Get Out of The Lab: Volunteer At Your Local Science Fair!

Today SYNAPSE is highlighting the efforts of Shannamar Dewey and Monica Watson for volunteering to be judges at the 2012 Sonoma County Science Fair held on February 8th.

Shannamar Dewey (left) and Monica Watson (right), judges for the Sonoma County Science Fair on February 8th 2012

This year, for the first time, the fair bestowed two Director’s Choice awards for the most impressive entries. The winners were:

• Srijit Basu, a junior from Casa Grande High School.  Her project "Light Spectrum Analysis for Monocrystalline Polycrystalline and Thin Film Cells" evaluated the efficiency of various solar panels under different weather conditions.
• Hanna Maillard, a St. Francis Solano School 7th grader, studied how the convenience of recycling affected the degree to which students recycle.

This is Shannamar's second year judging the Sonoma County Science Fair; later this year she will trek to the Alameda County Science Fair to inspire more young scientists.  The Biophysical Society can always use your help in bestowing awards to budding Nobel Laureates so contact her for more information on how you can get involved!

BPS has sponsored student awards at regional and state science fairs since 2010. This growing initiative, sponsored by the Public Affairs Committee, promotes the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and math in US schools, while raising awareness about biophysics at the high school level.

In 2012, the Biophysical Society will be giving out the Biophysics Award for the best biophysics-related project at the fairs listed here. If you are interested in volunteering as a judge for this award at one of these science fairs, please contact the Society Office at scifairs@biophysics.org.

Judging at your local fair and don’t see it listed below? BPS would love to sponsor a Biophysics Award in your area! Please fill out the following form by February 1, 2012 to participate: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sciencefairvolunteer. Contact the Society Office at scifairs@biophysics.org with questions.