In 2024, Debbie Pessein introduced a new concept for the Science Fair—an idea rooted not in merely reviving a beloved format, but in radically reimagining it—moving beyond traditional Science Fairs toward something immersive and alive.
At the heart of the Science Fair is relationship-building. Through intentional outreach to local artists, educators, scientists, youth leaders, makers, climate advocates, and industrial innovators, the event cultivates an intergenerational tapestry of participation. The atmosphere is deliberately electric. Blending the high energy of a music festival with the visual dynamism of a contemporary art exhibition, the Science Fair dissolves traditional boundaries between disciplines. At the Georgetown Science Fair education is celebration.
The Next Industrial Revolution
The first two years were uniquely situated within the historic walls of the Georgetown Steam Plant—a monument to Seattle’s industrial past. Rather than treating that legacy as static history, the event engages it as a living question: What comes next?
Participants were invited to explore the systems and sectors shaping our next era of transformation. Alongside the towering turbines of the Steam Plant, the Science Fair framed this moment as nothing less than the Next Industrial Revolution. But unlike the extractive revolutions of the past, this one is intentional. Creative. Regenerative.
The archive pages of the 2024–2025 Georgetown Steam Plant Science Fair stand as documentation of more than an event; they reflect a methodology. They capture a model of civic engagement built on imagination, partnership, and bold cultural framing.
Through her leadership, Debbie Pessein has demonstrated the ability to translate visionary ideas into tangible, community-anchored experiences. The Georgetown Science Fair is not simply a program—it is a platform. A proof of concept. A gathering point for those ready to co-create the next chapter of industry, education, and place-based possibility.