My feet are aching. The projects are all down and the hands-on materials back in the science lab closet. The kids have tucked their ribbons in their top pocket with enough showing so everyone can see they won. I'm trying to think of a science fair where my feet didn't ache at the end. None are coming to mind. It's one of those good aches, though. Not one caused by standing in a pointless line, but an ache with a result. Kids enjoyed doing an experiment, self -evaluating what they did, presenting it to judges, and showing it off to visitors. They have had fun doing science.
During my doctoral studies Lawrence "Larry" Bellipanni inspired me with his enthusiasm for science fairs. I just Googled Lawrence Bellipanni and read that he died last year. I've read his obituary over a few times and it has me a bit stunned. He was someone I thought for sure I would share some science fair stories with under an old oak tree dripping with moss on the Mississippi Gulf Coast one day.
When I was a lecturer in primary science education at Goldsmiths College, as a project the 3rd year science specialists started science fairs in schools around London. We would have a culmintaing event bringing the winners from all the schools to Goldsmiths for a day of science activities. The popularity of science as a specialty area grew as a result of such projects. I wanted to tell Larry how his influence had stretched across an ocean. Maybe someday at the great science fair in the afterlife universe.
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