SciFair

SciFair (begun in 2000) is a science communication fair though which youth build their own exhibits and learn how to use the new medium of virtual worlds with the help of on site coaches and online Cornell undergraduate mentors. SciFair content is constantly changing, as at least seven schools and several smaller programs create new worlds each year. The program is based on a process model, the SciFair Model, which can be run through in a day or deeply explored over the course of a year. Our first world, the Tomato Islands, was created by a team from Spencer-Van Etten High School and includes information on the biodiversity, production, and cooking of tomatoes, conveniently a model plant for crop genetics. Other SciFair projects include galleries about asteroids, tsunamis, and turbulent combustion created by teens in 4H. 2006 SciFair school worlds featured such topics as sustainable energy, Right whale conservation, and research projects conducted by the Advanced Science Research program at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in New York City.

Information on how to Get Involved with SciFair is available.

Off2Mars

In 2005, the entire 7th grade at Lincoln Orens Middle School created an exhibit called Off2Mars as part of their science curriculum, with special contributions from the school’s computer club. Visitors will learn in-depth about Mars exploration and the Mars Exploration Rovers. The students even explore the question of whether or not life exists on Mars!

ChanGene

Students in an after school program at the Chandler Discovery Academy created an exhibit that explores the Human Genome Project in 2005. This world features an enormous replica of a human, inside of which lies information and quizzes about the Human Genome Project and its implications. A neighborhood of houses at the foot of the human presents student research on heritable diseases.

SVE 05

In 2005, Spencer-Van Etten Middle School piloted a six-week after school program. The youth built themed houses in a town prepared by their mentors. Their interests and research topics ranged from "Cookies and Banana Bread" where users learn bakeries, to the "Sky-View Hotel," which teaches about American hotels, to "Castle Park," which explores different types of castles.