Thank you for showing an interest in judging at the next Science Expo. Judges have two important roles. The first is to evaluate honestly, and the second is to be an encouraging listener. The student should be an expert in their particular topic, so a few well-placed questions to them during their presentation should enable you to make a sound evaluation.
As we are a certified feeder to the international level of competition, we need to state the qualifications for judges. If you have received a four-year college degree or work in an area of science and/or technology, you are eligible to judge..
This year’s Expo will include an Open Competition and a Challenge Competition. In the Open Competition, the students present their independent research efforts through poster presentations and interviews. In the Challenge Competition, student teams compete against each other in designed challenges.
There is also a STEAM Competition. All the projects in it must be based on either an Open or a Challenge category, must qualify for it, and must be judged as such. The only difference is that the students will also explain how Art and/or Awe added to their STEM project.
Duties, Procedures and Timing
When judging research projects you will spend approximately 15-20 minutes viewing each presentation as displayed on the poster board, and discussing the research involved with the student(s) present. You will then assess each project and tabulate the score earned by the student(s) using an evaluation sheet which will be provided to you and explained before the judging starts.
When judging the Challenge events, groups of judges will work together to determine if each team’s “solution” meets all designated specifications, to take and record any measurements required, and then to calculate each individual team score. The evaluation phase ends for each team when the judges meet with each team after the competition to discuss the outcome of the event as it applies to their “solution”. Judges can then individually interview the team(s) in their competition. The interview process includes talking with the students, viewing poster, and checking notebooks.
We encourage you to register and to let others know about the Expo so they might judge as well.
Always Remember:
- Encourage
- Evaluate honestly
- Smile
