UA Physics Brings Hands‑On Science to the 2026 Tucson Festival of Books

 

Tucson’s largest annual book festival returned to the University of Arizona campus on March 14-15, 2026, drawing thousands of visitors for a weekend celebrating literacy, creativity, and community engagement. As part of the festival’s popular Science City attraction, UA Department of Physics and the student organization Physicists for Inclusion and Equity (PIE) hosted an interactive outreach booth featuring electricity and magnetism demonstrations. 

 

Throughout the weekend, festival attendees of all ages had the chance to generate their own electricity, explore magnetic fields, and discover how physics shapes the world around them. The hands‑on activities sparked curiosity and drew steady crowds, making the booth a highlight for families, students, and science enthusiasts.

 

The department extends a sincere thank you to all volunteers Raj Ahir, Brian Bauer, Anna Brandigi, Pradhiman Bora, Carson Beyers, Sean Cadigan, Olivia Culbert, Annyun Das, Heerok Das, Ling Gan, Hannah Gruber, Miu Hirano, James Knepler, Srin Manne, Chloe Marzano, Evan Raymond, Garrett Reedy, Lauren Whitaker, and Dennis Wu who helped make the event a success and for providing outstanding demonstrations and support throughout the weekend. Extra special thank you to Kyle Rine and Charlotte Zehnder, who organized the event.