The expo experience: Many lessons learned at regional event

By Katie Tolmachoff

What do exploring a community college campus, optical illusions, laws of gravity, spending quality time with friends and nails and a cinderblock have in common?

All these elements were part of Mark Twain Middle School students’ trip to the Central Western Oregon Science Expo at the Linn Benton Community College, part of the Intel Northwest Science Expo, where local eighth grade students participated in an event to heighten their interest in science and engineering.

Sixty-one Mark Twain students representing 41 projects developed their own science displays for this regional science fair.  The projects ranged in the areas of the natural, social and computer sciences to mathematics. Students were to pose a research question and gather the data to answer it. Three different judges with scientific background evaluated and gave feedback to the students.

“I am sincere when I say that every one of these fine students did something special at their own pace, and I could not be prouder of them as individuals and as a group,” said Daniel Jamsa, Mark Twain science teacher. “The night before the fair, I tried to pick the top 18 projects from the 41 that went …(because 18 were going to be selected to go to state), and I could not come close to doing it.”

Commuity members are invited to see Mark Twain students’ displays at the Silver Falls Night of Science on March 15. The event is open to any one who wants to show their entry.

One of the highlights of the science expo was a show put on by the college’s physics department.  It talked about the universe, mixing in lots of science with demonstrations.

“It was really cool,” eighth grader Courtney Roth said. “I liked what they did with candles and salt. They used methanol and showed the different colors of the salt. And what they did to Mr. Jamsa was really funny; you could see him wince!”

During the show, several Mark Twain students volunteered Jamsa for a demonstration that involved lying on a bed of nails while a hammer smashed a cinderblock placed on a board just below his ribcage; the students were impressed.

What Jamsa seemed most impressed with, though, was the support that the Mark Twain students showed each other and how they treated each other with such kindness throughout the entire day, and even before the event as well.

Before the event there were a few project boards that were not up to the high level of quality that most boards demonstrate. Students who had completed project boards teamed up with their peers during free time and after school to make sure that all of the boards looked really good.  And they did.

Gianna Moreno was one of these helpful students.

“I liked what they were doing, so it seemed fun to help. I did a solar cooker on my own, but I learned a lot more from helping with the other three projects,” Moreno explained.  She would advise seventh graders to “not procrastinate and do your best.”

Eighteen projects from Mark Twain Middle School will advance to the Intel Northwest Science Expo, hosted by Portland State University.  Student work from Oregon and Southern Washington will be presented.

“If this first group of students can do such a great job of this without role models from their peers to guide them, they will make it much easier for next year’s group to raise the bar and grow this event and science in the district,” Jamsa reported.

“I am hopeful that these kids go to the high school and ask for some support so they can continue to attend the science fair at the very impressive high school level.”