Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair
Participation Information 2010-2011
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is pleased to host the 54th annual Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair (CASEF) March 2-5, 2011.
Each year, aspiring local scientists, mathematicians and engineers, grades seven through 12, exhibit their projects in one of 15 categories. Admission is free. After a two day competition, one junior high student will be chosen as Junior Grand Champion and two senior high students will be chosen as Senior Grand Champions to compete at ISEF, compliments of CASEF. This year’s international competition will be held on May 8-13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Exhibit set-up
Kunkel Gallery and AMP Grand Lobby, 3:30 pm-7:30 pm
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Category and Special Awards Judging, 8am-3pm
Junior Division Projects (grades 7 - 8) displayed in AMP Grand Lobby
Senior Division Projects (grades 9 -12) displayed in Kunkel Gallery
Friday, March 4, 2011
Grand Champion Judging, 8am-12pm
CASEF is open to the public, 12pm-7pm
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Public and Media Visitation Day
CASEF is open to the public, 9am until the conclusion of the Awards Ceremony
Awards Ceremony
Sunoco Performance Theater, 2pm-4: 30pm
CASEF is proud to be sponsored by Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Carlisle Sentinel, Penn State Harrisburg, Wilson College, Messiah College, Shippensburg University, Penn State College of Medicine, Harrisburg Area Community College, & Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
So … You want to do a science fair project this year. . .
Introduction
Your Success is Our Goal
Welcome to the 54th year of the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair. We want you to understand our program and we want you to know exactly how to be a part of the process. This information serves as a guide to participation in Science Fair and is intended for educators, students and parents.
CASEF is the abbreviation for Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair. CASEF is the central Pennsylvania regional program affiliated with the ISEF, which is the abbreviation for International Science and Engineering Fair.
CASEF encourages students to creatively explore and investigate their world through hands-on scientific research. Through student participation in the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair, teachers and advisers help enrich a student’s appreciation and knowledge of the important roles science and engineering play in modern society. Yes, there are rules. Yes, there are guidelines. There are forms to be read, and forms to be completed. The only way that we can get our arms around this endeavorand manage it fairly, securely and confidently is to administer a mini-bureaucracy. Read and follow the directions and you will understand that all the organizational “stuff” helps you succeed. If you have problems or questions, go first to your science teacher and your school organizer. If they are unable to help you, please feel free to email us at casef@whitaker.org
Each year, more than 300 aspiring local scientists, mathematicians and engineers, grades seven through 12, exhibit their projects in one of 15 categories; this year at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg. Two senior high students are chosen as grand champions to compete at ISEF, compliments of the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair. Last year, more than 1,400 projects, representing nearly 50 nations were exhibited in San Jose, California. Student delegates vied for scholarships, internships and cash awards valued at more than $3 million. The international competition will be held in Los Angeles, California in 2011.
Student Things to Consider
Choosing to participate in this project is a big deal. Honestly, life might be easier for you if you don’t get involved. However, the challenge to your intellect and your creativity, as well as your organizational skills, is well worth the effort. You will be enriched personally and professionally by participation in this established international competition. We look forward to your success.
- Judging Criteria
When choosing a topic, students should give careful thought to how their research might enhance the world and its inhabitants. Scientists try to understand how nature works. Engineers create things that never were. An engineering project should state goals, describe the development process and evaluate improvements. - Creative Ability
Are the question and procedure stated? Does the question and the procedure/design show creative ability? How were the problems encountered solved? What further research is appropriate? - Scientific Thought
Is the problem/design validated by scientific literature? Are the variable and controls clearly defined? What graphs, photos, diagrams, and statistics were used for analysis? How is the analysis of data interpreted
in the discussion/conclusion? Are references listed? - Engineering Goals
Is the solution workable/economical to produce? Is there a real-life use for the solution? - Thoroughness
Were the conclusions based on replication? How much time was spent on the project? Is there a journal documenting progress? Did the project meet its objective? - Skill
Does the student demonstrate that he/she did the actual work? - Clarity
Is the written material well-prepared? Is the project display self- explanatory? Are the data and results clearly presented? Can the project be duplicated by following the stated procedure? - Interview
Can the student knowledgably discuss his/her project? Is the student trying his/her best to be successful?Teamwork (for team projects, only)
Did each member contribute to the project? Did the team coordinate their efforts effectively?
Nine Steps to a Successful Science Fair Project
- Pick your topic.
Get an idea of what you want to study. Ideas might come from hobbies or problems you see that need solutions. Due to limited time and resources, you may want to study only one or two specific issues. - Research your topic.
Go to the library or Internet and learn everything you can about your topic. Observe related events. Gather existing information about your topic. Look for unexplained or unexpected results. Also, talk to professionals in the field, write or e-mail the companies for specific information, and obtain or construct needed equipment. - Organize.
Organize everything you have learned about your topic. At this point you should narrow your hypothesis by focusing on a particular idea. Your library research should help you. - Make a timetable.
Choose a topic that not only interests you, but can be done in the amount of time you have. Use a calendar to identify important dates. Leave time to fill out the forms and to review the Research Plan with your adult sponsor. Certain projects require more time because they need prior Scientific Review Committee (SRC) or Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Allow plenty of time to experiment and collect data. Even simple experiments do not always go as you might expect the first time or even the second time. Allow enough time to write a paper and put together an exhibit. - Plan your experiments.
Once you have a feasible project idea, write a research plan. This plan should explain how you will do your experiments and exactly what it will involve. All students participating in the Intel ISEF and affiliated fairs are required to complete the Checklist for Adult Sponsor, Research Plan (1A) and Approval Form (1B). - Consult your adult sponsor.
You are required to discuss your research plan with an Adult Sponsor and obtain a signature of approval. In reviewing Research Plan (1A), your sponsor should determine if additional forms and/or IRB/SRC prior approval is needed. - Conduct your experiments.
Give careful thought to experimental design. During experimentation, keep detailed notes of each and every experiment, measurement and observation. Keep an accurate journal and do not rely on your memory. Having a thorough and detailed journal is what judges use to determine the depth of your work and many times to separate the good projects from the GREAT PROJECTS. - Remember to change only one variable at a time when experimenting
And make sure to include control experiments in which none of the variables are changed. - Make sure you include sufficient numbers of test subjects in both control and experimental groups.
A group must have five or more subjects to be statistically valid. - Examine your results.
When you complete your experiments, examine and organize your findings. Did your experiments give you the expected results? Why or why not? Was your experiment performed with the exact same steps each time? Are there other explanations that you had not considered or observed? Were there errors in your observations? Remember that understanding errors and reporting that a suspected variable did not change the results can be valuable information. If possible, statistically analyze your data. - Draw conclusions.
Which variables are important? Did you collect enough data? Do you need to conduct more experimentation? Keep an open mind - never alter results to fit a theory. If your results do not support your original hypothesis, you still have accomplished successful scientific research. An experiment is done to prove or disprove an hypothesis.
Just for Teachers
Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair Mentors Available!!
The Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair provides mentors to teachers and other designated adults to help with paperwork and the entry process. Contact Mary Pat Evans via email for information.
School Registration
Registration is open to seventh through 12th grade students in public, independent and parochial schools in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, Schuylkill counties and Northern York School District and Red Land High School in West Shore School District of York County.
Teachers must submit a registration form (available on this website) for each participating school and the appropriate registration fees to Tim Ritter, Fair Director, at Whitaker Center by Wednesday, November 19, 2010.
Checks should be made payable to the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair, the entry fee is $50 per each eligible grade level within the registering school. The fair is open for students in grades 7 through 12. In a typical middle school, there are grades 6,7,8. Since only grades 7 and 8 are, the registration fee is $100. If your school has grades 7 and 8 but only seventh grade participates in the science and engineering fair, the registration fee for your school is still $100 since your school does house two eligible grades.
Homeschool students are invited to participate and their teachers should contact
Tim Ritter, Fair Director, at 717/724-3892 for registration information.
The greatest single thing that you can do for your students to help them become more successful is to teach them to prepare a journal of their ‘day to day’ work. Initially, this journal might be a description of what they did, what they chose to do it this way etc. Eventually, however, this will detail their experiment, their data, their thoughts about what is happening and what they will be watching for in future observations. Many times the absence of this journal becomes a determinant in judging between the good and the truly outstanding projects. You can help your students make this leap by teaching them this skill and then requiring it of them in your local fair!
Please Note:
All necessary CASEF forms can be found on this website and any appropriate Intel ISEF forms can be found at the following links:
- Student Exhibitor Entry Form
- Abstract & Certification Form
- Agreement to Attend
- Judging Reply Form
- School Registration Form
- SRC Priot Approval
Access the Intel ISEF site through: http://www.sciserv.org. You can click on the Intel ISEF site on the left margin. From here, you can access all ISEF forms, rules and guidelines and the RULES WIZARD. The Rules Wizard will help student determine which forms they must complete for their individual type of research. ALL students MUST complete forms:
- Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1)
- Student Checklist (1A) with a completed Research Plan and References (The abstract should be completed at fair time and on the official CASEF form found on this website.)
- Approval Form (1B)
ALL THREE OF THESE FORMS SHOULD BE COMPLETED AND IN YOUR FILE BEFORE THE STUDENT BEGINS HIS EXPERIMENTATION
For many students, there will be other forms that must be completed in a timely fashion and may need to be submitted for SRC review. Please use the Rules Wizard at the ISEF website to help you determine which forms are needed. You may also contact CASEF directly for additional assistance.
1. Teacher Inventory Form
2. Visitation Day
3. Volunteer Form
All students creating projects involving vertebrate animals, animal or human tissue, humans, DNA, pathogenic agents or controlled substances must submit a completed Research Plan/Approval Form and all other necessary certification forms to the Fair Director by Nov. 19 for review. This plan must be approved IN ADVANCE by CASEF’s Scientific Review Committee (SRC)
Please Note:
- All junior division human behavioral science projects should be reviewed by your in-school Institutional Review Board (IRB) and you MUST complete section 2 on Form 1B.
- Research plans for projects involving items listed above must be reviewed and approved by the Fair’s Scientific Review Committee (SRC) or your school’s IRB prior to research. The Category Selection Committee will not accept projects involving these subjects that do not receive proper prior approval.
- All certification forms must be submitted along with the entry forms by Feb. 11, for review by the Category Selection Committee and final approval by the SRC. All entries must include a student exhibitor entry form, an exhibit identification/project abstract, a research plan/approval form and an adult sponsor checklist.
Contact Information
Tim Ritter, Fair Director
225 Market Street, 2nd Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717/724-3892
Fax: 717/221-8208
Dates to Remember
Sept. 23, 2010 4pm to be held at the Whitaker Center
Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair General Membership Meeting
School Fair leaders should plan on attending.
Find out the latest rules changes and procedures. Make your life easier by being in the know. Some schools faced some heartbreak and last minute concerns last year because they had not attended this meeting and were not aware of problems that could have been easily avoided
Nov. 19, 2010
Deadline for school registration
Deadline for submission of research plans requiring prior approval certification.
Research on projects may not proceed without first receiving SRC approval. This approval process is a rolling deadline, however. Students may submit paperwork for approval at ANYTIME prior to this date and their paperwork will be returned quickly to them with approval or suggestions for needed changes. Remember, as mentioned above, Middle Schools (through their IRB/SRC) may approve their own behavioral science projects BUT you must complete section 2 of Form 1B.
Dec. 1, 2010
Scientific Review Committee responds to plans submitted at or just before the deadline.
Feb. 11, 2011
Deadline for submission of Student Entry Forms
March 2, 2011, 3:30pm until 7:30pm
Students set up exhibits
March 3, 2011
Category and Special Awards judging 8am until 3pm.
Students arrive for judging interviews 12pm to 2pm
March 4, 2011
Grand Champion judging 8am until noon
Fair is open to the public and media beginning at 12pm
March 5, 2011
Fair open to public, 9am until the close of the awards ceremony
Project Presentations, 12pm-2pm
Student Registration, 1pm
Awards Ceremony, 2pm
All projects must be picked up by 5pm
May 8-13, 2011
INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair, Los Angeles, CA
What Happens During Fair Week?
MARCH 2-5, 2011
Projects for Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair are exhibited at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts.
March 2 (Wednesday)
Set-up
Students must set up projects in Whitaker Center from 3:30 PM to 7:30pm on March 2. Students will receive their interview times at or prior to set-up.
March 3 (Thursday)
Category and Special Awards Judging
Projects are judged by category and special awards judges on March 3, from 8am to 3pm. Judges review the individual projects in the morning. Student interviews occur between noon and 2pm. Students who are not interviewed cannot win awards. Students must not arrive at the science fair prior to 11:30am and must be supervised by a teacher or parent at all times. Students may leave following the interview process. Students who will be called back for grand champion judging and their teachers will be notified at home by 8pm either by phone or e-mail.
March 4 (Friday)
Grand Champion Judging
First place senior and junior high exhibitors recommended by judges will return March 4, beginning at 9 AM, for grand champion judging. The Fair will be open to the public and media after 12pm. School groups are encouraged to attend Friday afternoon.
March 5 (Saturday)
Visit the Fair
CASEF is open to the public on March 6 from 9 AM until the close of the Awards Ceremony. Exhibiting participants are encouraged to be at their projects to answer questions from visitors from 12(noon) until the awards ceremony at 2pm. noon.
Participating 2011 CASEF student scientists and engineers are invited and encouraged to be present at their projects prior to the awards ceremony. This allows students to discuss their research and projects and to interact with their peers and general public regarding scientific research within and beyond our central Pennsylvania community. Parents are encouraged to attend.
Participating teachers are requested to complete the Student Attendance for Public Visitation Day Form to advise of intended student participation.
March 5 (Saturday)
Awards Ceremony
All participants of the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony. All participants receive medals and/or ribbons at a ceremony held on March 5, at 2pm. Invitations are sent to ALL participating educators, students and families.
All projects must be removed by 5pm following the awards ceremony. Projects may not be removed prior to the ceremony. Projects remaining after 5:30 PM will be discarded. Students unable to pick-up their exhibits must make arrangements for someone else to remove them after the awards ceremony.
KEY ISEF GUIDELINES
Please review this information carefully. A copy of the 2011 ISEF rules and guidelines manual can be found at http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/about/rules_regulations.asp.- ALL studies involving the use of microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, viroids, prions, rickettsia, fungi, and parasites), recombinant DNA (rDNA) technologies or human or animal fresh tissues, blood, or body fluids require pre-approval by the SRC.
- ALL studies in the areas of research listed above are prohibited in a home environment.
- A risk assessment is required for all projects in these research areas (see page 23 of the ISEF rules and guidelines manual).
- Research projects in the areas of research listed above are now classified into biosafety levels that require appropriate biosafety containment. Essentially, biosafety level 1 research may be conducted in a high school with a trained designated supervisor.
- Projects involving unknown microorganism (i.e. those collected from the environment) have additional rules and restrictions (see page 22 of the ISEF rules and guidelines manual).
- Some tissues do not need to be treated as potentially hazardous biological agents (i.e. plant tissue, established cell lines, hair, etc.). Refer to the additional rules for projects involving tissues including blood and blood products (see page 22 of the ISEF rules and guidelines manual).
Need More Information?
The rules and guidelines for Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair are available on the Science Service website in a number of formats to better aid all of those involved in the process: students, parents, teachers, and mentors. Click here and then click on International Rules and Guidelines for the full text of the rules and the forms both in html and in a downloadable format.
- Intel ISEF Rules Wizard for the wizard asks a series of questions to determine a list of forms that you need to complete.
- Overview for Forms and Dates for a brief explanation of each form’s purpose and when in the science fair project process it should be completed.
- Common SRC Problems for some quick pointers about what NOT to do.
CASEF Categories
Junior and senior high students may participate in one of the following categories in 2011:
100 Animal Sciences
200 Behavioral and Social Sciences
300 Biochemistry
400 Cellular and Molecular Biology
500 Chemistry
600 Computer Science
700 Earth Science
800 Energy and Transportation
900 Engineering
1000 Environmental
1100 Mathematical Sciences
1200 Medicine and Health
1300 Microbiology
1400 Physics and Astronomy
1500 Plant Sciences
Team projects will compete in appropriate subject categories.
Regional Placements
Students are awarded first, second, third and honorable mention honors in each of the categories. More than one first, second, third and honorable mention award may be granted within a category. All exhibitors receive a medal or an honorable mention ribbon for their participation. First place winners receive gold medals; second place, silver; and third place, bronze. Projects are judged individually and not in comparison with other entries except for the determination of grand champions.
Two senior high grand champions, one alternate senior high champion, the junior division champion and the alternate junior champion each receive a gold medal and cash awards. The two senior high grand champions will compete in the international science fair in Los Angeles, California, May 8-13, 2011.
Senior Scholarships
Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair presents scholarships to senior students based on point totals accumulated throughout their participation years. Money for scholarships is raised through contributions from area businesses, organizations and individuals. Contributors include Hershey Foods Corporation; Frederick L. Morgenthaler, Jr., Fund of the Greater Harrisburg Foundation; and PPL.
To be considered for a senior scholarship, a minimum of 60 points is required. Exhibitors must also participate in CASEF during their senior year and must be accepted by an accredited college, university or technical school.
Students receive 10 points for each year of participation.
Points
Sr. Division Jr. Division
Champion 60 30
Alternate Champion 50 25
First place 40 20
Second place 30 15
Third place 20 10
Honorable mention 10 5
General Participation Guidelines
- Participation guidelines for the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair are modeled after the International Rules for Pre-college Science Research and the Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairs as published by Science Service, Inc. Teachers and students may access the ISEF rules and guidelines by logging onto: http://www.sciserv.org/isef/primer/rules.asp for all specific exhibit guidelines.
- All students whose projects involve vertebrate animals, human subjects, recombinant DNA, tissue, pathogenic agents or controlled substances must complete certification forms found in the current ISEF rules book before any research begins.
- Research plans for the subjects listed above must be reviewed and approved by the fair’s Scientific Review Committee or your school’s Institutional Review Board prior to research. Refer to ISEF rules and guidelines for information regarding specific subjects. Projects involving these subjects that do not receive the proper prior approval will not be accepted in February by the Category Selection Committee.
- No living organisms (including plants, animals and microbes), preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals (including embryos), dried plant materials, taxidermy specimens or parts, human or animal parts and or human or animal food is permitted on display.
- Soil or waste samples, chemicals (including water); poisons, drugs, controlled substances; dry ice or other sublimating substances; flammable and combustible materials, liquids or gases; and sharp items are not allowed on display.
- All research and experimentation must follow existing local, state and federal laws.
- Only one project per student is permitted. Exhibits must be designed and produced by the student exhibitor.
- Senior division includes ninth through 12th grades; junior division includes seventh and eighth grades.
- Only full-time students not older than 21 before May 1, 2010, are eligible to participate in CASEF.
- Exhibits entered in a previous CASEF may not be entered again unless considerable expansion or development has been made and noted on the project.
- Students may compete in only one fair affiliated with ISEF in any one school year. Exhibits entered in any previous fair affiliated with ISEF are not permitted in CASEF. A student competing in fairs not represented in ISEF may enter a project in CASEF.
- Senior Division only! In order for a student to be considered for senior division grand champion, he/she must sign a form indicating agreement to attend the ISEF. The participant’s parent or guardian must also sign the form, and the form must be submitted with all required forms by Feb. 11, 2011. (See Agree to Attend Form)
- Students are required to write a (maximum) 250-word, one-page abstract. An abstract must include the purpose of the experiment, procedures used, data and conclusions. It may also include possible research applications. The abstract should focus on work done since the last CASEF and should not include any acknowledgements or procedures done by a mentor.
- Descriptive cards and charts must accompany exhibits to make them self-explanatory. Labels should be brief and neat.
- Exhibits are limited to 30 inches deep, front to back and 108 inches high, floor to top. Junior division projects must be no wider than 36 inches while senior division exhibits cannot exceed 42 inches in width. Projects must be self-supporting, safe, durable and no more than 250 pounds in weight. All valuable or movable items must be secured to the project.
- Student name and school must not be visible anywhere on the display, including the journal.
- All wiring must be properly insulated and protected from contact by the public. Only 110 volt AC electric is available. Exhibitors are required to furnish their own 9-foot grounded electrical extension cords as necessary to reach power connections.
- CASEF officials reserve the right to reject any exhibit that constitutes a public hazard or attempts to display prohibited items. ISEF rules state specific details about hazards. Please review these rules carefully.
- Efforts are made to protect all exhibits against loss or damage; however, projects are entered at the risk of the student exhibitor. The Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair and Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts will assume no responsibility.
- Projects displayed at Whitaker Center are limited to those chosen as outstanding by school authorities. It is at the discretion of the Category Selection Committee as to which projects are eliminated if available space is unable to accommodate all entered projects. Committee members reserve the right to disqualify projects not accompanied by proper certification forms.
Team Projects
- Team projects are accepted from both senior and junior division participants.
- Team projects compete against other individual projects within appropriate subject categories.
- Team project research may be in any of the 15 other CASEF scientific categories.
- Teams may consist of up to three members. Teams may not have more than the maximum number of members and then eliminate members to qualify for CASEF.
- A team project cannot be converted to an individual project and a new team member may not be added; however, two original junior division team members may continue if the third member no longer participates.
- Each team should appoint a team leader to coordinate the work and act as spokesperson; however, each team member must be able to serve as spokesperson, be fully involved in the project, and be familiar with all aspects of the project.
- The final work must reflect the coordinated efforts of all team members and will be evaluated using the same rules and similar judging criteria as the other 15 categories.
Each team member must submit an individual entry form. Team members must jointly submit one Exhibit/identification/project abstract form, student and adult checklist forms and any other required certification.
Special Awards
- Both local and national organizations and businesses support CASEF through the contribution of special awards. Outstanding student exhibitors are recognized in various classifications with certificates, plaques, savings bonds, scholarships and complimentary memberships.
- American Institute of Chemical Engineering, Susquehanna Section
- American Chemical Society, Southeastern PA Section
- American Meteorological Society
- American Psychological Society National Award
- American Society of Civil Engineers, Central PA Section
- American Society of Highway Engineers
- American Statistical Association, Harrisburg Chapter
- American Trauma Society, PA Division
- ASM International, South Central PA Chapter
- ASM Materials Education Association Foundation National Award
- Association for Women Geoscientists National Award
- Central Pennsylvania Engineers Week Council
- Dauphin County Medical Society and Alliance
- Engineers Society of PA
- Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
- Highmark Blue Shield of Pennsylvania
- Institute of Industrial Engineers
- Institute for Women in Science, Mathematics, and Technology – Wilson College
- Intel Excellence in Computer Science Award
- Izaak Walton League of America, John Harris Chapter
- KCF Groundwater
- Mu Alpha Theta National Award
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- NOAA – Planet Earth Award
- Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers
- PA Council of Professional Geologists, Harrisburg Chapter
- Ricoh Corporation Sustainable Development Award
- Rotary Club of Harrisburg, Award for Ecology
- Society of Plastics Engineers
- Society for In-Vitro Biology
- Stephen F. Spector Family
- Stockholm Junior Water Prize
- Thomas M. McAuliffe Family
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Public Health Service
- U.S. Metric Association
- U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps
- Yale Science and Engineering Association
Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair
Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair, a non-profit organization of business people and educators, is aided in its dedication to the fair by foundations, organizations and businesses that contribute financial support, special awards and volunteerism.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks for CASEF--we need both brain and brawn. Want to serve on a committee? Available for crowd control? How about some muscle in setting up the tables? Whatever your special skill or interest, we invite you to be an active part of CASEF. It’s a rewarding experience--especially for the students! Call Tim Ritter at 717/724-3892.
Board of Directors Executive Committee
Mary Pat Evans
President
, Susquehanna Twp. SD
Jo Hopwood
Past President,
Cedar Crest High School
Lori Lauver
Treasurer
, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
Tina Fenstemaker
Secretary
, Londonderry School
Michelle Dubaich
Judging Chair
, West Perry High School
Trisha Britton
SRC Chair
, Bermudian Springs Middle School
Juliette Winterer
HACC
Marie-Louise Abram
Penn State Harrisburg
Gerald Hess
Messiah College
Amy Ensley/Dana Harriger
Wilson College
Dr. James Mike
Shippensburg University
Jeff Pratt
Carlisle Sentinel
Timothy Dawson
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Catherine Caruso
Penn State College of Medicine
CASEF President Writes:
As a science teacher, I truly believe that it is our job to encourage students to observe, question and explore their world; from the very large to the incredibly small, from the very distant to our own backyard. Science Fair research gives our students in Central Pennsylvania the opportunity to do just that. Students that take part in Science Fair not only demonstrate their ability to diligently work on a long-term project but to improve their questioning and problem solving skills. It requires them to collect and analyze data; write with clarity; use technology and speak in public.
Recently, President Obama expressed his support for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related educational opportunities such as Science Fair, “The key to meeting these challenges–to improving our health and well- being, to harnessing clean energy, to protecting our security, and succeeding in the global economy–will be reaffirming and strengthening America’s role as the world’s engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation,”
I invite teachers, students and their families to step up to the challenge and become the engine of discovery and innovation. Please consider joining us at the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair as we pursue real science and explore the possibilities.
Mary Pat Evans
CASEF President
CASEF is proud to be Sponsored by Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Carlisle Sentinel, Penn State Harrisburg, Wilson College, Messiah College, Shippensburg University, Penn State College of Medicine, Harrisburg Area Community College, and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
