The University of Chicago organized the South Side Science Festival to bring science beyond the confines of the lab and into the community. Maanasa Raghavan, an assistant professor in the Department of Human Genetics, said the event aimed to share the excitement of scientific discovery with the public. Inspired by similar initiatives in Northern Europe, Raghavan envisioned creating a space where essential campuses open up to the community, fostering curiosity and interest in science. After a year of planning and with the support of hundreds of student and staff volunteers, the festival saw 2,500 attendees in its inaugural year, with expectations of doubling that number for the second edition.
