COME TO THE FAIR—THE SCIENCE FAIR!

March 24-27 Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair is among top science fairs in the U.S.

By Mary Domb Mikkelson

February 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- Budget woes. School funding cuts. American kids left behind. You’ve read the headlines, endured the political posturing, heard – and shared - the concerns of parents and teachers. The litany of protests is long – and worrisome. Is there good news anywhere?

Yes! San Diego and Imperial County students, bucking the downward trend, are known for their scientific achievements. Do these kids have an edge, have something special going for them? Absolutely.

The contribution of the San Diego area’s business, educational, scientific, military and industrial communities is a unique combination of commitment and effort which culminates each spring in the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair, a fair often called the best in the country.

What, exactly, is a science fair? And why should students take part? What’s in it for them?

“A science fair is ‘book learning’ put to work, an outward expression of what has been called the ‘need’ for students…’to get their hands dirty, to have their minds disturbed by science.’” (Dr. Watson Davis, founder of Science Service, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the popularization of science)

A dramatic display of young people’s knowledge, creativity and originality, it is also a built-in, ‘natural’ way to ‘turn kids on, to expose them to the excitement of learning and involve them in the satisfying and rewarding process of working out answers for themselves.

It is many things – or, more accurately, many people. It’s students who devote not just hours and days, but weeks, months and even years to scientific research; students whose interests range from eidetic imagery, plasma physics and autism to artificial harbors, synthetic skin and nitrogen lasers.

It is teachers, too--teachers who stress scientific inquiry, who emphasize learning and then encourage students to correlate the results of that learning into science fair projects. It is those supportive parents who allow, even enjoy, white mice in the family room and smelly chemicals on the kitchen drain board.

And, finally, representing area businesses, research facilities, universities, school districts and military and professional organizations, it’s the hundreds of men and women who, from behind the scenes, keep the Fair running smoothly.

Science fair emphasis is on ‘doing’ – individual, in-depth investigation – and communication, the ability to explain concepts, procedures and results in clear , precise terms, to answer questions which probe far beyond the ‘hows’ of a project into the ‘whys’ and ‘what ifs.’ There’s a lot of hard work involved in this approach, a lot of try, try and try again, and that requires motivation. But, once started, there’s no holding these students back, no stopping them.

No stopping them…As the Cowardly Lion exclaimed, upon receiving his “Courage” medal in The Wizard of Oz, “Ain't it the truth, ain't it the truth!" For example, a survey of past winners conducted for the Fair’s 25th anniversary in 1979 revealed that 80% of them were in science-related fields and some 80% of those were in fields directly related to the project work they had done as teens. As for the numbers of advanced degrees they had earned – WOW! Similar figures were noted in our 1989 and 1994 surveys.

Equally important and meaningful were comments made by former exhibitors who credit the Greater San diego Science & Engineering Fair, which was for them both spur and showcase, with starting them on the road to success - AND the information gathered about those who are poets, artists, theologians, chefs, attorneys, etc. One of those theologians, by the way, cherishes a note which accompanied her selection to seminary, a note saying their choice had been made in part on her science fair experience which had “taught her to think logically.”

In an era of questions and doubts about the future of education, of our country, of our world, the young people of the Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair - and their counterparts throughout the world - are the promise of tomorrow. They are THE FUTURE.

The 2011 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (the 57th!), will showcase the work of nearly 900 7th through 12th grade students from public, private and parochial schools throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties.
 

Admission is free to the event, held at Balboa Park Activity Center, 2145 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101-4753.
 

Dates and Hours:

Thursday, March 24, 2011 – 10:00am – 3:00pm
Friday, March 25, 2011 – 10:00am – 3:00pm
Saturday, March 26, 2011 – 10:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday, March 27, 2011 – 10:00am – 3:00pm

Mary Domb Mikkelson's professional background includes the development of educational materials, drama criticism, children’s stories and a monthly column, “Potholes, Detours and Tollbooths: Stepping Stones on the Road to Faith.” In addition to editing Joys & Concerns, the 16-page monthly newsletter of the United Church of Christ of La Mesa, and working with area media as their publicist, she is a writer for and one of the editors of Connecting Voices, the e-magazine of the of the Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. When wearing her “other hat,” she serves as Vice-president, School Relations for the Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair.