San Francisco Middle School Science Fair
Each February, the Randall Museum plays host to a remarkable gathering of the City's young scientific talent. This school year brings the 26th annual Fair!
All public and private middle schools (grades 6 to 8) in San Francisco are invited to participate. We hosted 210 entries done by 266 students at twenty-nine schools this year.
Teachers: If your school did not participate this year, but you would like to do so in the future, email the Fair coordinator to be added to our teacher mailing list. You do not have to host a fair at your school for your students to qualify for this county-level fair, but you do have to RSVP in advance and receive an entry quota.
Homeschoolers age 11 to 14 residing in San Francisco and doing science at the 6th to 8th grade level may also enter if their work is supervised by a credentialed science teacher or qualified scientist. The deadline to enter this year's fair has passed, but you are encouraged to contact the Fair coordinator if you would like to enter next year.
The goal of the Fair is to emphasize the joy and accessibility of science and participation over competition; therefore, winners are not awarded cash prizes, but instead are offered a day trip to a Bay Area location of educational and entertainment interest (this year, we are going to Physics Day at Great America amusement park). The judging criteria are designed to reflect these goals. Seventh and eighth grade winners can also qualify to enter the San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair. All participants receive a ribbon and a certificate of achievement.
Members of the public may view the projects during regular Museum hours (10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday) after the judging is complete and before project check-out: between Friday, February 29 and Friday, March 7. The Awards Ceremony took place on Saturday, March 1 at 10:30 a.m.; students placing 1st through 3rd in their grade and category groups were recognized onstage. Due to parking and space considerations, we strongly encourage carpooling and public transit, and we encourage those who are not actually participating in the Awards Ceremony to visit after 1 p.m. Saturday or on a weekday.
A list of this year's results will be posted here in early March, with photos of some of the top finishers and their projects.
This year's fair has been made possible in part by the generous support of Bank of the West. Thank you!
Important Guides and Links:
(Last updated 2/19/08)
2007-2008 Science Fair Calendar
Science Fair Rules & Guidelines
Student's Guide to the San Francisco Science Fair (newly updated and improved!)
Teacher's Guide to the San Francisco Science Fair
San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair (NEW URL this year - regional fair one level above this fair)
Important note to students & teachers: If your project involves human subjects (including people filling out surveys, or even people you are observing anonymously), animals, pathogens, or controlled substances, you must fill out a Project Proposal Form before you begin your experiments and, in most cases, send it to the S.F. Bay Area Science Fair's Scientific Review Committee by February 1 (exceptions: 6th graders and team projects must fill out the form and keep copies but do not need to send it in because they are not eligible to enter the SFBASF). If you are working with human subjects, you must also obtain informed consent from each person at the time of your experiment. The forms are available at the SFBASF website, under the Paperwork tab. Feel free to contact our fair coordinator if you have questions or concerns about this or any other aspect of the entry process.
2008 Participating Schools (in alphabetical order):
Aptos Middle School; Convent of the Sacred Heart School; Cornerstone Academy; Creative Arts Charter School; School of the Epiphany; French American International School; A. P. Giannini Middle School; Holy Name School; Herbert Hoover Middle School; K. Z. V. Armenian School; Lawton Alternative School; James Lick Middle School; Mission Dolores School; Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires; Rooftop Alternative School; St. Anne School; St. Brendan School; St. Brigid School; St. Elizabeth School; St. Finn Barr School; St. Gabriel School; St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy; St. Mary's Chinese Day School; St. Monica School; St. Paul School; St. Philip School; The San Francisco School; Star of the Sea School; West Portal Lutheran School