CSF - Connecticut Science Fair

Happy Wednesday. It appears to be a beautiful day outside. The flag at Cleveland Browns Stadium for which we have an amazing view is clinging to the pole. Is it possible that the wind has finally subdued? We all meet for breakfast in the hotel this morning before judging. All of the students are dressed casually with the exception of Anna. She is poised and ready to go. I hope she doesn't spill any food on her suit! Everyone else is working the buffet line. Someone wants to know what grits are. Mr. Muller informs us that he does not like them and simply suggest not eating them. I hope this does not offend any Southerners. Back at the table there is a nervous anticipation for what the next several hours will hold. Thinking stomachs first, the girls order some turkey wraps to smuggle into the exhibition hall to munch on when no one is looking. Alex concurs and orders one as well. Slowly, the students start to dissipate and head back upstairs to get ready. The girls are all prepped. Mrs. Muller spent the previous night ironing the wrinkles out of their dress best.

We all meet back at the Muller's room at 11:45. Everyone is dressed so professionally. Everyone meaning the students. The adults are in jeans, shorts, and t-shirts. We walk over to the convention center. The exhibition hall is not yet opened. A few yellow-jacketed security guards are attempting to hold back the crowd. We give our last-minute good lucks and the hall opens.

The students are judged.

Lisa reports she was confident - only one hard judge. She spent most of the time talking with judges. After the dinner break she was tired but ready to go back. She liked that the judges were excited about her project. She reports that they got most excited by the precision of her data. Joia informs us that it went "all right." She liked that some of the judges were very familiar with the apparatus she used. She also told me that the judges asked some of the stuff that we had focused on the previous night in our "practice run". She also felt excited about the process. Alex, Emily, and Anna also had good experiences. The common theme was mostly good, a few challenges, but a successful and rewarding experience.

We knew things were a little different than usual. It has been common routine when there is food in our hotel rooms that the kids pick it up and wander off to their rooms. Tonight, they congregated in the Muller's room to talk about their experience and stayed the majority of the time. The night ended with a brief stint at the student mixer, then a return back to the hotel to enjoy a movie in the room.

First set of awards tomorrow . . .

Anna's website continues to grow. We've coined it "ISEF Underground." Make sure you take a look at some of the outrageous pictures she's taken.

FEATURED STUDENT OF THE DAY - LISA GLUKHOVSKY

Lisa and I had the opportunity to talk today. Lisa is representing Science Horizons Regional Science Fair of the Greater Danbury area as part of the Connecticut Delegation. Lisa is a junior at New Milford High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society and treasurer of the French Honor Society. She participates in the Math Team, New England Math League, and American High School Math Exam. She recently earned the honor of Governor's Scholar of Connecticut for 2003. Lisa plays the piano and violin. She is the concertmistress of her school's orchestra and plays in the school musical pit orchestras. Lisa will prepare for life as a 12th grade senior next year and wishes to pursue a career in science or math. She hopes to go to school somewhere in the Northeast after that.

One of Lisa's favorite movies is E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. I asked if she liked it because of the science fiction theme or was there something else. She said what struck her the most in this movie was the idea of the Eliot helping ET - the ideas of friendship and love.

I asked Lisa where she got the idea and motivation for her project. She said she shared some of her astronomy ideas with her mentor at the Observatory she worked at and she liked the idea of some real life application in her project. Here inspiration was her parents - "they've always encouraged me with what I want to do in my life."

Lisa pointed out two special moments in her project. The first was the first time she used the telescope to image space with simultaneous imaging in the Netherlands. Lisa explains that it was very hard to coordinate because you need good weather in both locations. There is also a need to communicate back and forth both electronically and via telephone. Her second moment was very specific - January 26, 2003. This was the night she imaged an asteroid one day after it was discovered. She became listed as one of the observers who first verified this asteroid. She also did simultaneous imaging with three other sites the same night.

Lisa - you're a "STAR." You are representing yourself and your state magnificently - it certainly is "OUT OF THIS WORLD!"

Frank LaBanca
Science Teacher, Stamford High School
For the Connecticut Science Fair