Right
after the winter break, students across the state are busy conducting their
final experiments, collecting final data, drawing conclusions and preparing
their written and poster reports for the 2014 Science, STEM, or Engineering
fairs. Across the country, as well as in Florida, the traditional “science
fair” has diversified by adding engineering, and/or integrated STEM to be more
inclusive. This long time tradition is a great vehicle for students to nurture
their curiosity, express themselves, exercise critical thinking and practice
their verbal and written communication skills. Thousands of students
participate and the fairs are great family events.
If you
are interested in participating in your local or regional event, contact your
local school district for
details. There are several ways to participate. The
most obvious is to volunteer to be a judge. Each fair has its own judging
templates and scoring rubrics, and provide excellent instructions for all
judges. You will be surprised to see how many in your community participate at
this level. Additionally, companies and organizations can sponsor the event, or
even have a named competition. The Bay Area Manufacturers Association (BAMA)
sponsors a “manufacturing” related prize in both Pinellas and Hillsborough
County fairs. BAMA recruits judges for the special prizes, gives each winner a
certificate and small cash award, and hosts the winners and their families at
their annual scholarship dinner meeting every June.
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