Wizards of Science
2nd Scientific Experiment Contest
Communication, Child & Learning
14 - 15 February 2009
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM
The participations awarded in the scientific experiment contest “Wizards of Science”, on 14 and 15 February 2009, are:
“Light in the Tunnel of the Eye", Ilias Kalogirou
"Ignition of Paper or Cotton with Compaction", Ioannis Gatsios
"The Information Train", Diomidis Spinellis
CAID –Societas, Sciencia et Ars-, a non-profit making organisation, is organising the last two years, the Scientific Experiment Contest – Wizards of Science, in in Athens, in an attempt to:
attract the interest and heighten the curiosity of young people to science & technology begetting a closer relationship, and, draw out talented scientists from a variety of fields.
The Wizards of Science contest is aimed at scientists and teachers but, foremost, at children and young people. The contest is an event that intends to spread science, to pass on the striving for scientific knowledge and to encourage the involvement of young people in the scientific happenings. The attendance and contribution of parents is deemed vital as they play an integral part in encouraging the take up of science studies. Without any doubt, the contest will reward gifted scientists, will "inspire" their teaching methods and will signal alternative ways of diffusing science. All in all, the contest shall greatly add to science communication based in its entirety to the schools’ curriculum as determined by the Ministry of Education.
The Scientific Experiment Contest pertains scientific experiments directed to children and young people, and demonstrates scientific phenomena or theories in a comprehensive way. Therefore, scientists are called to participate in the contest by proposing an innovative idea of a scientific experiment for the general public and especially for young people and children. The Scientific Experiment Contest will accommodate scientists and teachers, who, in turn, will reveal the magic of science and its applications in everyday life so as to promote science learning via play, experience and experiment.
During the contest, special installations (tables, apparatus, etc) and facilities shall be at the service of the contestants as means to carry out their proposed experiment. Nonetheless, for participations to be deemed as completed, each step and/or materials must be in order.
There will be a free entrance for visitors.
Participations
Aiming at scientists and teachers, not exclusively from Greece, participants are asked to plan and execute a novel experiment addressing to the young. So, CAID, challenges the participants to bewitch the young people using science as the magic wand. During the contest, scientific experiments (able to be presented outside laboratory conditions) utilising simple and every day objects will expose the hidden secrets of applied science. Physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, biology, geology, environment, botany, new technologies and IT are the eligible fields. In addition, the contestants are expected to engage with the public and to encourage a Q&A relationship with the young visitors.
There will be two stages of assessment of the contest entries: initially, short listing of participants based on the novelty of the proposed experiment and, then, choosing the final winners of the contest. At the first stage, following the submission of the entry forms, there will be a selection of the experiments that will go on to the contest. At the second and final stage, depending on the individual performance at the contest, the winners will be selected. On both stages, the selection(s) will be determined by a committee convened for the contest that will include scientists, teachers, educators, journalists and parents. The selection criteria – based on scientific credibility and communicability, on innovation and creativity – will be compiled after a thorough research and, in any event, they will be based on the schools’ curriculum as determined by the Ministry of Education and the principles of the Pedagogical Institute.