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.
County or regional fairs around Florida are generally scheduled between mid-January and mid-February, and may involve elementary, middle and/or high school student competitions. Below is a table with information for those in the greater Tampa Bay area. If you need help finding the science/STEM/Engineering fair near you, don’t hesitate to contact FLATE by emailing Dr. Marilyn Barger at 813.259.6578, or barger@fl-ate.org. We’d be happy to help connect you.
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FLATE Impact on Pages 16-17