As you setup your classroom this coming school year, how do you build a foundation for Science Fair participation? Beyond traditional research methods, we'd like to help you find resources on-line and in your community that you can share with students and say "There's a Science Fair Project in that!"

Help students find questions and problems that interest them and need to be addressed with launch activities like these:

• Keep individual or collaborative journals and record trends like weather, traffic, or price fluctuations at nearby stores.
• Contact local town or city offices, like the DPW or Public Safety, and ask what projects they are working on.
• Provide assignments that involve listening to science podcasts on topics students are interested in or that you'll be covering in class -- check out Science Friday, the Hidden Brain, or Dope Labs.
• Encourage students to read scientific papers of interest and contact the authors to get more information and make a connection.
• Check out the UN Sustainable Development Goals to explore resources and ideas that are locally and globally relevant.
• Explore citizen science project options on SciStarter.org or ScienceNearMe.org.
• NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has a ton of resources that can be fascinating to explore, such as Weather, Climate Resilience, and Data Visualization.
• Explore the Mass Environmental Public Health Tracking portal and learn more about what's going on in your community. Watch this orientation video to learn how.

As students explore, have them jot down questions and observations they have and identify how they would learn more.

How do you create a culture of Science Fair participation in your classroom?

Sign up for the Science Fair Ready Network

and request a 'Classroom Kit' of posters and prompts

to set the stage for strong project ideas.

Summer Interns

MSEF's Student Interns have been hard at work this summer. After being split into 5 groups, they are focusing on different projects that provide them with a professional learning experience while also helping MSEF create valuable resources to support statewide Science & Engineering Fairs. Project goals include improving the ability to navigate the MSEF website as well as brainstorming a platform to bring high school students and mentors together and foster collaboration and support. 

Schools represented by this summer's interns include:

Check out these other opportunities, resources and organizations.

• James Webb Space Telescope STEM Toolkit 
• Free on-line learning modules from Right Question Institute on QFT using primary sources.
• 3D and VR resources from Inspirit: Sign up for free webinars every second Monday to learn more.
• Check out resources from STEP UP, such as a Women in Physics lesson to create cultural change and inspire young women to pursue physics in college.
• Beyond Benign provides resources on green chemistry across grade levels with curriculum, trainings and professional learning community.
• Have students interested in climate action? Spring Forward is a local, student-driven group that offers programs and curriculum.
• The Wade Institute for Science Education presents Engaging Students in the Engineering Design Process Using Sensors on October 14th and 15th. There are a lot of potential science fair projects that use sensors!

This newsletter went out to students last week. Take a look at some of the resources and opportunities we shared.

We are so excited to help students across Massachusetts be Science Fair Ready in 2023! 

Rebekah Stendahl

Program Director

[email protected]

Advancing science and engineering literacy since 1949, the Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair (MSEF) was founded by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, MIT professors, and a group of pioneering K-12 science educators. 

MSEF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.