A science fair judge can influence the career choices of students. You may be the first science professional a student has encountered, so as an ambassador of your profession it's important to know how to be a knowledgeable and fair science fair judge. Here are some tips to help you interact with students and determine the winning project.
Getting Started
- Introduce yourself.
- Explain a little about your background. If you are a scientist or engineer, remember you may be the first people in this career the student has met. Encourage questions relating to your professional background.
How to Be Fair
You want students to feel you are fair and impartial. There are several ways you can convey a sense of fairness to students.
- Spend approximately the same amount of time with each student.
- Ask questions intended to learn more about the project and how it was conducted. Avoid embarrassing the student.
- Listen to the student's explanation of the project. Avoid interrupting.
Avoiding Intimidation
You are a judge, so you are naturally going to intimidate many students. You can dispel this image by:
- Making eye contact with the student.
- Make certain your tone of voice indicates interest rather than scepticism.
- Tilt your head slightly to the side. This is a nonverbal cue that indicates interest.
- Try to be at the same level as the student. If you are taller than the student, bend or squat down to bring yourself to the same eye level.
How to Ask Questions
The questions you ask and the way you ask them are key to making the science fair experience enjoyable for the student. Avoid asking questions that sound critical or negative, such as "Why didn't you... ?", favoring questions like "What do you think would have happened if... ?" or "Could you have... ?"
Choosing a Winner
Sometimes the winner of the science fair will be clear, but you may need to choose between a few excellent projects. Which one will win?
- Award higher marks for projects in which the student made a scientific discovery or produced an invention.
- Award a prize to a project the student understands over a more stunning project that the student barely comprehends.
- It's fine if the student disproves the hypothesis. Actually, if the experiment was well-designed, that's probably what will happen.
