Welcome to the SIUE Regional Science Fair!

Saturday, March 13, 2010
 in the Morris University Center

 

Sponsored by:

 

 

 

 

The SIUE regional fair hosts over 200 of the finest 5th through 12th grade student projects from a ten county area.  Science fair offers a unique educational opportunity which enables students to understand that science is an integral part of life and science fair participation fulfills many of the Illinois State Goals and Learning Standards.

Science projects take advantage of a child’s natural curiosity, stimulate the imagination and encourage independent critical thinking.  While working on projects, students learn to apply the scientific method which includes observing, inferring, measuring, collecting data, and forming conclusions to interpret interactions between experimental variables.  Students become aware of the interdisciplinary nature of science as they apply not only reading and writing skills but also mathematics and art to communicate their research findings.   

For more information contact Dawn Olive (dolive@siue.edu) at the STEM Resource Center at 618-650-3065.

 

Fair Information                            Contributors & Past Awards                          Affiliated Science Fairs

Last Updated: 31 Aug, 2009

 

 

 

 

Fair Information

 

All projects are required to follow the policies and procedures as published by the Illinois Junior Academy of Science.  The 2008-2010 IJAS Policy & Procedures Manual is available for download (PDF file or Word document).  The “Safety Rules for Experimentation” begin on page eight of the manual and it is the responsibility of the school sponsor teacher to make sure that these guidelines are followed.

 

To Enter the Regional Fair

 

Schools with students in grades 7-12 are required to join the Illinois Junior Academy of Science (Registration Form).  Sponsors at schools for 5th and 6th grades need only to contact the regional office.  All projects must be submitted through a school which has registered with the fair.  All entries must be submitted by February 28, 2010.

 

Event Schedule

 

Exhibitors can set-up their projects in the Meridian Ballroom from 8:30 to 9:45 AM.  Exhibits will be subject to a safety check at that time.  Exhibits that do not pass the safety inspection may be asked to leave the fair.

 

A training session for first time judges will be held in the Conference Center (2nd floor) at 8:30 AM. 

Experienced judges should check in at 9:00 AM to review their project assignments and receive any last minute instruction.

 

Project judging takes place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Spectators are not allowed in the project display area during first round judging.  Students are allowed to leave their displays once they have been awarded a ribbon.  Fair shirts are available for purchase in the Goshen Lounge during this time.

 

Special Awards Judging begins at 12:30 PM.  Spectators will be allowed to view projects at this time but are asked not to disturb students as they are being interviewed by the awards judges.

 

The awards ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM in the Goshen Lounge.

 

 

 

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Award Contributors

 

Thanks to our contributors for supporting the 2009 science fair!

 

American Chemical Society

Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association

Belleville Heart Center

Bard and Didricksen Pediatrics

ConocoPhillips Company – Wood River Refinery

Granite City Orthopedic Group

Society of American Military Engineers

Tri City Neurology Associates, LTD

Watershed Nature Center

 

2009 Award Recipients

 

2008 Award Recipients

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Affiliated Science Fairs

Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Fair

International Science and Engineering Fair

Discovery Channel's Young Scientist Challenge

 

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Illinois State Goals and Standards

 

These days the classroom is so focused on achievement tests that it often feels like there is no room for projects, inquiry, and discovery.  Science fairs are seen as a drain on time and resources when in fact it provides a unique educational opportunity that fulfills many of the Illinois learning standards.

 

Language Arts

State Goal 5:  Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.  Students must be able to use a wide variety of information resources (written, visual and electronic).  They must also know how to frame questions for inquiry, identify and organize relevant information and communicate it effectively in a variety of formats.  These skills are critical in school across all learning areas and are the key to successful career experiences.

Mathematics:

State Goal 10:  Collect, organize and analyze data using statistical methods; predict results; and interpret uncertainty using concepts of probability.  Students must be able to organize data, make sense of variables and patterns, and judge the logical reasonableness of any claims and interpretations made.  Students of all ages can collect, display and interpret data to answer specific questions.  They also must construct and analyze arguments that involve data and its interpretation.  Data analysis and use are important abilities necessary for all careers. The ability to understand and interpret data (e.g., opinion polls, stock prices, tax rates, crime statistics, scientific studies, weather reports) grows more important each day. 

Science:

State Goal 11:  Understand the processes of scientific inquiry and technological design to investigate questions, conduct experiments and solve problems.  The inquiry process prepares learners to engage in science and apply methods of technological design.  This understanding will enable students to pose questions, use models to enhance understanding, make predictions, gather and work with data, use appropriate measurement methods, analyze results, draw conclusions based on evidence, communicate their methods and results, and think about the implications of scientific research and technological problem solving.

 

State Goal 13:  Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.  Understanding the nature and practices of science such as ensuring the validity of results, building upon the work of others and recognizing risks involved in experimentation gives learners a useful sense of the scientific enterprise.  In addition, the relationships among science, technology and society give humans the ability to change and improve their surroundings.

 

 

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