Meeting 1/4/10 Recap

Happy new year ESC members!

We plan to go whale watching in February or March. We'll have more information on the trip at coming meetings.

Our ESC Science Fair has been announced. Guidelines for the contest are posted below. You have plenty of time to get it done and there are PRIZES for winning, so give it a shot!

ESC Science Fair
Welcome to the 2009/2010 ESC Science Fair! The Science Fair will be held in the quad area outside Room 230 on Wednesday, May 27th, 2010. All projects are due on Monday, April 12th, 2010.
Two competition categories:
Experiment Demonstration
1st place - medal, $30 gift card 1st Place - medal, $30 gift card
2nd place - medal, $20 gift card 2nd place - medal, $20 gift card
3rd place - medal, $10 gift card 3rd place - medal, $10 gift card
Additionally there will be 1 Green Award given that can be chosen from either category. The prize will be a hydrogen fuel cell car kit and a medal
Experimental Guidelines:
• Must design and conduct an original experiment following the scientific method and create a presentation consisting of either a slide show or display board giving a brief, basic outline of process and data collected. The presentation must be submitted for judging by April 12th, 2010, but contestant need not be present for judging.

Demonstration Guidelines:

• Create an original project demonstrating a scientific principle or technological achievement. The project must be demonstrated or explained to the judges for review on April 12th, 2010 after school, so the contestant must be present. For the orally apprehensive a display board or slide show can be substituted for an explanation, but a demonstration is still required.

Not allowed:
• Taxidermy specimens or parts
• Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals
• Human/animal parts or body fluids (for example blood)
• All hazardous substances or devices [For example, poisons, drugs, firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices]
• Photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies, or other lab procedures

Science Fair Rubric
A. Creativity (30 points)
1. The problem is original or is a unique approach to an old problem (considering the student's level)
2. Equipment and materials are used ingeniously
3. Interpretation of data is appropriate for student's grade level
4. Applications of project information shows student's creative involvement
5. Student shows evidence of understanding that unanswered questions remain
6. Creativity is evident
Creativity Total _________
B. Scientific Thought or Engineering Goals
Scientific Thought (30 points)
1. The hypothesis is clearly stated and the project is clearly designed
2. The project shows depth of study and effort
3. Project exhibits orderly recording and analysis of data
4. Sampling techniques and data collection are appropriate for the problem
5. Scientific procedures are appropriate and organized
6. Conclusions formulated are logical, based on the data collected, and are relevant to the hypothesis
Scientific Thought Total _________
OR
Engineering Goals (30 points)
1. The project has clear objective relevant to needs of potential user
2. Product or process has been tested
3. Product or process is both workable and feasible economically and ecologically.
4. Project exhibits orderly recording and analysis of data.
5. Testing procedures are appropriate and organized.
6. Conclusions are logical and based on the data collected.
Engineering Goals Total _________
C. Thoroughness (15 points total)
1. The study in complete within the scope of the problem.
2. Scientific literature has been searched.
3. Experiments have been repeated and careful records have been kept.
Thoroughness Total _________
D. Skill ( 15 points)
1. Special skills needed for construction or use of equipment is evident.
2. Special mathematical, computational or observational skills are evident.
3. Project is skillfully designed so that it yields valid, reliable, and accurate data.
Skill Total _________
E. Clarity (10 points total)
1. The project notebook is well organized, neat, and accurate.
2. The purpose, procedures and conclusions are clearly outlined and the title accurately reflects the problem.
Clarity Total ___________
Total points for Project _______

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of people below
Mr. McCabe - Rm 230
Mr. Falk - Rm 605
Caroline Quan (email: cquan98@gmail.com)
Matt Turner (email: matthewjturner@gmail.com)

Thank you for participating in the ESC science fair!
Have fun and be creative! :)