The Newport Schools Science Fair is an annual event that celebrates science by:
- engaging students in hands-on science activities in school,
- giving students, teachers and scientists an opportunity to work together and learn from each other, and
- sponsoring an event where students can share their scientific findings with the community.
Over the past several weeks, students at Newport Middle School have been engaged in science and engineering activities in preparation for the Science Fair. Students have been asking questions, making observations, testing ideas, and describing their findings. The public is invited to come to the Visitor Center at Hatfield Marine Science Center on March 16th to learn about the students’ discoveries:
NEWPORT SCHOOLS SCIENCE FAIR
Thursday, March 16, 2017
4:30pm- 7:30pm
Hatfield Marine Science Center
This event is free and open to the public
One of the unique aspects of this Science Fair program is its connection to adults in the community who work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Each 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science classroom at Newport Middle School has been matched with two science mentors who have been visiting their classroom weekly to help students as they work on their investigations. The students learn from their mentors about local STEM careers and how the process of science works, and the mentors get a chance to share their love of science with the next generation and have an impact on STEM education. The 30 STEM professionals who have volunteered to mentor this year come from a variety of institutions. Many volunteers are from organizations housed at Hatfield Marine Science Center, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University (OSU), and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Other mentors are from the NOAA Ship Fairweather, Oregon Coast Aquarium, City of Newport, and Oregon Department of Land Conservation.
Oregon Sea Grant coordinates the Science Fair in partnership with school staff and administrators. Additional funding support for materials was provided by the Newport Middle School Boosters and the Oregon Coast STEM Hub.
The Science Fair is free and open to the public.
Information provided by Cait Goodwin STEM HUB
