Permian Basin Science and Engineering Fair coming up

Yahoo

06-02-2025

Feb. 5—The Permian Basin Science and Engineering Fair is coming up Feb. 15 at the University of Texas Permian Basin Gym.
Douglas Young, UTPB senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Physics, said he expects 300 third through 12th grade students to convene for the event.
The projects will be available to view by the public from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. An awards ceremony will be at 4 p.m.
Diamondback is a major sponsor this year as they were last year.
Students come from all over West Texas from public, private and charter schools.
"We've got some (entries) from ECISD, from Midland. I think we have some from Kermit and Monahans coming this year as well," Young said.
He added that there are a wide variety of entries.
"We have one that's looking at the effect of rocket fins on rocket flight and we have another one that's looking at soil additives for moisture retention," Young said.
He added that participating in the science and engineering fair is the best way to prepare for a job in science and engineering.
"I did science fair when I was a kid and it made my job, when I was a graduate student, much easier. I had a real leg over all of the students that ... didn't do science fair when they were in school," Young said.
The students learn how to talk to experts in a field and present their ideas to them. It also teaches them how to organize their thoughts.
"They have to put together a board, basically, so they learn how to do graphs and take pictures and then how to do a talk on their research," Young said.
This will serve them well when they move on to college and into the workforce, he added.
Associate Professor of Art Chris Stanley, who has long been an advocate for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) said for him, the science fair is about asking questions.
"It is essential when developing an educated community that we teach our students how to ask and then through a method, in this case the scientific method, answer those questions. The (Permian Basin) Science and Engineering Fair acts as one piece of a larger pie that contains parents, teachers, school districts and area scientists who all work and mentor our next great generation of problem solvers," Stanley said.
There are students who return year after year as they build on projects.
"For example, the soil additive one, she's been working on that for several years and then the fin one is also a repeat from previous years as well," Young said.
Students can move on to state competition in College Station and they typically send a student to the international fair as well.
Young said competition is fierce at the state level.
"Ours is pretty fierce, too, especially elementary. Elementary is really cutthroat," he added.
"It's just because we have so many of them and there are a lot of really good elementary schools," Young said.
Planning the fair goes on year-round. He said the kids are what keeps him going.
"The excitement that they have for what they're doing keeps me going," Young said.
There are volunteers who will do set up and tear down and there are about 50 judges.
Milka Montes, Associate Professor and Chemistry Department Chair, said the science, engineering and chemistry staff is helping with the fair. She said there would be some science surprises and hands-on activities for younger children.
UTPB is also hosting Falcon Day to give prospective students a glimpse of college life and hear from current students about their experience, the university website said.
Attendees will also learn about financial aid, residential living and student activities. College and academic department representatives also will be available to answer questions, the site said.
Young, Kendal Harris, Don Bonify, Stanley and Montes make up the group that organizes the fair.