Created and Maintainted by 

Manuel F. M. Costa, U. Minho, February 2004

HANDS-ON SCIENCE Portugal

EUROPEAN CONTEST 

on

"IDEAS FOR SCIENCE FAIRS"

(click here to registers and enter the contest website)

          

 

Learning Science, exploring our Universe, understanding the mystery and wonders of Nature is and should always be a fascinating experience.

The Hands-on Science network is launching a major EU contest of "Ideas for Science Fairs" (www.hsci-pt.com) open to all students, individually or in groups within their Schools or Science Clubs or simply at home. 

The H-Sci is a network of European Schools and Institutions (www.hsci.info) supported by the European Commission, that exists to promote the development of Science education and scientific literacy by bringing hands-on active learning of Science into the classroom and into the soul and spirit of the school.

A Science Fair day is one of those special days. A day to remember where, after spending days and days experimenting the thrills of discovery we show to all the results of our work. Proudly showing to colleagues teachers friends and family that “litle” bit of Science we managed to unveil. 

Sharing ideas, discovering new secrets, having fun ...

This is a contest at the European Union level . However includes also national competition and participants from outside the EU will also be most welcomed!

All subjects, all fields of science and all kinds of presentations will be accepted.

Four competition classes are established for ages: up to 9 years old, from 10 to 12 years old, 13 to 15 and from 16 up.

A resume of all submissions to the contest will be posted on our website. There will be prizes and trophies for the selected most interesting ideas. One of those will be a special invitation to present your work in one of the many events we organize including our annual conferences (the next one will be in Braga, Portugal, September 4 to 9, 2006 and will include a large Science Fair...)!

The ideas do not need to be complicated or complex (often the best are the simpler ones… but it’s entirely up to you! Let your imagination and your discoverer and scientist facet take control!), for instance: a hamster that produces it self the energy needed to run his private jacuzzi…; a story about an “ecological” bird that recycles others waist; a simulation of a high jump competition in the moon; the distinctive features of the rocks you find in the backyard of your school; how to measure how far is the sun from us; why do we have two eyes or why are birds, usually, so colorful; a model of a solar popcorn machine; a painting made just of natural dyes; a simple, or not so simple…, solar watch… or a sand one;… what about a simulation of a mirage?; were there dinosaurs in Mars?; and a sophisticated robot to go try to find their skeletons…;   an hologram; or an homemade rainbow; or bouncing balls; an underwater volcano; or a submarine robot to measure the depth of a lake and, why not, the quality of its water; a tsunami; or how to build an home to stand an earthquake; 

… or any other of the so many ideas you will have just by “looking” at the world that surrounds you...

Remember… when you are trying to understand what surrounds you, you are doing Science… and how exciting and rewarding it might be to explore all those wonders of Nature!

 

As Coordinator of the Hands-on Science network it is my pleasure to invite to participate in this contest. We are sure that you will enjoy it and we are looking forward to hear from you!

Braga, Portugal, 5 February 2004.  

Manuel Filipe Pereira da Cunha Martins Costa  

(Chair)

INFO

 

For further information and registration please contact the Organiser (mfcosta@hsci-pt.com) 

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