Key Points

• More than 10,000 people attended the El Paso Science Festival that focused on helping students understand pathways to possible careers in science-related fields.
• Marathon Petroleum helped fund the event, and employee volunteers conducted demonstrations to illustrate scientific principles applied in refining every day.
• The event also featured several speakers, including former astronaut José Hernández.

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Organizers of the 2025 El Paso (Texas) Science Festival are crediting local exhibitors for helping attract more than 10,000 attendees to the two-day event. Participants from academia, private companies, nonprofits and government agencies brought to life concepts from science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through interactive exhibits for parents and children.

“The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) brings academic credibility and outreach, while companies like Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) provide not only financial support, but also real-world insight into STEM careers,” said Romelia Acosta, the festival’s director of marketing and communications. “They help us expose attendees, especially students, to a wide range of opportunities and career paths they might not otherwise see.”

A group of 16 employee volunteers from the Education and Outreach team at MPC’s El Paso refinery prepared and staffed an exhibit space with the theme Energy All Around Us. They used demonstrations involving fluid hydraulics, chemical reactions and electrical circuits to illustrate how refinery employees safely apply scientific principles in their work every day.

 “One reaction that really stands out is from a young child who told his parents, ‘This was the best day of my life!’ Hearing that kind of pure joy reminds us why we do this.”

“There were lots of fun responses to the whoosh bottle experiment that illustrates a basic combustion reaction,” MPC Refining Engineer Lauren Shutts said. “After coating the inside of a five-gallon jug with isopropyl alcohol, you provide an ignition source. The resulting rapid combustion reaction of an alcohol-air mixture yields a loud ‘whoosh’ sound and a jet flame.”

Along with demonstrations, the free event featured several speakers, including former astronaut José Hernández, renowned Mexican sculptor Sebastian and UTEP professors. A total of 74 exhibitors and sponsors participated in the festival.  

“By showing how we use science at our refinery, we promoted our primary goal of inspiring students to explore STEM-related fields and learn more about the energy industry,” said Shutts.

The event at the El Paso Convention Center was the second annual festival.

“The turnout and engagement this year really highlighted how much the community values experiences like this,” Acosta said. “One reaction that really stands out is from a young child who told his parents, ‘This was the best day of my life!’ Hearing that kind of pure joy reminds us why we do this.”