Note – Successful proposals will typically involve at least one of the following: creative or artistic elements, interactive participant experience, science storytelling, and / or opportunities for conversation or social connection.
All official partner events must commit to the following:
Non-partisan. Political advocacy-focused events may not be permissible, with exceptions for topics that have been polarized or politicized despite scientific consensus – e.g. "climate change" may be politicized but is considered a well-evidenced and permissible topic.
Non-commercial. Ticket and merchandise sales are welcome, but commercial interests must be ancillary to core programming; promotional events that center companies or products are not permitted.
Exploratory. While educational content is welcomed, the goal of the festival is to create conditions for discussion, exploration, and imagination, as opposed to passive consumption or persuasion.
Mission & Values Alignment. Partners are responsible for understanding and maintaining alignment with all festival standards and ethical guidelines so long as they are considered part of the official program.
Verifiable Claims. We take a strong stand against the spread of even well-intended misinformation. Partners are not required to make any claims as part of their program, but if they do, they are expected to be responsible stewards of knowledge. All claims must be verified for accuracy with scientifically valid evidence.
Capable of Independent Execution. Partners will be expected to plan and implement all operational, financial, and programmatic elements at a high standard of design and participant experience. If at any point the festival team has concerns about the program quality or the partner's capacity to execute, the program may lose official status.
