By Susan Hines
While chocolates and flowers are high on many people’s Valentine list, how about a gift that keeps on giving? While the cost is minimal (a day of your time judging at the local science fair), the return is great – encouraging middle and high school students to participate in the world of STEM – science, engineering, math, and science. Due to the pandemic, all but two of the following fairs will be held virtually, so it’s now easy to become part of both the March 9-10 SVACS-sponsored Synopsys Championship 2022 special award judging team and be a category judge at one or more of the other fairs, all from the convenience of your computer. These science fairs need category awards judges, especially in the areas of botany, biology, chemistry, microbiology, and behavioral science. All but Sciencepalooza! are qualifiers for the International Science and Engineering Fair, ISEF.
Please contact me at svsefmgr@gmail.com to join our SVACS special award team of dedicated chemists for the Synopsys Championship on March 9-10, 2022.
So, no matter which fair(s) you choose, please volunteer now!
- Golden Gate STEM Fair: March 7-12, 2022, virtual format, email ggstemfairad@gmail.com for volunteer request
- Synopsys Championship, Santa Clara County: March 9-10, 2022, virtual format, https://science-fair.org/judges-3/category-judges/judging-registration/ There is particularly strong need for judges in the areas of software engineering; computational biology and bioinformatics; biomedical engineering; chemical and environmental engineering; earth and environmental science. Please encourage your IT colleagues, friends, and neighbors to participate. Graduate students and college upperclassmen in these fields are welcomed as judges.
- Santa Cruz County Science and Engineering Fair: March 14-19, 2022, combination virtual project review and in-person judging at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, https://ca-scc.zfairs.com/?f=26536937-9f34-4800-94a7-674a1d002137
- Monterey County Science & Engineering Fair: March 5-19,2022, virtual format, https://monterey.zfairs.com/?f=0773cc4c-60a4-4777-a03b-7f716aab1dac
- San Mateo STEM Fair: March 15,2022, in person review and judging at the San Mateo County Event Center, Fiesta Hall , https://www.stemfair.net/judges-and-volunteers
- Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair: March 26, 2022, virtual format, https://acsef.zfairs.com/?f=76d904ca-4a82-4dbe-a703-c6b4477746a5
- Sciencepalooza! Virtual Fair and Expo*: May 7, 2022, https://sciencepalooza.zfairs.com/app/user/new/Judge/?f=3ab33e00-9132-4dc1-bb3e-637edd80ba02
*Many students at this competition are first time science fair participants.
