WISE sponsors fourth year of Science Fair outreach

In a science lab at Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor in January, University of Michigan students helped middle school students with their science fair projects. The room was filled with students in safety goggles and aprons. There were beakers on hot plates whose contents were bubbling. There were excited exclamations and questions being asked. Outside in the parking lot a pair of students launched rockets. In the media center seeds were being sown and calculations where being made.

All of this activity was a result of a WISE-sponsored Southeast Michigan Science Fair outreach project that pairs 40 UM undergraduate and graduate students with 40 Scarlett Middle School students to meet weekly to work on science fair projects.

WISE Director Cinda-Sue Davis is also Southeast Michigan Science Fair Director. "This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Southeast Michigan Science Fair (SEMSF) and it has been a remarkable journey," explains Davis. "Generations of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians have received nurturing and encouragements by the Fair for their early forays into the world of scientific exploration."

"It is remarkable that even today many students have few opportunities to experience the excitement of conducting a hands-on science project.," says Davis. "The Southeast Michigan Science Fair is one of these few opportunities, and an opportunity that reaches hundreds of students in our region."

With some assistance from the UM student volunteers, Scarlett students will conduct their experiments and will create a display board to enter in their school science fair. These students are also eligible to participate in the Southeast Michigan Science Fair, held Saturday, March 8, 2008 at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Funding for the outreach activity is generously supplied by Pfizer.

February 2008 eNews

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