Explore Caltech 2025: Inviting the Local Community to Engage in the Joy of Discovery

On Saturday, October 11, 2025, families and children from the Institute's local community gathered at Caltech Postdoctoral Association's (CPA) annual outreach event, Explore Caltech, to learn about science in a hands-on way.

Originally launched in 2018 as Science for March, Explore Caltech was started by Caltech postdoctoral scholars who wanted to share their passion for their diverse research with the local community, including families and children. Scientists from the Institute's six divisions and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which Caltech manages for NASA, come together every year to engage the community with interactive science activities.

"CPA's goal with Explore Caltech is to open the doors of campus to the broader community—to demystify science, highlight the human side of research, and inspire curiosity across generations," says Dennis Ko, the chair of the postdoctoral association. "We want families to see Caltech as a place of creativity and wonder that belongs to everyone. It's part science fair, part festival, and part homecoming for anyone who loves learning."

This year, the event expanded its number of interactive booths and TED-style talks to serve a growing number of attendees. Attendance at Explore Caltech grew from 800 participants in 2024 to 2,000 in 2025. The event also changed location from Bechtel Mall to the larger and more central Beckman Mall to accommodate the event's increased popularity.

For the first time, CPA introduced a pin hunt to the Explore Caltech activities. Visitors collected themed pins at select booths, earning raffle entries for completing their "scientific journeys." The colorful pins were designed by Beichen Liu, another postdoctoral scholar and member of the organizing team, whose artwork captured scientific themes ranging from space exploration to molecular biology.

"We wanted something that made the experience feel like an adventure—something kids could literally hold onto as a memory of their day at Caltech," says Matthew Gherman, CPA treasurer, outreach co-chair, and one of the event's lead organizers who also helped coordinate Explore Caltech 2024. "The pin hunt added a playful collectible element that turned learning into a game."

"One moment that really stuck with me was when a parent came up to tell me their child was supposed to go to a soccer game that afternoon, but they were having so much fun at Explore Caltech that they decided to skip soccer entirely and stay," says Ko. "I remember the parent laughing and saying, 'We've never seen them this excited about science before.'"

This year's Explore Caltech was made possible by the work of many volunteers and all members of the organizing team, including Ninadini Sharma and Bohan Chen. Looking to the future, CPA hopes to continue expanding the activities at Explore Caltech and create opportunities to make the talks bilingual and more accessible to children with different learning needs.

Ko says, "Ultimately, we hope Explore Caltech continues to grow into a signature annual tradition that celebrates both the Caltech community and the joy of discovery."