Science Fair
As a Science Fair (English for " research issue " ) is referred to in English-speaking countries, a school-based competition in which students of all grade levels as part of a public exhibition can imagine scientific projects of their choice. Participation is voluntary. The projects and exhibits will be judged by a jury; outstanding achievements will be awarded with prizes.
Science Fairs are organized at local, regional, state, national and international level.
History
In the United States Science Fairs were popular in the 1950s after the development of nuclear weapons and the television had prompted an increased public interest in science and technology. In 1950 was in Washington, D.C. the International Science and Engineering Fair ( ISEF ) was launched, which is sponsored by Intel since 1997 and is the world's largest international student science competition today.
Research Projects
Students who want to present on a science fair, a research project ( science project), can choose their topic freely. As in English, the term " science " in the first place science is understood - and not science in its entirety - that most students choose scientific or technical projects. Again and again, however, individual students also introduce, for example, sociological or psychological research projects.
In the scientific and technical projects are three types. Experimental projects (experimental projects) is based on a scientific experiment. For technical projects (engineering projects), the challenge is to solve a technical problem. Presentation projects (display projects) illustrate visually or otherwise facts which nature itself is not so clear. Are popular among elementary school students, for example, models of the solar system or the structure of volcanoes.
Due to the proliferation of Science Fairs a wide niche for relevant literature has emerged in the American book market, to collections sufficient detail elaborated project proposals of general counselors.
Discussion
In English-speaking countries research projects of the students are developed in the classroom and implemented. Science Fairs, however, offer the opportunity to realize even those research projects that are beyond the scope of what is possible in the classroom. Another advantage of Science Fairs is that students with a strong interest in science and technology on this forum, which is very much public as the school itself, establish ties to sponsors (eg university teachers) with whom they would otherwise not contact came from.
Occasionally, however, brought against the institution of science fair criticism. Your opponents criticize that the emphasis of these events often so much lying on the competition that many students who are actually interested in science and technology first, would be discouraged.
Significant inter-regional Science Fairs
Internationally
Ireland
- Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
Canada
- Canada -Wide Science Fair
United States
- California State Science Fair
- Massachusetts State Science Fair
- New York State Science and Engineering Fair
Cultural Significance
Science fairs play an important role in the lives of American children and adolescents. They have been shown in many movies and television series; in the United States they are an important part of popular culture.
Selection of films, in which occur Science Fairs:
- The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man -in-the -Moon Marigolds (1972 )
- Real Genius (1985 )
- The Manhattan Project (1986 )
- Race the Sun - In the race against time (1986 )
- Ransom (1996 )
- October Sky (1999)
- Osmosis Jones (2001)
- Strangers With Candy ( 2005)
- Meet the Robinsons (2007)