Science Fairs in LTISD Schools

Shortly after moving to Lakeway three years ago, I was asked to be a science fair judge at the Bee Cave Elementary school. I was so impressed with what this school did that I have volunteered at the school every year since and have also volunteered as a judge at the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair (AERSF). For my first two years, I judged middle school projects in the junior division, and last year I was a judge in the senior division. The best thing I took back from being a judge at these fairs is the knowledge that there are a lot of students that are enthusiastic about science, really liked doing the science projects, and having the opportunity to compete at the regional, state, and national level. Sadly, I also took back the fact that none of the schools in the Lake Travis Independent School District (LTISD) were represented.

Probably, most people in the Lakeway and Bee Cave area do not know what a science fair is all about. Since the LTISD does not participate, little if anything is reported in the local media such as The Lake Travis View.  Austin local news and TV media usually has a short segment at the 10 o’clock news segment in late February but that is about all. I think it is terrible for an affluent community like Lakeway and Bee Cave not to at least give our students the opportunity to participate.

One might wonder, “What is the big deal about a science fair?”  Start by wondering who did the research for the artificial knee that you or a family member will soon need. Who did the research for the drugs that make you pain free? Who designs the gadgets we all use today? The people that make our lives better are the scientists and engineers that start at the elementary, middle, and high school level. Most of the education in school consists of listening to the teacher, do the homework, take a test and move on. There is little emphasis on the “scientific process” that consists of recognizing a problem, generating a hypothesis, taking data, analyzing data, drawing conclusions, documenting the results, and presenting the results to your peers.  This is what the science fair is all about.

Lake Travis High School does participate in the Academic UIL (University Interscholastic League) competitions. In the math and science area, this consists of teams of students traveling to UIL meets in the area and taking tests. While I think this is good, I do not think that taking tests are near the experience as preparing for and participating in a science fair. Once the students graduate from high school, they will soon find out that life is not about taking tests, but rather identifying and solving problems.

So why does the LTIAD not participate? I have been told that the paperwork is too involved and that there are no teachers and sponsors willing to support this activity. Well, there is some paperwork involved. Forms must be filled out giving various permissions, and insuring that all projects are not hazardous. However, I must point out that there is a lot of assistance out there to help with the paperwork and to make participation possible. In fact, Austin Energy is willing to send representatives to the schools explaining the process to the teachers and administrators.

Every year, Bee Cave Elementary school does an excellent job of soliciting volunteers from outside the school to judge their students entries.  It would be relatively easy to get their students into the AERSF. They would have to fill out a few simple forms, pay a small entrance fee, and get the students and their displays to the fair.

Last year, Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park stood out in my mind as a school that must have had at least twenty entries in the AEFSF. Well, I was wrong. They had 57 entries. It seemed like every where I turned was another Vista Ridge entry, and they were all great. I asked one of the students why there were so many Vista Ridge entries and was told that a particular teacher or many teachers really stressed the importance of the fair. I know this because there were three or four entries in the division I judged and this was a small part of the overall fair. So, I went to Vista Ridge and talked with Michele Mann, the head of their science department and found the reason for the high participation.

I think that if you were to see what goes on at a science fair, and in particular at the AERSC that is held at the Palmer Event Center in February, you would be impressed and also wonder why the LTISD does not participate. Unfortunately, it is difficult for the public to see. The judging is not open to the public, unless you are a volunteer or judge, and as soon as the judging is over, most of the displays are removed. So in order to make the experience more visible, I have added a link on my web site that has some pictures and a link to a YouTube video that was made at the fair last year.  Go to “TheLakewayTutor.com” and click on the red “Science Fair Information” link at the top left of the opening page. Also, read what I learned from Michele Mann at Vista Ridge High School.

I would like to encourage the schools that do not now have science projects to at least give their brightest students the encouragement, support, and opportunity to participate in the AERSF. I am sure the science teachers know what students would be appropriate. Maybe requiring all students to do a project would not be appropriate at this time, but perhaps the students in the AP classes might be given extra credit as encouragement to do a project.

Participation in the AERSF is so important that I will be willing to volunteer to work with the schools and Austin Energy in preparing the required forms. In addition, since I have been judging science fairs for a few years, I would be willing to review student projects and make suggestions as to how to improve their presentations.

Hamil Cooper