Science fairs, as seen in movies, often involve baking soda and vinegar volcanoes, electrical currents from potatoes and Coke and Mentos. Math, Science, and Technology (MST) students take science fair to new heights.
Every year, members of the MST program at Manual are required to develop a science experiment under teacher approval and guidance. This requirement acts as a distinction between MST and the rest of the magnets at Manual.
If they choose to do so, MST students can also participate in science fair competitions. There are two paths that MST students can take. The Ram Path allows students to take a more “lab report” style approach to the project, while the Crimson Path has them competing outside of Manual.
Students and teachers alike see science fair as a chance to develop grit and determination, but it doesn’t come without its struggles. When the majority of Manual students face some type of academic pressure, on top of a rigorous course load, science fair can be a lot for MST students.
“You have to be really good with your time management or everything can mess up,” Arya Walia (10, MST) said.
Yet there are plenty of benefits, and they extend far beyond science.
“I think it’s a really important, good, solid requirement, for me, to be able to defend something that you researched and be able to answer questions about it. That’s something that’s a really common skill in college and you may not get in many classes,” Keri Polevchak (Science), the regional director for science fair and a member of the Manual committee for planning science fair, said.
Only a handful of students become finalists if they choose to compete; they are competing with the rest of Kentucky schools. Several students from Manual have advanced to the National Science Fair as chronicled in the Disney+ documentary, “Science Fair.”
“Competition is very high because it can look good on your college application, so everyone is trying to do really good on it, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing,” Walia said.
According to the MST website, “The mission of the duPont Manual Regional Science Fairs, Inc. is to stimulate, promote and develop interest in science.” Despite the pressure and challenges, many MST students still enjoy science fair, as they get to explore science in ways that they choose.
Teachers do a lot of work to ensure the science fair is safe, successful and enjoyable for all students. Many teachers are involved in the planning and execution of science fair. In both hands-on ways and organizational aspects, teachers work behind the scenes to make science fair happen. In terms of the mandatory aspect, science fair teachers help students do their best while also understanding this is part of the program.
“It’s mandatory because students have signed up for that program. So, just to be clear, they can be at Manual and do HSU without science fair,” Alexis Rich (Science), who is involved with science fair, said.
In years past, it was mandatory for all MST students’ projects to compete with other schools, possibly on the national level.
“We used to make it mandatory that they compete at regional science fair, and I feel like that was a ton of pressure because not everybody was science fair motivated,” Polevchak said.
Now that students can choose, teachers notice a difference in the affects science fair has on students.
“Now, since they have the choice with Ram Path, that gives them an option to do more of a lab report, and just go through the process instead of having to compete,” Polevchak said.
Teachers see the effects of science fair on students as well.
“ I can see great determination, but I can also see in January, February, a lot of folks give up too,” Rich said.
Students aren’t the only ones who can enjoy science fair. Teachers also get to learn more about their students.
“It’s really cool to see students take ideas and just run with it and then, at the international level, be able to achieve things,” Polevchak said. “Before, they used to be in the lab all the time and professors did a lot of the work and they didn’t do as much.”
“There’s complete ownership in what they’re winning and I think that’s pretty impressive,” she said.
For MST students, science fair is more than a project they do in high school. Oftentimes they see benefits in their future that stem from science fair.
“I feel like they make so many connections and there’s even awards they can win for camps and different programs that they get paid for,” Polevchak said.
The mandatory aspect of science fair will not go away anytime soon. Although students may face struggles over the course of science fair, it’s a learning opportunity, an important aspect of what makes MST unique and a testament to the hard work they can do.
