Science Fairs

[Page 676]Science fairs typically involve students creating displays to exhibit their knowledge and understanding of science topics, concepts, ideas, and research. Science fairs are held annually at local, regional, state, and international levels for youth. Many of these events apply rigorous scientific standards to projects that generate original research. In these science fair competitions, youth participants engage closely with the scientific research process, which for scientists begins with the inception of an original research project through to the first public presentation of results to their professional communities.

The parallels between the work and dissemination of research that professional scientists engage in and the science fair projects of youth targeted for the more rigorous science fairs is intentional and well established. In fact, science fair project displays ...