2009 Intel ISEF Ed Academy

2 Julie Dunkle Intel Education Manager for CA (Aka Michael’s Mom) Sindy Shell 8 th Grade Science Teacher Palos Verde Science Fair Committee (Orange) Margery Weitkamp xxxxx Los Angeles Science Fair Committee Melina Duarte CA COSMOS Director Kern Co Science Fair Representative Rick Hall San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Science & Environmental Science Coordinator Co-Director RIMS Inland Science Fair

3 California Education Data Students – 6.3 Million –Hispanic (51%), White (27%), Asian (12%), African American (7%), other (3%) –English Learners – 26% –Poverty – 52% Teachers – 312,000 –White (71%), Hispanic (17%), Asian (6%), African American (4%), other (2%) –Full Credential (93%) Schools – 10,600 –ES (54%), Alternative (14%), MS (12%), HS (11%), Charter Schools (7%), K12 (1%) Districts – 1,050 –ES (53%), Unified (32%), HS (8%), COEs (6%) Computers – 1 PC per 4 students

4 CA Educational System Federal US Government –‘Voluntary’ Mandates NCLB (No Child Left Behind) –Limited resources available but often targeted and require NCLB compliance; accounts for ~ < 5% of district budgets State CA Government –Dictates standards, assessments, K8 curriculum, teacher credentialing –New state science assessment required in grades 5, 8, 10 –Fund CA districts with about 90% of their funding University of California Entrance Requirements –Science – 2+ lab courses (Biology, Chemistry, Physics..) –Math – 3+ courses (Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Alg., Calculus…) CA School Districts –Manage staffing and salaries, curriculum adoptions, budget –Can secure additional funds locally via school bonds (approx. 5%) CA Teacher Unions –Bargain for teacher rights – salaries and working conditions –Very powerful and well funded

5 CA Science Fairs Current Situation in California Only 10 CA regional fairs have been Intel ISEF affiliated (70% in North, 20% in South, and 10% in Central state) CA has 4 well-established (~50 yrs. old) large regional science fairs (central or southern regions) that have not been Intel ISEF affiliated. See  Intel PYS – Promising Young Scientists program is identifying talented 9 th and 10 th graders and supporting them to continue science research UC COSMOS offers ~600 of CA’s top HS students a 4-week on-campus science research experience. Students are exposed to science competitions and 28 are awarded an Intel Research Fellowship to support their research. Regional Fair Key 1. Kern County 2. Los Angeles 3. Orange County 4. RIMS Inland

6 Science Fair Obstacles CA’s biggest obstacles: State funding deficits ~ $42 billion Corporate sponsors to support Intel Fair Quality mentors for students Improving project quality

Los Angeles County Science Fair The oldest and longest running Science Fair in the nation The Los Angeles County Science Fair is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.

A Brief History The Los Angeles County Science Fair began in The Fair originally had 150 student participants. In 1980’s, the Fair moved to house over 400 projects. In 1990’s, the Fair increased business sponsors. Then awards and scholarships increased. In 2000, the Fair moved to the LA Convention Center. In 2009, the Fair had almost 1,000 participants. The Fair offers many other attractions to make it a Grand Event.

A Brief History Special Interactive Science activities (Los Angeles Zoo Mobile, Robotics & Things, Traveling Space Museum, etc.) Special Events (MythBusters with Adam Savage, Science in the Movies with Special Effects Coordinator Steve Wolf) Special speakers like Dr. Gary Telgenhoff of CSI, Las Vegas, Academy Award producer (“An Inconvenient Truth”) Lawrence Binder and NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin.

Key Statistics

Board and Contacts PresidentDean Gilbert Science Consultant (562) Los Angeles County Office of Ed. Vice-PresidentMaureen Allen Retired, Long Beach Unified SD TreasurerSusan Singh Teacher, Los Angeles Unified SD Recording SecretaryJennifer Moses Teacher, Burbank Unified SD CorrespondingDr. Richard Boolootian Secretary Retired, The Mirman School