2012 Black History Month Science Fair: App. Deadline Extended

On February 25, 2012 students will compete for $1, 000 and $500 scholarships at a Science Fair hosted by the Sigma Charitable Foundation of Zeta Nu Sigma Chapter - Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. Applications are currently being accepted, the deadline has been extended to December 9^th, 2011. For the purpose of growth and sustainability of this initiative there is a $30 application fee. This fee will be waived for twenty five (25) proactive applicants. Fee waivers will be provided on a first come, first served basis. This event is designed to provide knowledge and awareness of the contributions of people of color to fields relating to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Local high school juniors and seniors of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Public, Private, Charter, and home schooled students are all eligible.

Thirty participants will be selected for participation by a small committee including judges and members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated based on creativity of project and display, relevance to the theme (Black History Month), as well as eligibility & adherance to the rules of the science fair. Scholarship winners will receive special trophies from Crown Trophy (http://www.crowntrophy.com/) to go along with their scholarship and sponsors of winning students will receive awards as recognition for participation in the success of this event.

According to an article that was recently published *African American and Latino people make up just 12% of the science and technology workforce. Black History Month has been observed since 1976 as a way to recall and commemorate the achievements and history of Americans of African descent. Its origins are found in what was originally known as Negro History Week, established in the 1920s through the efforts of several African American scholars. Since we live in an era where Black and African American Students often demonstrate disinterest in fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics what better way to celebrate this occasion than by paying homage and bringing awareness to the contributions of African Americans in STEM fields? Scientists like George Washington Carver, Mathematicians and Physicists like Ronald E. Mickens, and Engineers like Mae C. Jemison will all be honored with the presentation of projects that display passion, creativity, and commitment to fields of STEM and African American influences thereof.

This is an all age's event open to the public meant to inform, entertain, as well as uplift the youth of the great state of Minnesota. This is also a call to action for local corporations businesses and educational institutions to invest in the next generation of leaders.

Sponsor a Scientist: $200 gives students an opportunity to earn a small book scholarship while demonstrating an investment in the success of the youth in our community. Other sponsorship opportunities include "Carver" or "Quantum" level sponsorship; The Sigma Charitable Foundation asks that your organization assist in reaching goals by sponsoring a number of students who might have the opportunity to change a paradigm in this state that claims African American and Black youth do not achieve academic or professional success as often as the majority in fields of STEM. Your donation is tax deductible.

Please mail your contribution to:

Zeta Nu Sigma | BHMSF

P.O. Box 65155

St. Paul, MN 55165 - 0155

This post found on the **Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs web site speaks to "Benefits of Doing Both a Science Project and a Research Paper" read below for some clarification on what a science fair is and is not:

Is science fair just for geeks or nerds? NO WAY! Doing a good science fair project teaches real life skills that apply to EVERYONE!

First of all, what is a science project? A science project is the process of running a controlled experiment, proposing a new theory based on library or experimental research, or developing a new concept, invention, program, or design (engineering). A science project is not a report about an area of science. A science project is not building a model that demonstrates something, unless the point of the project is a new engineering design. Models of volcanoes, or of the solar system, or of the heart are not a science project. Use of a model to demonstrate a new theory or finding is, however, acceptable. At the school and regional levels of competition in a science fair, the science project is more about the process of science and project work than it is about the specific findings.

The purpose of doing a science project is to teach the student several skills. The first skill to be learned is the planning, execution, and evaluation of a project. Every project, including remodeling or decorating a room in your house or apartment or building a deck, requires the same basic process.

Doing a science project teaches the student extremely valuable skills integrating reading, writing, spelling, grammar, critical thinking, scientific methodology, graphic arts, math, statistics, ethics, logic, computer science, self-learning of one or more technical or specialty fields, and public speaking and defense in front of expert judges. When a student completes a science fair project, year after year, through junior and senior high school, the science fair process yields mature, self-confident, skilled, and competitive young leaders who have career goals and the preparation, discipline, and drive to attain them.

* http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/new-study-quantifies-blacks-and-latinos-absence-in-the-science-and-technology-workforce.php

** http://www.tcrsf.org/

2012 Black History Month Science Fair is Presented by:

The Minnesota Sigma Sigma Charitable Foundation

Sponsors include:

For an incredible amount of support in the success of this event special thanks to: