Science Fair 2023: Innovations, Inventions, and Discoveries
From the first day of third semester up until the fated 30th of March, secondary students were forced to suffer under the terrifying grasp of the too-threatening science fair. Well, perhaps that's too much of a pessimistic way of viewing it. When the science fair was first introduced, most students were apprehensive about the prospect. Since the pandemic had stalled such events, it would be the first science fair for four out of the seven participating classes. Science teachers had to walk each class through every specific detail, and they worked tirelessly to provide the necessary information.
The entire journey was an immense challenge that required much time, effort, and patience. The first issue that most people faced was the picking of their topics. Google must have been flooded with searches such as "Easy science fair projects" and "Science project examples" as students scrambled to find original ideas. Consultations were offered by many of the teachers during lunch so that students could order their thoughts properly.
Once the ideation process was over, things started looking up for the students. No academic activity is ever fun, let's be honest, but the process didn't seem too horrible. Students would get to repeatedly conduct experiments and use the interesting tools hidden within the science closet to study things such as bacteria, viruses, and more.
But, like all good things, proper research had to come first. The deadlines were punishing, and many students stayed up late to finish working on their background research and written output before starting their experiment. It sounds as if the process was hell, but, surprisingly, it was quite the opposite for most pairs. The work itself was arduous and demanding, yes, but upon the completion of a section or a chapter, the thrill of success would await one. The science fair led many students to feel pride in their academic capabilities and works, and thus made them more confident in themselves throughout their entire journey.
The experimentation was, debatably, by far the most enjoyable part of the project. Some people meticulously tested the varying acidities of juices while some quizzed fellow students to determine whether auditory or visual learning was superior. Others brought samples of food for their test subjects to taste, while blindfolded, and many pairs even conducted physical experiments with themselves as the subjects. They tested the effectiveness of a certain physical training system, the methods to reach a higher vertical reach, and much more.
The typical stereotype during any kind of science project is that many groups will end up formulating a project relating to photosynthesis. However, this year, Logos had a very different "common" similarity: water. Over four groups tested different waters, and, to a disinterested observer, it may have seemed as if all the tests were the same. Despite this, it must be noted that each water experiment was different and unique, and they all possessed vital information to Logos students. One "water" pair even ended up taking home the first place prize!
It was such an interesting experience to see many experiments relating directly to the Logos community. Logos students infamously love bubble tea, and an experiment had to do with it. Some experiments solely tested Logos-given water, and even others tested efficient learning strategies for students. The Logos community is proudly a closely-knit community, and this could even be seen through the many project topics that would actively make a difference within the community.
Once the experiments were completed and the written outputs were turned in, all that was left was the board and the final presentation. High school students were only given a week to complete their boards, which were thankfully given by the school. Their creative minds sparked to life as they brainstormed with their partners on how the board should turn out. Some of the extremely artistic students hand-drew designs, constructed a "board-roof," or attached sparkling lights for decorative purposes. The Tuesday before the official Science Fair, all boards were turned in, and there was nothing left to do but prepare for the presentation: the moment that would decide it all.
On the day of, all the students came dressed in their best attire. People in suits, dresses, blouses, and more crowded the MPR as they appreciated their hard work from the past three months. The judges were an intimidating sight. They had kind eyes and warm smiles, but everyone knew that these judges weren't there just for decoration; they were here to actively and properly judge their works.
The ninth graders went first. At 8:00 sharp, boards were brought to the judging tables and presentations began. The questions were both insightful, legitimate, and thought-provoking. Some pairs left feeling triumphant while others were much more down. But all the finished groups were united in their sense of satisfaction that the months of work had finally paid off and had come to an end. Eleventh and twelfth graders went next, and their riveting outputs kept the stationary judges interested as they occasionally took sips from their water bottles. Finally, it was the sophomores that concluded the science fair. Many of them would go on to win awards when the awards ceremony would happen.
When the time for the awards announcement had come, all secondary students sat on the edge of their seats as Ms. Peralta and Ms. Dayao prepared to announce the names of the winners. Superlative-style awards were given first, for things such as most innovative, best design, best oral presentation, and more. And finally, the main event had come: the announcement of the top five projects in middle school and high school separately. Among the high schoolers, sophomores dominated the rankings, with four out of the five being from 10th grade. The ultimate winners, HeeWoo and Celeste, were sophomores as well and went on to receive the award of best overall project. Kevin and Vitu, freshmen, were the only non-sophomores to be recognized and were awarded third place for their project. In middle school, a talented seventh grader took home the first place award with her strange experiment about grape juice.
With the grades announced, awards given, and fair completed, there is nothing left to do but celebrate the achievement of the secondary school. Every single student worked tirelessly to ensure this year's science fair was unforgettable. And teachers, too, deserve a commendation for their hard work and dedication to this months-long project. Science fair was difficult, yes, but the memories stemming from it are priceless and worth all the effort it took to reach the final destination.
Without further ado, here are some reflections on the science fair from some students!
What was your science fair topic?
Reina, MS first place - I tested the effect of grape juice on tooth enamel using eggshells in place of teeth.
Vitu, HS third place - It was about which method would be best for retaining information: auditory or visual.
Marco, MS best oral presentation - My topic was relating to electricity insulation.
Dennrich, participant - Our topic was about determining the quantity of electrolytes in sports drinks.
What would you say was the hardest part of science fair?
Reina, MS first place - The written output was definitely the hardest part.
Vitu, HS third place - The hardest part was the written paper part.
Marco, MS best oral presentation - I would say that the hardest part was the Review of Related Literature because we had to research a lot.
Dennrich, participant - I think coming up with a topic was the hardest for me.
How would you rate it out of ten now that it's over?
Reina, MS first place - 7/10, very stressful but rewarding
Vitu, HS third place - I would say it would be like 7 or 8 out of ten; it was better than I expected.
Marco, MS best oral presentation - 7/10; it was pretty fun I guess.
Dennrich, participant - 5/10.
Which part of the project did you enjoy the most?
Reina, MS first place - I probably enjoyed writing the written output the most
Vitu, HS third place - The most enjoyable part was making the board.
Marco, MS best oral presentation - I enjoyed doing the presentation in front of the judges the most.
Dennrich, participant - I really enjoyed making the board.
What's your major takeaway from science fair?
Reina, MS first place - If you work hard enough, things eventually happen.
Vitu, HS third place - My main takeaway was it could be fun if we made it fun.
Marco, MS best oral presentation - My major takeaway is to avoid procrastinating the work.
Dennrich, participant - Communication is very important.
Is science fair better than history day?
Reina, MS first place - I wouldn't know; I've never done history day.
Vitu, HS third place - History day was easier, but science fair was better and more fun.
Marco, MS best oral presentation - No, history day is much better.
Dennrich, participant - No.
Science fair was a challenging task for the secondary students, but they braved through the hardships and provided results that made their teachers proud. Here's a cheer to all the hardworking students who worked to make this a memorable science fair!