2009 Intel ISEF Ed Academy

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Julie DunkleIntel Education Manager for CA

(Aka Michael’s Mom)

Sindy Shell

8th Grade Science Teacher

Palos Verde Science Fair Committee (Orange)

Margery Weitkam

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Los Angeles Science Fair Committee

Melina Duarte

CA COSMOS Director

Kern Co Science Fair

Representative

Rick Hall San Bernardino

County Superintendent

of Schools

Science & Environmental

Science Coordinator

Co-Director RIMS Inland Science

Fair

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California Education Data

• Students – 6.3 Million– Hispanic (51%), White (27%), Asian

(12%), African American (7%), other (3%)– English Learners – 26%– Poverty – 52%

• Teachers – 312,000– White (71%), Hispanic (17%), Asian (6%),

African American (4%), other (2%)– Full Credential (93%)

• Schools – 10,600– ES (54%), Alternative (14%), MS (12%),

HS (11%), Charter Schools (7%), K12 (1%)

• Districts – 1,050– ES (53%), Unified (32%), HS (8%),

COEs (6%) • Computers – 1 PC per 4 students

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CA Educational System• Federal US Government

– ‘Voluntary’ Mandates NCLB (No Child Left Behind)– Limited resources available but often targeted and require

NCLB compliance; accounts for ~ < 5% of district budgets • State CA Government

– Dictates standards, assessments, K8 curriculum, teacher credentialing

– New state science assessment required in grades 5, 8, 10– Fund CA districts with about 90% of their funding

• University of California Entrance Requirements– Science – 2+ lab courses (Biology, Chemistry, Physics..)– Math – 3+ courses (Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Alg.,

Calculus…)• CA School Districts

– Manage staffing and salaries, curriculum adoptions, budget– Can secure additional funds locally via school bonds (approx.

5%)• CA Teacher Unions

– Bargain for teacher rights – salaries and working conditions– Very powerful and well funded

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CA Science FairsCurrent Situation in California

• Only 10 CA regional fairs have been Intel ISEF affiliated (70% in North, 20% in South, and 10% in Central state)

• CA has 4 well-established (~50 yrs. old) large regional science fairs (central or southern regions) that have not been Intel ISEF affiliated.

See • Intel PYS – Promising Young

Scientists program is identifying talented 9th and 10th graders and supporting them to continue science research

• UC COSMOS offers ~600 of CA’s top HS students a 4-week on-campus science research experience. Students are exposed to science competitions and 28 are awarded an Intel Research Fellowship to support their research.

Regional Fair Key

1. Kern County

2. Los Angeles

3. Orange County

4. RIMS Inland

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3

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Science Fair Obstacles

CA’s biggest obstacles:

• State funding deficits ~ $42 billion

• Corporate sponsors to support Intel Fair

• Quality mentors for students• Improving project quality

Los Angeles County Science Fair

The oldest and longest runningScience Fair in the nation

The Los Angeles County Science Fair is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.

A Brief History

• The Los Angeles County Science Fair began in 1950. • The Fair originally had 150 student participants.• In 1980’s, the Fair moved to house over 400 projects.• In 1990’s, the Fair increased business sponsors.• Then awards and scholarships increased.• In 2000, the Fair moved to the LA Convention Center.• In 2009, the Fair had almost 1,000 participants.• The Fair offers many other attractions to make it a Grand

Event.

A Brief History

Special Interactive Science activities (Los Angeles Zoo Mobile, Robotics & Things, Traveling Space Museum, etc.)

Special Events (MythBusters with Adam Savage, Science in the Movies with Special Effects Coordinator Steve Wolf)

Special speakers like Dr. Gary Telgenhoff of CSI, Las Vegas, Academy Award producer (“An Inconvenient Truth”) Lawrence Binder and NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin.

Board and ContactsPresident Dean Gilbert Gilbert_Dean@lacoe.edu

Science Consultant (562) 922-6896Los Angeles County Office of Ed.

Vice-President Maureen AllenRetired, Long Beach Unified SD

Treasurer Susan SinghTeacher, Los Angeles Unified SD

Recording Secretary Jennifer MosesTeacher, Burbank Unified SD

Corresponding Dr. Richard BoolootianSecretary Retired, The Mirman School

www.lacoe.edu/sciencefair