The Pleasanton Unified School District is holding its first ever science fair next month at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. To stir interest, the brightly-costumed Science Wizard will visit the eight Pleasanton elementary schools this month and next, encouraging K-5 students to create imaginative science projects and participate in Science Fun Fair 2000, according to Karen Rodriguez. She and her husband David are the fair's volunteer coordinators.

"For the kids, the fair is really to let them experience that science can be fun," she said. "We expect about 2,000 projects and experiments to be on display."

The event will feature a science fair for students and a technology convention where high-tech and scientific businesses will have booth space, supplied by the fair, to showcase their products and services.

The show will go on for students and their parents on February 24 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Fair 2000 is being presented in cooperation with the Pleasanton Unfied School District and takes place thanks to donations from local businesses, grants from Pleasanton Partnerships In Education Foundation,and an impressive in-kind donation from the Tri-Valley Herald for 6,000 science fair student information booklets.

Signing on so far for booths are Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Lawrence Hall of Science, and other organizations.

Representatives from local businesses are being sought to serve as judges for the event, as are corporate sponsors. To participate or for additional information, contact Karen or David Rodriguez at (925) 846-3723.

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