Fairs have been popular throughout history. Generally they have been
occasions to display work or feats of which people are proud. Often they
have stimulated progress and the exchange of goods and ideas.
Early in this century some teachers encouraged their students to
undertake individual science projects, then exhibit them before their
classmates and fellow students. Between the two World Wars some
individual school systems developed citywide science fairs to show the
most outstanding of these exhibits from each school. The science fair
movement gained momentum rapidly after World War II, and in 1950 the
First National Science Fair was held in Philadelphia, drawing exhibitors
from 13 affiliated area fairs.
Today the national event draws exhibitors from more than 200 affiliated
state and regional fairs. Recent entry of competitors from several other
countries has produced its new title—National Science Fair-International
(NSFI). It is the “Olympic Games” for science fair exhibitors, conducted
by Science Clubs of America, an activity of Science Service, 1719 N
Street N. W., Washington, D. C.
[Illustration: _The growing international flavor of the national
science fair is exemplified in contestants like Anders S. Brahme,
Sweden’s entrant at Albuquerque in 1963, and the first non-U. S.
student to achieve Atomic Energy Commission Special Awards
recognition. He was one of 10 alternates to the 10 winners and is
shown receiving a Certificate of Achievement from Harry S. Traynor,
AEC Assistant General Manager._]
Usually state and regional science fairs are limited, like the national
event, to the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, but occasionally they have a
division for junior high school entrants. In school districts where
junior high schools hold fairs, the district fair frequently includes
both senior high and junior high divisions. Some elementary schools
conduct science fairs for their 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. In
both the elementary and junior high school divisions, exhibitors usually
compete against entrants of their own grade level, for example, 5th
graders against 5th graders, and 9th graders against 9th graders. In the
senior division each entrant competes against all others. Although the
overall quality of exhibits at local fairs is rarely up to that of
regional, state, and national fairs, the local events are possibly the
most valuable educational tools because they are viewed by so large a
“grass-roots” audience of classmates, parents, teachers, and other local
citizens.
In science fairs—as in athletics or music—top prizes are seldom won by
first-time competitors. Almost all national fair exhibitors have
participated in science fairs at various levels for a year or more
before winning their way into the national event. Both experience in
science projects and practice in display techniques are required to
develop outstanding exhibits. Since this is true, the time to start the
science project which will form the basis for your exhibit is now!