburg Regional KidWind Challenge

A little boy bends down to look closely at a giant tortoise in Main Hall during Maker Faire 2025 A little boy walks next to a giant tortoise in Main Hall during Maker Faire 2025 Two cars compete during one of the Maker Faire's power tool races, outside of Smith Hall The power tools racing set-up during Maker Faire. Two wooden tracks run parallel to each other in front of Smith Hall. In this photo, a crowd gathers for the next race Go karts compete during a Power Racing Series race at Maker Faire 2025 Go karts compete during a Power Racing Series race at Maker Faire 2025 A go kart crashes during the Power Racing Series race The crowd watches the Power Racing Series race behind barriers A close-up of a Power Series Racing racer, with a helmet outfitted to look like Mad Max A kid runs across a tub full of white liquid during Maker Faire. It stays solid if you go fast enough, but if you slow down and put too much pressure on it, you'll sink in. Two kids attending Maker Faire play with Battle Bots Two kids at Maker Faire look through the glass into the Battle Bots arena Two Randolph students make buttons during Maker Faire A Randolph student works alongside a child attending Maker Faire, showing him how to work a circuit A Randolph student volunteers at Maker Faire, instructing students to make a structure to be tested. A Maker Faire attendee contributes to a community painting of the Maker Faire logo, a giant red robot A piece of fabric, surrounded by a circle of fans, blows through the air A Maker Faire vendor stands behind a table showing off her wares A women participates in a Maker Faire game, holding up a purple contraption Legos on display at the First LEGO League Competition, part of Maker Faire 2025 Local students work on a machine during Maker Faire Maker Faire attendees check out a display Maker Faire attendees check out a display Visitors to Maker Faire look at a mini roller coaster, built by an exhibitor, in front of Main Hall a mini roller coaster, built by a Maker Faire exhibitor, is on display in front of Main Hall Maker Faire attendees check out a display Maker Faire attendees check out a display A Maker Faire exhibitor and student use a sewing machine together A view of front campus during Maker Faire, with a white tent off to one side and Main in the background People walk along front campus, passing food trucks and other Maker Faire vendors People walk along front campus, passing food trucks and other Maker Faire vendors A Maker Faire attendee talks to a vendor who makes pottery A group pf kids rush toward someone dressed as a giant chicken A go kart racer holds his hands up high in the air after finishing a race Go karts compete during a Power Racing Series race at Maker Faire 2025 Go karts compete during a Power Racing Series race at Maker Faire 2025 Another go kart driver races along the track Go karts compete during a Power Racing Series race at Maker Faire 2025 A cart goes so fast on the race tack that it's just a blur

Saturday, March 29 – Science Day

Two SciFest attendees stand next to each other Two young kids work together during Science Day

Friday, March 28

Women in Science Panel

Alexis Blankenship ’15, Tiffany Vines ’95, Victoria Turgeon ’93, and Melissa Merrill ’89 pose for a photo together before speaking during Randolph's 2025 Women in Science Panel.

 

Thursday, March 27 –

Keynote with NASA Planetary Protection Engineer Moogega Cooper, presentation of the Science Teaching Award at Randolph to Alex Drumheller

NASA Planetary Protection Engineer Moogega Cooper gives the SciFest keynote. She stands on stage with an image of the moon behind her NASA Planetary Protection Engineer Moogega Cooper gives the SciFest keynote. She stands on stage with a close-up of an astronaut in full gear behind her NASA Planetary Protection Engineer Moogega Cooper gives the SciFest keynote. Tony Robinson, CEO of Framatome, poses with science teacher Alex Drumheller, who is holding a check

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