Join us at the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair! Let's pitch in to help in our 31st year involved with the Fair.
Setting Up
We don't have to move tables and chairs in and out of trucks like before, but we do have to cover the the tables and mark the competition spaces; we need to add the numbers to the table locations. We also need to set up the IT systems (easily 12 PCs, several large-size displays, and three printers). Finally, a fair like this with sponsors has a lot of signs to put up around the area. More hands make light work, please come along and help on March 1st starting about 7-8AM. Breakfast snacks and coffee are usually provided, along with a lunch prior to the students' arrival.
Judging
The main judging is on March 1st starting at about 4PM. The Fair needs "judges to judge both within their expertise and educated judges to judge outside their field of expertise so that the students will have to clearly present their projects to scientists who may not know the jargon of the project." They ask that judges for the complicated high school projects have experience, and this is defined on their website. However, don't let the lack of a science background stop you if you'd like to participate, as there are also middle school projects to judge. It's super fun to chat with students who dissolve teeth in Coke and lemon juice, or grow plants under various colors of light, or experiment with bugs or worms. You're guarteed to learn something!
Logistics
In a fair this big there are definitely a lot of moving pieces and a lot of data. We need people to help check kids in, to record data during the event, and hospitality. If you have time to help keep the main show moving, please consider joining in from about 2PM until judging is complete.
Award Ceremony and Take Down
We get a Saturday off, then return at about 9AM on Sunday March 3rd for the award ceremony, thene we undo a lot of what we did on Friday starting at 11:30.
Both parking and a light supper & snacks are provided (catered) for judges and volunteers. Naturally, we'll go out to eat as a group after the judging is over, because we do that.
