Volunteer-driven event draws scientists and locals together September 17-21
The Moab Festival of Science will mark its 10th anniversary this year with five days of free programming running September 17-21, continuing a decade-long tradition of bringing research science to the community.
What started as a grassroots effort has grown into a an annual event that draws both renowned scientists and curious locals together for presentations, field trips, and hands-on learning experiences.
“In the early meetings people just throw out ideas about cool science they have seen or heard about and we agree on which to pursue. We often have so many ideas it is hard to reduce them down to something manageable,” co-founder Erika Geiger explained. The festival regularly features scientists from universities, national parks, and research organizations who conduct work relevant to the Colorado Plateau.
While the world has changed significantly over the past decade, the festival has maintained its core structure.
“We tend to have kept the same mix of events – STEMonstrations, science movies, talks and tours/hikes. Every once in a while we will throw something different in but in general the format has stayed the same,” said Geiger.
2025 Schedule for the Moab Festival of Science
The festival’s signature field trips continue to be major draws, including the popular geology hike with National Parks Service employee Will Leggett, who will guide participants through Mill Creek Canyon on Saturday, September 20 to explore how geologic forces shaped Moab’s unique landscape. That same morning, Dr. Steve Leavitt from Brigham Young University will lead a lichen ecology hike at Sand Flats, while local experts from Rim to Rim Restoration will host a “Flood Walk and Talk” on Sunday at Rotary Park to discuss Moab’s flooding challenges and natural flood protection strategies.
For those seeking an extended experience, a special Rio Mesa overnight trip on Saturday to the University of Utah’s Bonderman Field Station offers participants astronomy activities, bird banding demonstrations, and additional hiking opportunities. Spots are limited—register today!
“I’ve been impressed with the level of local involvement. A lot of the events are attended by Moab locals. The science knowledge [in Moab] is pretty high,” noted Hau Quan Truong, Site Manager of the Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa.
Keynote Programming and Film
The festival’s 2025 keynote presentation features Dr. Bret Tobalske exploring “Biomechanics of Hummingbird Flight: Aerodynamics, Muscle and Skeleton Function” on Saturday evening at Star Hall. The presentation will be followed by a screening of the documentary “Every Little Thing,” creating a comprehensive evening focused on these remarkable tiny birds and their extraordinary flight capabilities.
Additional film programming includes a screening of “Walking with Dinosaurs” featuring Dr. Joshua Lively, curator of Paleontology at the Prehistoric Museum in Price, Utah, who was part of the dig team for the PBS series and will provide local context for Utah’s fossil resources.
The festival maintains its commitment to broad community involvement with events like the Moab Mingle on the Museum Lawn, which opens the festival on Friday and brings together regional scientists, educators, and science enthusiasts, and a closing Science Trivia night at Proper Brewing.
For 10 years, organizers have maintained their commitment to keeping all festival events free to the public, a principle that Geiger says is fundamental to the festival’s mission.
“Everyone should have access to information and a huge limitation to information can be a financial one. Charging for festival events would change the meaning for me – it shouldn’t be about money,” said Geiger. “It is about bringing people together in a collaborative, giving environment to celebrate science.”
Ten years in, Geiger is ready to hand the reins to someone else to carry on the festival’s role in promoting “a love of science and the drive to keep asking questions and exploring.”
This year’s festival will feature presentations, field trips, and interactive sessions covering topics relevant to the Colorado Plateau’s unique geology, ecology, and environmental challenges. All events remain free and open to the public.
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