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A science fair offers students the opportunity to showcase their best experiments and scientific prowess upon any field their imagination can envision. It is a chance for personal expression shown in an artistic display, a public impression of each individual’s spark for creativity, and hopefully what every science fair ought to be: a student’s interaction with discovery through the scientific method.
This year has a few shining stars, and some other last minute valiant attempts at a passing grade. I’m continually and equally impressed and discouraged at our student’s ability to waste 2 months of preparation just to throw something together in 12 hours and speak like an expert on the topic! However you could tell which students spent considerable time investigating and preparing their projects and displays.
One project presented the use of electrical current (DC) in automotive applications. This student worked with her father on the project and she testified that her favorite part of the entire process was working with him in the evenings and putting the project together, together. Another student had a dazzling display for hydro-power through compression – think contained and applied kinetic energy through the utilization of a super-soaker – impressive. Other displays looked at the use of renewable energy and some students learned skills of soldering and electrical wiring.
I always enjoy the atmosphere of the Science Fair. We have all the classes judge on sheets marked with 4 categories: Presentation / Display / Research / Creativity. It always feels like a packed conference hall or convention venue with all the students interacting and asking questions. There are explanations and demonstrations, sometimes sparks shoot out of one experiment or a flame ignites to the sound of Ooos and Ahhhs. Mostly this is just perception from a distance, for when you get up close, many of the students are still unsure, shy, or even apathetic to the event.
So it is revealed that science isn’t for everyone, yet the Fair gives the each student the opportunity to rise to the occasion of achieving excellence. Some chase after it with ambition, others are reluctantly encouraged to do their best. But at the end of it all, everyone agreed, they had a good time!