JUNE 2005 ISSUE
EDUCATION
The Science Fair Phenomena
BY JEANNE KEASCHUK
Senior Outreach Coordinator
Insulation is a Complication, the Greatest Cleaner of Them All, Faults to Landslides: Making Waves, Tsunami, Wind Turbines —How Many Blades? Smart Lock System, Let the Magnetism be With You.
These are some of the titles you might read as you stroll down the many aisles at a science fair. The titles hint at the projects that thousands of Alberta students’ research and investigate every year.
Science fairs foster scientific learning and appreciation and may even foretell our science future and future scientists. They are events where you will find inquiring young minds and science explorers.
The students are usually in grades 5 to 12, and they are curious, ambitious, innovative and committed. These students want to know how and why. They want to solve problems, answer questions and will use science to do it all.
“The quality of projects has escalated to leading and cutting edge,” says Max Scharfenberger, who volunteers for the Edmonton Regional Science Fair.
A volunteer judge for 22 years and a member of the fair council for over 10 years, Mr. Scharfenberger notes: “Some fair entries even rival projects done at a master’s and doctorate level. The dedication of teachers and parents to motivate students to participate is instrumental to the longevity and success of the fair.”
Gerry Ward, chair of the awards committee of the Calgary Youth Science Fair, agrees that the level of sophistication of science fair projects increases every year. “Science is limitless and there are lots of projects to explore. Flexibility helps to ensure that students can select unique projects and showcase the science of interest to them,” says Mr. Ward.
“Our fair status and success are due to a very large army of volunteers. The judges and the companies that support their attendance, award sponsors, teachers and parents are vital to the fair,” adds Mr. Ward.
The Calgary Youth Science Fair, which holds the esteemed title of Canada ’s largest science fair, held its 44th edition in March. Edmonton recently held its 43rd annual regional fair.
Amanda Annett, a Grade 7 student at Oliver, Nellie McClung Program, and a first-timer in the Edmonton Regional Science Fair, is quick to credit the importance of her parents’ support and encouragement.
“The project took a long time and was a lot of work but my parents kept telling me I could do it and I did,” says Annett.
She enjoyed the competition, making new friends, and adds that she’d give the judges 10 out 10. “They were really fun and helpful and gave me good feedback.”
Amanda’s project, A River Runs Through It, was conceived on a trip to Jasper. She noticed that the water became more clear and clean towards the mountains and wondered why.
All of Amanda’s hard work and effort paid off in spades. She received several awards at the Edmonton Regional Science Fair, including one from APEGGA, and was also selected to go to the Canada Wide Science Fair.
APEGGA is a long-time awards sponsor for the Edmonton Regional Science Fair and the Calgary Youth Science Fair, and also supports these fairs and others in Alberta with member volunteers. The APEGGA Lethbridge Branch helped to revive the Lethbridge Science Fair in 2005 and plans to continue its support.
Science Fairs and Science Olympics
Alberta teachers have been instrumental in the implementation of science fairs and science Olympics. These events help engage students in science activity and provide students with a choice or the opportunity to participate in both.
Students who participate in science fairs choose their own project and often work alone over a period of months. Science Olympics, which APEGGA also sponsors, is an interschool challenge. It has teams competing in pre-planned and mystery science events.