UNews - chief judge

Science fair judges and volunteers needed

trevor.kenney — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:50:48 +0000

In preparing for 52nd annual Canada-Wide Science Fair, to be hosted by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge May 14-18, Chief Judge Dr. Roy Golsteyn is faced with a unique challenge.

Evaluating 500 of Canada's best young scientists requires judges with specific expertise to ensure that participants receive the highest-quality feedback on their exceptional projects.

Hosted at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge through the local host organization, the Southern Alberta Technology Council (SATC), this national event is a program of Youth Science Canada and strongly supported by corporate, community, federal, provincial and city organizations.

While Golsteyn, who leads the Cancer Cell Laboratory at the U of L, is a talented researcher and committed volunteer, he can't do this alone. Three hundred judges are being sought to make sure the participants get the highest-quality feedback.

There are three qualification levels for judges, including those with master's degrees or greater in sciences, those with professional diplomas such as engineering or veterinary medicine, and those with professional diplomas and experience in a science and technology-related field.

Judges are required for only one day (14 May) of the week-long event.

Judges with French language skills are also especially welcomed.

To date, the U of L community has stepped up to commit more than 60 judges, and the overall tally of committed judging volunteers has passed 150, but Golsteyn says there is still a need for judges from a variety of backgrounds including health sciences, math, and digital arts.

"Our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has a leadership role for science in Southern Alberta. The values of the Canada-Wide Science Fair are perfectly aligned with our values of education, mentorship and research," Golsteyn said. "Being a Judge is an excellent way to share these values."

"Finding 300 judges for the CWSF is no small feat. We are halfway there and we would like to build on this momentum. Plans are in place to solicit volunteers and judges from a variety of organizations in Lethbridge and area, and from across the province. The Science Fair competition date (14 May) will be a truly memorable experience. We will have 300 expert judges meeting 500 expert students, which certainly electrifies the atmosphere in the exhibition hall. I am looking forward to engaging the U of L and broader community as judges and volunteers to share this experience and to support science in our country. "

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a judge for the upcoming Canada-Wide Science Fair, please e-mail Dr. Roy Golsteyn for more information at roy.golsteyn@youthscience.ca.

In addition to judges, volunteers are required to assist with a variety of hosting duties, and there will be a specific need for those with bilingual capabilities. For more information on how you can volunteer, please email admin@satclethbridge.ca or visit this website.

Judging its own reward

trevor.kenney — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:46:13 +0000

Having seen the spark ignited in a young scientist's eyes, Dr. Roy Golsteyn is eager to stoke the fires of ingenuity once again. As the chief judge for the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF), to be held at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge May 11-18, 2013, he'll get that opportunity, and it's one he'd like to share.

"I'm a huge believer in science fairs," says Golsteyn (BSc '84), an associate professor of biology and the director of the Cancer Cell Laboratory at the U of L.

He participated in science fairs as a kid, but never competed beyond the local level. Now, as a judge whose own children have competed nationally, he sees the true value of encouraging scientific discovery in our youth.

"You see it, there's a real sense of excitement in these kids," says Golsteyn. "Some are just starting to dabble in science, some have already acquired a lot of knowledge; they like it, they like the freedom of it and they revel in the challenge.

"Having judged science fairs for the last four years, I always walk away happily impressed, because there are some smart kids out there and we get an opportunity to not only meet them but to also encourage them to continue to pursue science."

Dr. Roy Golsteyn is the chief judge for the Canada-Wide Science Fair, which the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of lethbridge will be hosting May 11-18, 2013. A total of 400 judges are required for the massive event.

The CWSF is a massive undertaking, featuring 400 of the top science projects in the country and involving more than 1,100 students (Grades 7 to 12), chaperones, judges, sponsors and delegates. There are more than 400 judges alone who are needed to officiate the proceedings and as Chief Judge, one of Golsteyn's main duties is to recruit the best group of judges he can find.

"We are attracting the best science students from across the country, so we want to match those students with the best judges we have in southern Alberta," says Golsteyn. "Fortunately for us, southern Alberta is pretty scientist dense."

Golsteyn cites the valuable resources available at the U of L, Lethbridge College, the Canada Research Centre, the Regional Hospital and major industry such as Pratt & Whitney, which has a very strong engineering component to its operation.

"We know there are many qualified judges in southern Alberta, it's more an issue of people being able to find time to take part," he says.

To that end, judging is limited to just one day, and even half-day participation can be considered. A pre-competition orientation evening is also involved and judges are encouraged to stay through the evening of competition to ensure all major prizes are awarded accordingly.

The value of having a captive audience of Canada's brightest young scientific minds on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus for a full week cannot be understated.

"The finalists truly do come from all over Canada, and there's this ripple affect associated with that," says Golsteyn. "It's not just that there are two or three students from every region, what you'll see is that individual schools all across the country will follow their students for the week. So for that week, an entire school will be talking about the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, whether that's in Nunavut or Victoria."

There are three qualification levels for judges, including those with master's degrees or greater in sciences, those with professional diplomas such as engineering or veterinary medicine, and those with professional diplomas and experience in a science and technology-related field. Scientists with French language skills are also especially welcomed.

The U of L is uniquely suited to host a Canada-Wide Science Fair because of its already inherent science outreach programs.

"That's one of the reasons for my commitment to doing this," says Golsteyn. "It is so aligned with what we already do at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and what so many scientists are trying to do across the country. Here's an opportunity to share our expertise and to influence the next generation of young scientists."

He's seen, first-hand, how beneficial it is to students. His children (Quentin, 15, and Charlène, 12) have participated in science fairs and attended CWSF in Charlottetown, PEI last year. His daughter Audrey, 10, also has a distinct interest in microbiology and is likely on the same path.

"Sometimes science isolates students at that age. There are things that are cool and things that are less cool and sometimes science falls into that less cool category," says Golsteyn. "One of the goals of the science fair is to give these kids a week dedicated to science, and the opportunity to share it with people their own age who are just like them, just as thrilled about science as they are."

Those interested in joining Golsteyn on the judging committee can contact him at roy.golsteyn@youthscience.ca. He promises it will be a rewarding experience.

"I'm really excited about the possibilities this week provides for the U of L," he says. "It's a lot of work to do this right but in the end, it's so valuable to everyone involved, it's definitely worth it."

GET THE FACTS

· Student finalists for the Canada-Wide Science Fair are winners of their regional or provincial science fairs

· Approximately 400 projects from 500 youth finalists from across 100 national regions will be attending the Canada-Wide Science Fair

· Up to $1,000,000 in scholarships and prizes are available to participants

· U of L Arts & Science faculty have confirmation from Dean Dr. Chris Nicol that serving as judges for CWSF qualifies as part of their community service component

· Golsteyn, as chief judge, has relief for one of the two courses he was scheduled to teach this semester. His research activities continue however, "It just gets pushed a little later into the night," he says

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to play major role in science fair

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:11:43 +0000

While Lethbridge is known to have some of the top scientists and researchers in Canada, the city will gain even more brainpower next year when more than 400 of Canada's best young scientists visit the city for the Canada-Wide Science Fair, May 11-18.

Youth Science Canada, along with federal, provincial and City representatives, announced last week that Lethbridge would host the 52nd annual Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) through its local host organization, Southern Alberta Technology Council (SATC). The weeklong event will be presented at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge biological sciences researcher, Dr. Roy Golsteyn, has volunteered to be the Chief Judge.

"This is a great opportunity to showcase our facilities and technology to Canada's top-level students and their families," says Golsteyn. "Like many of us, I still fondly recall that my first steps into science started at school science fairs. The values of the Canada-Wide Science Fair are perfectly aligned with our values of education, mentorship and research. I am looking forward to engaging the U of L and broader community as judges and volunteers, and having fun with this project."

The fair will feature more than 400 outstanding science projects created by students from grades seven through 12 who have been selected from more than 100 regional competitions across the country.

The event will include project judging, social and cultural exchanges, tours to regional science and research facilities, along with visits to featured southern Alberta tourism destinations. Approximately 800 parents, judges, sponsors and dignitaries will accompany the participants.

The 2013 CWSF will showcase southern Alberta's culture, industry, research and educational facilities including the U of L, Lethbridge College and the Canada-Alberta Research Station. Its success will be enhanced by the involvement of many community organizations and individuals who will come together to make the entire science fair experience a memorable event for participants.

Volunteers will be recruited to assist with a variety of hosting duties, and there will be a specific need for those with bilingual capabilities. CWSF participants representing each province will be housed in student residences on campus at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ where many of the activities will take place. Included in the event are opening ceremonies, several rounds of judging, presentations by leading science authorities and a gala awards banquet and ceremony.

UNews - chief judge

Science fair judges and volunteers needed

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