The 2023 Fort Atkinson Regional Science Fair will be held Sunday, according to information released by its organizers.
Science projects and activities will fill three floors of the Fort Atkinson Club Community Center, 211 S. Water St., E, Fort Atkinson.
The fair will be open between 1 and 3:30 p.m.
“Members of the public are invited to attend to celebrate science and see students’ projects,” the release noted.
According to the release, the regional science fair is open to students in kindergarten through high school who live in or attend school in the school districts of Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Cambridge, Milton, Palmyra-Eagle, and Whitewater. The 2023 Fair will be the 33rd in the organization’s history.
The fair returns to an in-person format after a two-year pause undertaken as a precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic, the release noted. During the pause, students participated in the fair virtually.
“We are keeping some things that worked well about the virtual format— for example, having judges work together on a spreadsheet was a big improvement — but we’re excited to be back at the Fort Atkinson Club. It’s a fantastic space for our event,” board president Cynthia Ficenec was quoted as saying in the release.
Those visiting the fair can expect to find students’ science fair projects made available for viewing on the community center’s main floor. Attendees are encouraged to vote for their favorite projects in such categories as: Most Practical, Most Creative, and People’s Choice, the release stated.
Upstairs, in the center’s theater, attendees will find a collection of short, fun science videos, which will stream throughout the afternoon and until a presentation of awards is made.
Downstairs, on the building’s “river level,” scientists and conservationists will present information and activities to engage students, the release noted.
Guest scientists in attendance will include:
• Representatives from Rock River Coalition presenting about water quality monitoring.
• Friends of Rose Lake representatives, who are advocates for the ecosystems of Dorothy Carnes Park.
• The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources bat roost monitoring program representatives.
• Citizen scientists, who are working to support habitat and populations of monarch butterflies.
• University of Wisconsin-Whitewater professors, who will be offering physics and chemistry activities and other resources for students and families who share an interest in science.
According to the release, “students who visit with guest scientists and complete a ‘passport’ can enter their names into a drawing for a Celstron digital microscope donated by Nasco Education.
Further, the release stated, all Science Fair participants will receive a limited-edition t-shirt.
Artwork selected for this year’s t-shirt was designed by Chloe Barganz, a ninth-grade student at Lakeside Lutheran High School.
The Fort Atkinson Regional Science Fair recognizes excellent projects by giving place awards — including ribbons, medals, and money — in five different grade-level divisions. First place projects in each division also receive a $100 credit for the student’s science teacher to spend on science materials, which likely could encourage future fair participation, the release continued.
“A $100 prize also goes to the school that sends the greatest number of projects which qualify for an Award of Excellence. The Friends of Rose Lake will present a special award of Vortex Binoculars for a project that considers the ecology of Carnes Park or other important scientific inquiry,” the release stated.
Following the fair, projects earning placement within a division will next be exhibited in the Jones Gallery of the Dwight Foster Public Library in Fort Atkinson. The projects will remain available for viewing through March 11, according to the release.
A list of science fair donors include: Generac, which the release cited as “a new major sponsor of the 2023 Fort Atkinson Regional Science Fair,” along with Merrion Family Foundation, in honor of Richard Wanie; Fort Healthcare; W.D. Hoard and Sons; Nasco Education; Ball Corporation, and Brindle Ink.
Additional support is provided by: Badger Basement Systems, Fort Atkinson Hometown Pharmacy, Fort Community Credit Union, Friends of Rose Lake, JM Carpets, Phil and Linda Niemeyer, PremierBank, Spacesaver, Steven Sahyun, and W&A Distribution Services.
For more information about the Fort Atkinson Regional Science Fair, visit: FAScienceFair.org.
Charlie Fortney of Barrie Elementary School and his dad, Nathan, watch the 2021 Fort Atkinson Regional Science Fair ceremony. Winners, including Charlie, were announcing during the video presentation. Charlie is the individual winner in grades K-1 for his project: “The LEGO Pulley.” On Sunday, the fair will return to an in-person format and will be held at the Fort Atkinson Club Community Center where organizers have said visitors will find three floors worth of projects and activities. File photo/Contributed.
A design created by Lakeside Lutheran High School ninth-grade student Chloe Barganz will represent the 2023 Fort Atkinson Regional Science Fair. T-shirts, which will be distributed during the fair on Sunday, will display the design. Students within the school districts of Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Cambridge, Milton, Palmyra-Eagle and Whitewater may participate. Contributed photo.
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