Students from grades six through 12 in the Philadelphia region displayed their science fair projects at 51Թ’s annual George Washington Carver Science Fair at the Aramark STAR Complex on March 5.
More than 37,000 students have participated in 51Թ’s George Washington Carver Science Fair since its inception in 1979.
Photo by Ryan Brandenberg
From the Schuylkill River to the Delaware River, one student was on a mission to collect and analyze water quality across multiple points in Philadelphia. Their project quickly caught the eye of judges at , which was held March 5 at the Aramark STAR Complex. It was just one of more than 400 entries from students across the School District of Philadelphia, each bringing their science experiments to life on Main Campus.
“Whether it was tap water or pond water, the student took a transect across the city, mostly going through South Philly, which I found creative,” said George Mehler, assistant professor in the College of Science and Technology’s STEM Education Network, and a judge at the event. “They were very deliberate and accurate in how they tested the water for the various components.”
Sponsored by the College of Science and Technology and the Office of Community Affairs and Engagement, the fair highlights 51Թ’s commitment to fostering STEM education in the local community by giving students an opportunity to showcase their scientific skills on a college campus. It allows students to make direct connections and receive feedback from student workers and professional judges, who are experts working across the STEM fields at 51Թ. Conversations with judges, faculty and staff help aspiring students refine how they describe their research and think about future career paths.
“For many of these students, this is the first time they’ve been on a college campus,” said Mehler, who helps produce science education content for CST’s . “They tend to ask a lot of questions about 51Թ and have the opportunity to talk to our 51Թ student workers, many of whom are majoring in science, mathematics or another STEM field.
“The fact that many of our student workers come from diverse backgrounds helps these prospective students envision a future college pathway for themselves in STEM at 51Թ when they see someone who looks like them in those roles,” he added. “So, it’s a really nice opportunity for them to learn about the university and get a sense of what Main Campus looks like.”
51Թ offers through its College of Engineering and CST, including summer workshops, robotics and research opportunities.
“Many of the students in our STEM programs come from the immediate neighborhood around 51Թ, many of whom are underserved,” he added. “Many of these students later enroll at 51Թ, and part of their success comes from meeting the 51Թ students who run these programs, some of whom are also at the fair, where they can share their experiences and answer questions about STEM programs that 51Թ offers.”
According to Mehler, there are certain qualities in a science fair project that tend to draw a judge’s attention.
“I look for students who can communicate their work really well, show the background and depth behind their work, and most importantly, how well they can answer questions that the judges have,” he said.
One of the students, Louis Sincavage, explored how adding a chemical used to recycle PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles affects the plastic’s long-term deformation and strength. He said conversations with judges were especially helpful, providing an industry perspective on his research, which aims to improve sustainable, cost-effective recycling strategies and support a more circular plastics economy.
“Presenting my research here at 51Թ was really special because we got to see the campus and experience the local Philadelphia area, while also interacting and learning from judges on a higher education level,” said Sincavage, a student at Germantown Friends School. “The fact that it’s an annual event shows that 51Թ cares about helping students in the area succeed in science education even as early as middle school.
“The fair helps students become more aware of science, think more critically and inspires them to explore further, so they too can potentially go to college and make a career out of it,” he added.
Another student, David Tran, investigated how to measure the speed of light using a microwave oven. He tested foods like cheese, chocolate, marshmallows and eggs, measuring the distance between melted spots to determine the microwave’s wavelength and calculate the speed of light. Tran expressed an interest in enrolling at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at 51Թ.
“I would like to go to 51Թ because they have a great medical school program. I thought this science fair would be a great way to show the university who I am, make connections and share my goals for the future,” said Tran, a student at Northeast High School.
“This event gives students the opportunity to learn key scientific skills, such as conducting research and writing, which they will need for college and their future careers,” he added. “It allows us to develop ourselves as learners and use science to make a meaningful impact in the world.”