1st EUROPEAN CONTEST
on "IDEAS FOR SCIENCE FAIRS"
http://hsci.no.sapo.pt/ScienceFair.html
Greek
Learning about science,
exploring our universe, understanding the mystery and wonders of Nature is and
should always be a fascinating experience.
The Hands-on Science
network (H-Sci) is launching a major European contest on "Ideas for
Science Fairs". If you are a student, this is your chance to get
involved! You may take part as an
individual, as part of a group at School, in a Science Club or just at home.
A Science Fair day is
special. After having a fun time experiencing the thrill of discovery, you will
present the results of your work to friends, teachers and parents. You will
explain your ideas, the experiments you tried, the research you did and what
you discovered. You might even discover something completely unexpected,
perhaps something no one knew before...
This Science Fair
contest covers the entire European Union, so students hundreds of miles away in
many different countries will see your work and share theirs with you. There
will be also national competitions and you can even participate if you live
outside the EU. Projects in all fields of Science and all kinds of
presentations will be considered. The contest will run continuously until July
2006 and twice a year (in June and December) we will select the best projects.
There will be prizes
and trophies for the most interesting ideas. You might even win a special
invitation to present your work in one of our annual conferences! The next
Conference will be contacted in Rethymno,
Crete, Greece 13 to 16 July, 2005.
The Contest is divided
into five age group categories: a) Junior (8-10), b) Elementary (11-12), c)
Intermediate (13-15), d) Advanced (16-18) and e) Open (19-) (ages
are determined at the date on which you submit your work). You may present your
ideas in any format you want (text, diagrams, pictures, computer
simulations,…). Just try to make them as clear and exciting as possible. Send
your work by the 10th of April by email (Nektarios
Tsagliotis, ntsag@edc.uoc.gr) using the relevant application form (click
here to download the application form). A brief description of
all submissions will appear on the website. Please tell us the address of your
own web site if you have one so that we can make a link to it. Only the application form for the Science Fair
Contest must be submitted to the above email. All prospective participants must
follow the registration procedures of the Conference.
So how do you think up
an idea? Well, it doesn’t need to be complicated or complex (often the best
are the simpler ones… but it’s up to you. Let your imagination and the
scientist inside you to take control…!). Here are just a few ideas…: what
about a hamster that produces it self the energy needed to run his private
jacuzzi?…; a story about an “ecological” bird that recycles others waste; a
simulation of a high jump competition in the moon; the distinctive features of
the rocks you find in the backyard of your school; how to measure how far is
the sun from us; why do we have two eyes or why are birds, usually, so colourful;
how to build a solar popcorn machine; a painting made just of natural dyes; a
simple, or not so simple…, solar watch… or a sand one;… can you build a
simulation of a mirage?; what is a hologram, how does it work, and what is it
used for?; were there dinosaurs in Mars?; imagine a sophisticated robot to go
try to find their skeletons…; or find a way to produce an homemade rainbow; or
bouncing balls; an underwater volcano; or a submarine robot to measure the
depth of a lake and, why not…, the quality of its water; a tsunami; or how to
build a home to stand an earthquake; … or any other of the so many ideas you
will have just by “looking” at the world that surrounds you.
Remember… when you are
trying to understand the world, you are doing Science… and how exciting and
rewarding it might be to explore all those wonders of Nature!
The Hands-on Science
network is pleased to invite you to participate in this contest. We are sure
you will enjoy it… and are looking forward to hearing from you!
Universidade do Minho, Portugal, 5 February 2004.
|
Manuel Filipe Pereira da
Cunha Martins Costa (Coordinator) |