Longs Peak Science and Engineering Fair

Longs Peak Science and Engineering Fair (LPSEF) will hold its 39th annual fair on Monday, March 1, 2010. LPSEF is a regional fair affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). LPSEF will qualify up to 25 projects for the 2010 Colorado Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF) and at least one project will qualify for ISEF.

Register students for Junior (5th - 8th grade) or Senior (9th - 12th grade) Divisions.
Categories for these divisions are:

Projects may be either Individual or Team (2 or 3 students on the same project)

We know paperwork and registration can be tedious and confusing. If you are interested in a hands-on workshop to assist in completing paperwork, please contact lori.ball@unco.edu. Also, please read the 2010 Student Handbook for more information.

IMPORTANT DATES and DEADLINES

It is that time of year again to start considering science fair projects.  Remember that if you use an internal IRB, you must register those committees with LPSEF.  Important deadline dates are listed below.

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009: ALL local fairs must register their Internal Review Board (IRB) with LPSEF.  If you are unable to create these committees you may use the LPSEF SRC.  Local Fair IRB Registration for LPSEF. 

Friday, Dec. 19, 2009:  Critical ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) forms ONLY are due to LPSEF fair director. Critical ISEF forms are necessary when a project involves vertebrates, humans, DNA, tissues, pathogenic or controlled substances. These forms must be typed. Handwritten forms will not be accepted.

Guidelines as to form requirements can be obtained from: www.csef.colostate.edu/ISEF_Paperwork_guidelines.htm

Friday, Jan. 8, 2010:  Critical ISEF forms will be returned with SRC comments. 
                                                                                   
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010:  LPSEF registration due.

• Registration form is due for ALL participants.
  • Schools registering multiple participants use LPSEF School Registration Form.
  • Students registering independently use LPSEF Independent Registration Form
• Submit $25 participant fee for each student researcher (make checks payable to FSI).
• Student researchers must submit CSEF Individual Abstract Form or CSEF Team Abstract Form (ISEF abstract forms will not be accepted).
• Student Photo Release Form (Required)

Monday, March 1, 2010: Longs Peak Science and Engineering Fair

Location : Second floor of the University Center on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado. University Center is located in Greeley between 10th and 11th Avenues and 22nd and 20th Streets.    

Notes:  Student researchers are required to stay at the fair all day. Students not being judged in the afternoon session will have the opportunity to leave the ballroom at 2pm to attend various science demonstrations by UNC faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students.

The fair will NOT be open for public viewing (parents, etc.) until 5:30p.m.  Please note that it is the responsibility of the school sponsor to take-down the project displays for any students who do not return for the evening awards ceremony.

April 8-10, 2010: CSU - Ft. Collins Colorado Science and Engineering Fair

May 9-14, 2010   (ISEF). San Jose, CA International Science and Engineering Fair

Contact us with any questions! We look forward to seeing you at the Fair!

Lori Ball - Director (970) 351-2976

Jerry Overmyer - Judging/Volunteer Coordinator (970) 351-1512

Mathematics and Science Teaching Institute (Campus box 123 )

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley , CO 80639

(970) 351-1269 fax

e-mail address: lori.ball@unco.edu , jerry.overmyer@unco.edu

The website is updated as dates change and more information comes in. Please check in on a regular basis.

Anatomy in Clay(R) Workshop on March 1, 2010: 

This workshop will provide practical guidance on teaching anatomy with 3D models so that students can learn and remember musculo-skeletal and other body systems by building in clay. 

Hands-on teaching human body systems enable kids to "get it" and personally relate what they learn to their own individual worlds. Using the Anatomy in Clay(R) kinesthetic learning system requires students to do a considerable amount of critical thinking and problem solving using deductive reasoning. Instructors receive immediate feedback by observing student progress. This helps teachers facilitate the assessment process. Their students learn by understanding the body patterns and relationships which they build. Rote memorization is minimized if not eliminated. Retention improves. Exam scores tend to be higher for students who learn anatomy by building body systems in clay.

The above-referenced study states:   "On exams after a cat dissection vs. a human-clay sculpting experience, the students in the human-clay sculpting treatment group scored significantly higher than their classmates in the cat dissection group on both the low- and high-difficulty questions".

Please RSVP your interest in attending the workshop to lori.ball@unco.edu.  Space is limited.

Other Resources:

Science Fair Project Books

The Complete Handbook of Science Fair Projects by Julianne B. Bochinski, John Wiley and Sons, $14.95

100 First-Prize Make-It-Yourself Science Fair Projects by Glen Vecchione, Sterling Publications, $13.95

Janice Van Cleave's Guide to More of the Best Science Fair Projects by Janice Pratt VanCleave, John Wiley and Sons, $14.95

Science Fair Websites

Science Fair Central - supported by the Discovery Channel

The Ultimate Science Fair Resource - has a list of ideas in the Idea Bank

Science Buddies - Free Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers, and Tools for Serious Students