UAlbany Welcomes Capital Region Students for STEM and Earth Sciences Family Day

A young student holds up a beaker at STEM and Earth Sciences Family Day.
UAlbany's STEM and Earth Sciences Family Day features more than 30 hands-on activities. (Photo by Mario Sotomayor)

By Mike Nolan

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 2, 2026) — The University at Albany will welcome students and families from across the Capital Region on Saturday, April 11, for its second STEM and Earth Sciences Family Day.

The event will take place at the ETEC research and development complex and feature more than 30 hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity about the environment, weather and climate, engineering, nanotechnology and sustainability. It is being held in celebration of Earth Day 2026.

Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be hosted by UAlbany’s Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering, the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, the New York State Mesonet, New York State Master Teachers, and partners from NY CREATES-Albany NanoTech and other regional organizations.

Highlights include demonstrations of cloud water collection, robotic dogs and interactive stations where participants can create zero-electricity toys, Earth Day bracelets and biodegradable bird feeders.

Students will have opportunities to hear from local science professionals, visit the New York State Mesonet operations center, explore UAlbany’s Science-on-a-Sphere Room, tour the Atmospheric Science Research Center’s mobile air quality research van and watch a weather balloon launch.

WNYT meteorologist Alexa Dringus will also be on site with the First Warning Weather Lab, a mobile storm tracker designed to deliver live weather updates.

Launched last year, STEM and Earth Sciences Family Day builds on the success of UAlbany’s STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day, which brings together students and their families in the fall to showcase cutting edge research and science being developed in Upstate New York.

Activities are suitable for children 2nd through 8th grades. The free event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at ETEC on the Harriman campus. Registration is highly encouraged.