I appreciate all of the students who responded to my challenge and prodding
with so many wonderful memories!
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The 2015 Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF) was held from April 2-4 in Spragins Hall on The University of Alabama in Huntsville campus.
Announced: April 6, 2015
Caitlyn McCoys project was titled "The Effect of Temeprature on Magnetic Field Strength". She examined magnetic field strength using the LabQuest II and magnetic field sensor with a temperature sensor. Caitlyn created the project presentation board, orally presented her project to judges and won honorable mention in the Physics Category as a freshman in a senior division where juniors and seniors typically win.
The Science Fair requires students to research, collect data appropriately, analyze data using proper mathematical techniques, write extensively, and present those ideas persuasively. The fact that the best project in the state came from McGill-Toolen Catholic is a reflection on the entire academic program and our community's emphasis on "reasoning science".
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No matter what state you are in the state Science and Engineering Fair is a big deal for the students with an affinity for doing science. Getting to the competition and winning is rare as there are thousands of projects at the regional levels seeking to win at the state level. The effort and skill it takes to accomplish a winning project at the state level can not be overstated. Students must do good science and understand what they do. They must present and communicate what they have done in a way that quickly convinces judges of competence and care first in the regional fair then again at the state level.
The project at the state level requires students to set up a presentation and orally present the research. Then they must answer questions for visitors who provide special award recognition and may be official category judges. After three days the researchers attend ceremonies hoping they won an award including a special award dinner and category awards the next morning.
I never promoted are required science fair projects but did tell students about the opportunity, the dates, critiqued the projects when they showed them to me prior to the competition. I always encouraged science oriented students to do them. If a student made it through the regional science fair I always tried top make the 4-5 hour drive to see the project of that student from my school. I tried thanked the student for the many hours they spent working on the project.
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Combining my love for competition and interest in science was something I did from early on in my career.
I also liked to do “action research” to evaluate initiatives in my class and department.
“Physics First” was a department wide change in science sequence that I wanted to implement if able to.
