Regional Science Fair returns Saturday, making comeback from fallen pandemic numbers
By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on March 20, 2024.
asmith@medicinehatnews.com Students from across southeastern Alberta will gather at Medicine Hat College on Saturday to kindle their curiosity at the Regional Science Fair. Turnout this year is heartening, says senior scientific consultant Patty Rooks, who feels the fair is finally starting to reach the numbers it had prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Right now we have 84 students and 59 projects registered. So we’re just really making a great comeback,” said Rooks. “So this is really nice to see so many students in schools from all over southeastern Alberta participating. Our numbers continue to go up each and every year. I think that’s in part to our Science 101 program, where I go into the schools and help the teachers and students with their projects for however much time they want, and we work through the whole scientific method and get them ready to go.” Registration for the fair is already past the deadline, said Rooks, so they look forward to seeing everyone who has signed up to participate starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday. “Judging will get underway by 9 a.m., we’re gonna have some activities for the students around 12:30, including a campus tutor and perhaps a scavenger hunt,” said Rooks. “There’ll be a Science Showcase of some activities to run as well. Then we’re gonna have some pre award activities with some science trivia and prizes in the cafeteria. And we’re hoping if all goes well, we will have enough volunteers and judges to start the awards by 3 p.m. for the students.” The fair represents a vital opportunity for youth from Grades 4-12 to continue to explore the possibilities of sciences in their community and for their futures, with the hopes they will not only pursue a career in these fields, but return home to make their communities brighter. “When I go to the school science fairs and see these students who have registered, they are over the moon. They’re so excited to tell us about their projects and excited to come tell what they call ‘real life scientists,'” said Rooks. “These students have picked these projects and worked on them for weeks or months. They are – and they should be – proud of the hard work they’ve put in.” 9-8
