BECOME A BIG SCIENCE CELEBRATION EXHIBITOR

At this time, we are planning for an in-person Big Science Celebration surrounding COSI. We will follow local, state, and national health guidelines.

BE AN ELEMENT OF THE FUN

Back in full-force on Saturday, May 7^th, 2022 from 11 AM – 4 PM after being digital the last two years, the Big Science Celebration is the culminating event on the final day of the four day COSI Science Festival.

The Big Science Celebration is an incredible event, bringing thousands of people to the Scioto Peninsula, including Washington Blvd., Genoa and Dorrian Green Parks, Town Street and COSI, for a day of interactive activities hosted by Columbus’s own science, technology, engineering and mathematics focused organizations. This FREE event is open to all, but the primary target audience will be families with school ages children, with a special focus on those with limited access to science education resources.

ALL Big Science Celebration exhibitors must design their booths and activities to engage the public in an interactive, hands-on way with some aspect of science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics. We encourage you to be creative! Help the public understand what your organization does for our community and beyond. Help us address workforce challenges by bridging the STEM skills gap and allowing our community’s children to see themselves in scientists and scientists in themselves.

IMPORTANT DATES

PRICING

An event of this scale and magnitude involves many costs (including but not limited to: permitting fees, equipment rentals, security, labor, etc). The exhibitor fee allows us to recoup some of these costs so that the Festival is sustained for years to come.

We are aware that these costs may prohibit participation for some exhibitors and we would like to work with all groups to make entry possible. If the cost of participation is prohibitive, please reach out to us at cosiscifest@cosi.org.

Exhibitor Pricing

FAQs

How do I register?

Registration applications for the COSI Science Festival Big Science Celebration is currently underway. Please click here to submit an application. The last day to apply to be an exhibitor is February 11th, 2022.

I’ve heard that the Big Science Celebration is taking place outside COSI, is that true?

Yes, that is correct! The Big Science Celebration will be right outside the COSI building along Washington Blvd., Town St., Dorrian Green Park, and Genoa Park. COSI will be open during normal business hours as well, general admission fees apply.

What if it rains?

The Big Science Celebration is a rain or shine event, so please be prepared for all types of weather. In an extreme case, we will implement an inclement weather plan, which will be communicated to all via email.

When does registration open and close?

Registration applications for the COSI Science Festival Big Science Celebration exhibitors will begin December 3, 2021. The last day to apply to be an exhibitor is February 11, 2022.

I represent a large organization that will have many activities/exhibits at the Big Science Celebration. Do I need to fill out the registration application more than once?

Yes, be sure to complete registration forms for each of the spaces/activities your organization will have at the Big Science Celebration.

I'm interested in becoming a food vendor. Where can I learn more?

Thank you for your interest in vending at the COSI Big Science Celebration in 2022. We are recruiting and searching for the most respected and admired food vendors the city and region has to offer. We have put together some general vendor information for you to review before submitting the online application. Click here to read more.

What if I need to cancel? What is the refund policy?

Cancellation requests must be sent in writing to cosiscifest@cosi.org.
Cancellations made prior to April 7, 2022 will be refunded 75% of the total cost.
Cancellations made between April 9 and April 21, 2022 will be refunded 25% of the total cost.
We are not able to refund any costs for cancellations made after April 21, 2022.

How many people do we anticipate attending?

In 2019, the last year the Big Science Celebration was held in person, we saw over 25,000 people! When preparing for the event, be sure to plan to serve a large audience. We ask that all exhibitors provide adequate staffing and materials to manage a crowd of this size. To estimate the amount of materials you may need, determine how many people your activity can accommodate in one hour and multiply by 5!

Do you have pictures from the 2019 Big Science Celebration?

We sure do! Check out our Flickr album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/183261280@N04/albums/72157710182538366