Moorestown Student Science Fair Kickoff Meeting Next Week

Students participating in the third annual science fair sponsored by PACE (Partnership for Acceleration, Challenge and Enrichment) will have a chance to flesh out their projects during a kickoff/mentoring meeting next week.

Sandy Saouaf, PACE treasurer and science fair coordinator, said a host of experts from a variety of fields—engineering, research, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, pharmaceutical—will be on hand to help students formulate their projects. The meeting runs from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at the .

The science fair, set for Tuesday, March 20, is non-competitive and is intended primarily to "give students exposure to subjects that are outside of their scientific curriculum, and also a way for them to share (what they've learned) with other students and the community," said Saouaf.

"It's meant to be fun and a way for them to explore their personal interests," she said.

There are virtually no limits to the subjects students can explore at the fair, according to Saouaf, which has produced some very interesting projects—too many to name, she said. "The kids really put a lot of work into it."

There were 50 projects, involving more than 60 students, in , a 40 percent increase from the 2010 fair. So far this year, 61 students have registered.

The preregistration deadline was Tuesday, but Saouaf said parents can still register their child if they contact her by Thursday at saouaf@verizon.net with the name of their child and what grade they're in. Project registration begins Feb. 15.  

She said PACE is also looking for volunteers: scientists, engineers, physicians, teachers and parents with a science background. Anyone interested in helping should also email Saouaf.