Contest Dates: December 8, 2025 – February 9, 2026
Open to: High school students (individuals or small groups)
Hosted by: Da Vinci Science Center
Event Date: April 24, 2026
Be Curious. Be Creative. Be a Pioneer.
This year’s Da Vinci Science Center Science Soirée, A Night of Many Stars, will honor Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor—astronaut, artist, scientist, and visionary—with the Pioneer in Science & Creativity Award.
Dr. Proctor made history on Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight mission. She is the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft, orbiting our planet in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) as part of the Inspiration4 mission. Her call sign, “Leo,” connects her journey to both the stars above and the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci, whose fusion of art and science continues to inspire innovation centuries later.
Her motto, “Space2Inspire,” encourages us all to use our unique gifts to make the world—and beyond—a better place. Watch Dr. Proctor’s short video called Earthlight by Astronaut.
Now it’s your turn to explore your own Space2Inspire as part of this year’s Night of Many Stars. Watch. Wonder. Create.
What We’re Looking For
At Da Vinci Science Center, we believe everyone has their own Space2Inspire — a unique way to use curiosity, creativity, and imagination to make the world brighter.
Submissions can take any form that captures your idea or inspiration:
- Visual & 3D Art: painting, sculpture, photography
- Digital & Media Arts: music, animation, film, spoken word
- Performing Arts: dance, theater, performance
- Writing & Storytelling: poetry, essays, short stories, comics
- Science, Engineering & Invention: experiments, prototypes, innovative solutions
- Digital Design & Technology: apps, videos, 3D models, coding projects
- Community Impact & Innovation: service projects or ideas that make a difference
When you submit your project, we’re not judging perfection or grades. We’re excited to see your ideas, your imagination, and what you care about. You can express that in any form — art, science, writing, tech, performance, or something totally your own.
Here are a few things that might guide your project. You don’t need all of them — just let your creativity shine!
- Curiosity & Wonder: Show us something you’re truly curious about. What makes you ask “why?” or “how?” or “what if?”
Example: “I’ve always wondered how trees communicate underground — so I turned that idea into a digital art piece.” - Original Imagination: Put your own twist on an idea. Be bold, playful, or different — that’s what makes your work yours.
Example: “I imagined what a school on Mars might look like, then designed a model of it.” - Positive Purpose or Impact: Share how your idea connects to people, your community, or the world — even in small ways.
Example: “I wrote a poem about hope and resilience after seeing my community rebuild after a tragedy.” - Blending Art and Science: Think like Leonardo da Vinci and Dr. Proctor — mix art, science, and technology in creative ways.
Example: “I built a sculpture that moves with magnets to show how magnetic fields work - Effort & Growth: Show the care you put into your work — experimenting, revising, or learning something new.
Example: “I experimented, changed my design, and learned something new each time.”
Why Participate?
Selected works will be:
- Featured at the Soirée: A Night of Many Stars
- Showcased online at davincisciencecenter.org
- Presented by student creators at the event, where they will meet Dr. Proctor
At Da Vinci Science Center, we bring science to life and lives to science—inspiring curiosity, creativity, and career pathways for the next generation of explorers and makers.
This is your moment to shine among the stars.
Dream boldly. Create fearlessly. Share your Space2Inspire.
