Science fair

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A science fair is generally a competition where contestants create projects related to science and/or technology.

1 History
2 Criticism
3 List of science fairs
- 3.1 International
- 3.2 National
4 See also
5 External Links

[edit] History

In the United States, science fairs first became popular in the early 1950s, with the ISEF, then known as the National Science Fair. Interest in the sciences was at a new high after the world witnessed the use of the first two atomic weapons and the dawn of television. As the decade progressed, science stories in the news, such as Jonas Salk’s vaccine for polio and the launch of Sputnik, brought science fiction to reality and attracted increasing numbers of students to fairs.

[edit] Criticism

Some people have pointed to primary school experience as one factor which may actually discourage students from taking further interest in the sciences. [1] They claim that traditional science fairs, as well as programs like the Westinghouse Science Honors Institute, place too much focus on competition, a charge which science fair supporters answer by pointing to the real life competitive nature of awarding scientific grants and even the Nobel Prize. Also, several teachers house complaints over when science fairs are made mandatory, as it means that they receive much more of a burden with paperwork.

Furthermore, the Science Fair has been known to burden children with hours of busy-work, causing many to fall into a deep state of depression. Students were commonly reported doing self-destructive activities, including scratching of the eyes, clawing of the throat, and an increase in violent activity towards others. Many teachers have strayed away from the Science Fair, fearing for the well-being of their school.