Newark Whiz Kids: Challenger Students Explore Solar Power, Tornadoes and More at Science Fair

Participating in science fairs instills confidence and builds self-esteem in young scientists while the competition aspect motivates them to try their best and turn out high-quality work, say school officials.

Not to mention, they often lead to more science fair opportunities that offer scholarships or cash prizes.

Ten students from recently participated in the 58^th Annual San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair, or SFBASF, taking home nine awards.

Though 10 students were selected to participate in the annual SFBASF, Challenger School holds an annual school-wide science fair in which participation is required from all students, said Principal Joseph Morrison.

The seventh and eighth graders who attended the SFBASF, which hosted 325 other students from all over the Bay Area, started working on their science projects back in August, 2010, at the beginning of the school year . An outside judge chose the top 10 projects after reading through all of the reports submitted.

For the competition, students completed a display board, a written report and a three- to five-minute verbal presentation, Morrison said.

"Having the opportunity to participate in such fairs instills in all the students a lasting passion for science,” said Vimala Sampath, a middle school science teacher at Challenger.

“To be recognized and awarded with prizes validates their work and motivates them to always strive to do their best,” Morrison said.

While the students who participated and placed at the science fair won medals, ribbons, certificates and in some cases more, the win could mean something larger for Challenger School as a whole.

“Our children are outstanding and this proves how effective our science curriculum is,” said Sampath. “Also, it validates our methodology of teaching. We believe in a logical and an analytical approach to solving problems, which was evidenced by these projects.”

Because Challenger holds a school-wide science fair every year, taking part in these larger fairs doesn’t require a lot of extra work for the participating students, Sampath said. They simply use their existing projects.

“The purpose of the science fair is to pique students' interest in science, increase their understanding of the scientific method, and encourage them to consider career possibilities in science,” Morrison said.

Students benefit academically from the fairs in more ways than one, said Sampath, who suggested that participation allows the students an opportunity to experience projects from other future scientists providing them additional knowledge on top of what they learn from conducting their own experiments.

In order to take part in the annual SFBASF, Challenger School had to send a request for slots at the fair. The number of slots awarded to the school is directly based on the school’s size, Sampath said.

Even though the school will not be participating in any more fairs as a whole this year, Mira Partha, who competed in the annual SFBASF, may be receiving an invitation to a future science fair.

Challenger School plans on participating in next year’s SFBASF with a new group of seventh and eighth graders.

A complete list of Challenger student participants, winners and their projects are listed below.

Hydroelectricity and Erosion

Certificate of Outstanding Achievement "for ability and creativity in an atmospheric science exhibit" from the American Meteorological Society.

The Effect of Earthquakes on Several Different Types of Soil

The Radio Mystery

3rd place; ASM International Materials Science Award for Most Outstanding Exhibit; American Chemical Society Award; and American Association of Cereal Chemists Award, 1st place for Northern California Section

Thank you for checking out our new installment of Newark Patch's Whiz Kid feature! This is where we feature an outstanding Newark young person or group. If you have someone you'd like to , send an email to editor Kris Vera-Phillips at kvp@patch.com.