The Science Reflector - NCSTA Newsletter

Last month students from across this state participated in two amazing science events: the State Science Fair and State Science Olympiad. The competition was fierce and the imagination and hard work of the students was mind-boggling. Below are photos and information from both of these competitions.

The State Science Fair was held on April 25 at the new Science and Mathematics Complex at Meredith College in Raleigh. About 200 students presented projects.

Science Fairs provide an opportunity for students to display the results of their work in science and technology. This opportunity is open to elementary, middle, and high school students. Science Fairs and other student science competitions are open to ALL students, and we encourage your participation.

This years Fair was organized by Linda James (Regional Fairs), Judy Day (Finance and Program) and Misti Ault (Judges).

NCSTA would like to recognize the generosity of the many State Science Fair sponsors including Fred Beyer of Fisher Scientific who presented science equipment to all the first place winners and Texas Instruments who donated calculators.

Be sure to visit the Science Fair web page at www.ncsta.org/sciencefair/ for photos, list of winners and information on preparing for next years science fair!

The North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education for both students and teachers. The NCSO involves teamwork, group planning and cooperation, and an emphasis on rich conceptual learning through active, hands-on group participation. Through the NCSO, students, teachers, coaches, principals and parents are all bonded together as a team working towards a goal. We seek to provide an alternative to the "isolated scientist" stereotype and remind students that science can be fun, exciting and challenging all at the same time.

	Division B	Division C
1st	Arendell Parrott Academy	Washington High
2nd	71st Classical Middle	Durham Academy
3rd	Davidson I.B. Middle School	Chapel Hill High School

The Science Olympiad Student Enrichment Program (SOSEP) is a three-year collaboration between the North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO), the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, various universities and community colleges and numerous school systems across North Carolina. The goal is to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to participate in the NCSO regardless of their ethnicity, household income or geographic location. This goal will be realized through the offering of New Team Institutes, the development of school-level NCSO after school programs and participation in intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments.