| Published
February 22, 2005 |
Volume
13, Number 2
|
Tri-Valley Science
and Engineering Fair
Returns
The future leaders of local technology will put their knowledge on
display at the ninth annual Tri-Valley Science and Engineering Fair,
which will take place March 16-19 at the San Ramon Valley Conference
Center.
“The main goal of the fair is to encourage students in grades seven
through 12 to pursue their interest in science and technology and to
encourage teachers and business mentors to assist them in these
pursuits,” says Tom O’Malley, president of the Tri-Valley Business
Council, one of the organizing sponsors of the event. “The fair also
provides an opportunity for the students to receive public recognition
for their achievements and to encourage them to enter careers relating
to science and engineering.”
The fair has shown consistent growth throughout its history. “Each year
we’ve gotten more entries,” O’Malley says. “Last year there were 275
projects presented by 350 students from 23 schools from throughout the
region.”
The top entries in both the individual and team categories will go on
to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair,
held this year in Phoenix. Tri-Valley entries in the International Fair
have excelled, winning major awards in six of the last eight years. For
example, students from Danville were recognized for their work on two
different projects in 2004, one studying the effect of chlorine on the
lung function of outdoor swimmers and the second on optimizing the
introduction of genetic material into E. coli bacteria using a
technique known as electroporation. In 2003, two Amador Valley High
students won a $5,000 prize for building an autonomous underwater
vehicle.
Business support of the event is important and O’Malley speaks highly
of the fair’s sponsors. “We feel that the people who are participating
want to first of all be involved in education in the community,” he
explains. “Also, by encouraging more kids to participate in this,
you’re also helping build your future work force in science and
technology.” The Tri-Valley Community Fund, based in Hacienda, is one
of the Organizing Sponsors of the fair. Other Hacienda sponsors include
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals/Health Plans, Signature Properties, SBC
Communications, and Union Bank/Tanner Insurance Brokers.
For additional information on the event including sponsorship
opportunities, contact O’Malley at (925) 890-1892 or via e-mail at tjomalley1@aol.com.
For more
about the Tri-Valley Business Council, access their web site at www.trivalley.org.
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