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There are many opportunities for the community to become involved
with the Metro Richmond Science Fair. The following is a list
of possible ways for members of the academic, corporate and
general community to help make the Fair bigger and better:
- Fair
Sponsorship
Individuals, companies and organizations
can become Metro Richmond Science Fair Sponsors. The MathScience
Innovation Center Foundation administers the sponsorships
which provide monetary prizes to the winners, as well as
helping to defray the costs of the event. For more information
on sponsorship opportunities,
Robin Newton
Specialist for Community Partnerships
MathScience Innovation Center
(804) 343-6525, ext. 227
rnewton@msinnovation.info
- Screeners
The Fair needs qualified individuals to read
and score the papers which are submitted by the students.
Each project synopsis must be read by at least two people.
The scores are averaged and the students with the highest
averages are invited to display their projects at the Fair.
Over 600 students submit projects each year, so the need
for screeners is very real.
Potential
screeners should have at least a four-year degree or major
coursework in the area of study they will be reading.
(See Category Descriptions for the subject areas.) People
who work in research environments can often substitute
work experience for the four-year degree.
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Judges
The recruitment of qualified judges for
the Fair is always a challenge. The Metro Richmond Science
Fair has 250 – 300 students exhibiting their projects
on Fair Day. The students are divided into Junior (grades
7-8) and Senior (grades 9-12) Divisions, and into subject
Categories within the Divisions.
Teams
of two or three judges will review the project displays
in their section and interview each of the students individually.
Each judging section consists of approximately twelve
projects. Judges begin their day around 7:15 a.m. and
are usually finished by 2:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch
are provided.
Potential
judges should have an advanced degree in their subject
area or a four-year degree with major coursework in the
area to be judged.
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General
Help
There is always a need for people to help with the details
of the Fair. On the Friday afternoon before the Fair,
beginning about 2:00 p.m., the exhibit area must be prepared
for the students. Tables must be set up and covered, signs
must be hung, and registration tables prepared for the
arrival of the students at 5:00 p.m. Volunteers help with
registration, escort students to their judging area and
even occasionally help the students to set up their projects
for the next day.
On the day of
the Fair, volunteers help register students as they arrive,
provide supervision for the exhibit area, and assist with
clean-up when the Fair is over. It is essential that the
Fair site is left in excellent condition, so the
clean-up is especially important.
For additional information on any of these volunteer opportunities,
contact:
Martha
Vogel
Coordinator, Metro Richmond Science Fair
MathScience Innovation Center
(804)-343-6525, ext. 231
mvogel@msinnovation.info
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