Sci-TechKnoFest is the signature science and technology festival of NIHERST. The event continues to be the only one of this kind to be held in the Caribbean region, and 2013 was the eighth edition of the festival since its first staging in 1997. Through interactive exhibits, dramatic stage shows and hands-on presentations, Sci-TechKnoFest imparts knowledge of concepts in science and technology in a fun atmosphere, targeting a wide audience of adults and children from communities across our twin island republic and even neighbouring countries.

Sci-TechKnoFest (STKF) has grown into the English-speaking Caribbean’s biggest and most spectacular science festival. The festival utilises entertaining and thought-provoking methods to educate the public on selected aspects of science and technology based on a chosen theme. STKF showcases local creativity and scientific ingenuity as an avenue to promote confidence and pride in our own creative abilities and empower more of our people to engage in invention and innovation.

The general goal of the programme is to promote greater public awareness and understanding of science, technology, and innovation, its impact on our everyday life and well-being, and its vital role in promoting economic prosperity, social progress and environmental sustainability.

Science festivals such as STKF provide an opportunity to celebrate the wonders of science, technology, and innovation. Science festivals bring citizens together to celebrate science, technology, and innovation, and its importance in socio-economic development and our everyday life. The rapid advancement of technology is putting pressure on all countries to transform and become more innovative and creative. Moreover, the demand for science, technology, research, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STREAM) skills is accelerating at a fast rate. Now more than ever it is important to promote STREAM careers among citizens. STKF festivals have proven over the years that they have contributed to increasing the public knowledge, engagement, and appreciation of science, technology, and innovation, and promoting sustainable behaviours and practices.

Sci-TechKnoFest originated from the words: Science, Technology, Knowledge and Festival. The spirit of our unique festival is to celebrate and promote knowledge of science and technology.

Sci-TechKnoFest is an all-inclusive event catering to persons from all walks of life and all ages!

STKF 2.0 is the first virtual iteration of the traditional festival. Historically staged as an in-person experience, STKF 2.0 stands apart from its predecessors as the festival undertakes a pivot from its traditional means to delivery via a virtual event platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

21^st – 27^th March 2022

Submit your Virtual Experience Proposal Form. Please provide enough information so that we fully understand what you will be doing.

If you have more than one proposal, please use a separate form for each entry you would like us to consider for inclusion in the festival programme.

Spots in the festival programme are limited so we must be selective. During the review phase, you may be contacted by a member of our Festival Committee to discuss your submission in more detail. After selection is complete, we will notify you of the outcome of your submission via email.

If you would like to participate, but are not sure whether you fit, feel free to reach out via email to scitechknofest@niherst.gov.tt. STREAM is bigger than you think. STREAM is a way of thinking and includes social sciences, arts about science, science about arts, humanities based on data, business based on data, and much more. This is an opportunity to show our communities the breadth and depth of the work we all do in our various STREAM fields. Sometimes it is enough to remind us that STREAM is not separate to, but rather is a part of broader culture.

We’re looking for inspiring virtual experiences; thought-provoking discussions and panels, creative performances, and short films, engaging hands-on experiences, interactive exhibits and engaging talks, games, literature, and videos, that educate and bring STREAM professionals and audiences together with other relevant voices to help us deliver our festival in March 2022.

As a collaborator, you will be responsible for conceptualising, planning, and hosting your own content during the festival. You will have the creative freedom to develop your activity suitable for virtual delivery; pre-recorded material and real-time (live) interaction are both options. We highly recommend that your proposed virtual experience:

• Stimulates Curiosity – sparks interest in STREAM and inspires audiences
• Promotes Innovation and Creativity – is engaging, fun and showcases STREAM, innovation, and creativity
• Incorporates Interactive Learning – utilises interactive and/or hands-on learning STREAM activities)

See “Think About” guidelines in the Call for Collaborators brochure for more information.

If you are selected, there will be no fees applied to participating as a collaborator in STKF 2.0.

Like previous festivals, STKF 2.0 is a celebration of science and education for public good. Traditionally, collaborators participate pro bono due to the opportunity presented to advance their various missions and increase visibility.

If your ability to participate is hindered by financial constraint and/or your service requires payment, we urge you to still submit your proposal. Further considerations will be made during the review and selection process.

If your virtual experience(s) is pre-recorded or suitable for on-demand, you may be allocated a virtual booth on the event platform where you will be able to customise your display, guided by the Festival Committee’s input. Each virtual booth will open to a full HTML page within the virtual platform. Content can include images, videos, text, web links, etc.

If your virtual experience(s) is real-time, the available conferencing tools on the platform will be utilised. Following the live event, the video recording will be made available for on-demand viewing during the festival.

The theme for STKF 2.0 is The Deep Tech Revolution. In addition to its classic communication of educational content in STREAM areas, STKF 2.0 will highlight and provide a space for discussions and education about Deep Tech and the emerging technologies it powers; identifying how we could all prepare for and benefit from understanding the radical effects it will bring to our lives. COVID-19 has expedited these changes, rapidly increasing the crucial role advanced technology will play in our lives. Now is the time for digital transformation and leveraging the use of Deep Tech applications.

The 2020 global pandemic of COVID-19 changed our lives and the world we live in forever. This historical pandemic has accelerated the demand for technology in multiple fields and industries and triggered approaches on how we can optimise the use of technology to accommodate the needs of this new world, as the way we work, travel, communicate, and spend time will never be the same again. It’s important to imagine the world we may find ourselves in, in the very near future…

According to MIT Deep Tech Bootcamp co-founder, Joshua Siegel: “A ‘Deep’ Technology was impossible yesterday, is barely feasible today, and may soon become so pervasive and impactful that it is difficult to remember life without. Deep Tech solutions are reimaginations of fundamental capabilities that are faithful to real and significant problems or opportunities, rather than to any one discipline.”

Deep Tech movements include:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) A machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. (OECD 2019)
• Extended Reality (XR) - An umbrella term for all technologies that extend the reality we experience by either blending the virtual and “real” worlds or by creating a fully immersive experience – augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR). (Forbes 2019)
• 3D Printing - Also known as additive manufacturing, it is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model.
• Internet of Things (IoT) – A term which describes physical objects that are embedded with technologies which enable them to connect and exchange data with other devices over the Internet, without the active involvement of individuals.
• Blockchain - A form of distributed ledger technology that acts as an open and trusted record of transactions from one party to another (or multiple parties) that is not stored by a central authority. (OECD 2018)
• Autonomous Vehicles - Self-driving, driverless or robot cars that can sense their environment and move safely with little or no human input.
• Quantum Computing - The exploitation of collective properties of quantum states, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform computation. The devices that perform quantum computations are known as quantum computers.

The beginnings of these revolutions are already here – they’re happening around us right now. The emerging technologies produced out of their applications are gradually integrating themselves into our daily lives. They are transforming how we will function in the next decade: manufacturing will change, as will agriculture, sales, design, logistics, finance, medicine, work, life – everything. We live in a world increasingly dominated by technology and those who recognise that this is where the opportunities lie, will succeed.

Yes. The festival’s goal is to make STREAM relevant to everyone and showcase its connections to everyday life. If your content does not align with the theme, you can still be selected if the virtual experience helps audiences understand that science is a part of their everyday lives and something that is relevant.

The Festival Committee will work individually with all collaborators to minimise potential overlap. The more detail we know about your plans, the easier it will be to avoid repeating the same experience.

The festival is open to all audiences, from preschool to senior citizens. Your virtual experience can either cater to a specific audience within this range, e.g., university students, teens, senior citizens, etc.; or simply be adaptable and suitable for all ages.

Previous in-person Sci-TechKnoFest festivals have attracted 25,000-55,000 persons. With the removal of boundaries via online accessibility, tens of thousands of persons are expected for the fun-filled week of virtually-delivered interactive activities and performances that celebrate the excitement of STREAM in the Caribbean region.

The primary goal of STKF 2.0 is to educate and entertain our festival audiences, so the focus is ensuring that virtual experiences are interactive and engaging. The festival is unlike commercial trade shows. Therefore, all exhibitor/vendor sales will be prohibited at the festival.

With a high volume of visitors expected, we acknowledge that the festival is a great way for individuals and organisations of all types to introduce themselves to the audiences. Collaborators are welcome to distribute free promotional materials and to direct festival visitors to their organisations and websites for off-site giving or purchasing opportunities.

Yes. Please fill out a separate Virtual Experience Proposal Form for each virtual experience you wish to provide at the festival.