Post on 30-Dec-2015
More than electricity
City of Austin
Austin Energy – City of Austin
Serving Austin Since 1895 Austin Energy is the nation’s 8th largest publicly owned electric utility. We serve more than 448,000 customer accounts and more than 1 million residents in Greater Austin.
As a department of the City of Austin, Austin Energy is more than an electric utility. We are closely engaged with the community and are dedicated to supporting local education and STEM. To learn more about Austin Energy and it’s dedication to the community and various programs, we welcome feel free to visit www.austinenergy.com!
Austin Energy Regional Science FestivalFebruary 19 – 20, 2016Palmer Events Center
Teacher Orientation:Elementary Division
www.sciencefest.austinenergy.com
AERSF 2015 StatisticsElementary Division
• Projects: 1,538 • Students: 1,739• Schools: 168• School Districts: 18+• Judges &Volunteers: over 400
Judges & VolunteersWe ask that you send1 Judge and 1 Volunteer
for every 10 projects you send from your school.
Schedule Highlights
Deadline to finalize School Registration packetThursday, February 4, 2016, 5:00 p.m.
Check in and Set up at Palmer Events Center Friday, February 19, 2016 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Judging and Awards at Palmer Events CenterSaturday, February 20, 2016
What's New For 2016?
Major Changes This Year:• Numbers have been increased in Elementary• School Fee $45• Payment invoice will be sent via e-mail after your school registers
online. Payment must be made before February 4th.• School registration will be different and open later in season.
Teacher will simply enter the students who are advancing.
Not new, but worth repeating!
• Parking will be free of charge to all participants at the Palmer Events Center Garage.
• Project Registration Fee is $15• All elementary projects must complete and submit an “Elementary
Project Research Form” with their registration packets.
• Due to space limitations, late registration will not be allowed.• Elementary division covers grades 3-6 only.• No mold or moldy food projects!!
Restrictions – Grounds for Disqualification
-Failure to follow the “Code of Conduct” during the fair
-Elementary Division students may NOT conduct a project that includes:• growing MOLD or bacteria (i.e. moldy food experiments etc);• discharging a firearm or air pressure canister device or potato gun;• chemicals hazardous to student health, or radioactive materials;• causing pain, suffering, or death of an animal• any other activity or substances that present a danger to the student or others.
Elementary Division
All documentation is available online in English and Spanish at
www.sciencefest.austinenergy.com
Information for Participation
Project Display & Safety Rules
Items Not Allowed in the Exhibit Hall• No organisms; living, dead or preserved plants or animals* • No human or animal food• No organic material• No dirt or rocks etc.• No liquids or chemicals or Crystals!• No sharp objects or glass (including light bulbs)Allowed and Encouraged Items• Photographs, drawings, or toy animals/artificial plants should be used to
depict the items not allowed. • Be sure to properly credit/acknowledge all photographers.
Experiment or Exhibit?
Many students and parents have difficulty discerningthe difference between Experiment and Exhibit projects.
Experiments • follow the steps of the scientific method• clearly ask a question to which you do not already know the
answer before testing
Exhibits• explain how or why something works • reveal details about the topic • are explanations, not questions
6th Grade Project Entry
• 6th Grade Elementary students may enter in the Elementary or the Junior Division
Maximum Project Entries
Elementary Division – Based on School’s Student Enrollment
Grades 3–60 – 499 Students 12 Projects Maximum per School500 – 699 Students 14 Projects Maximum per School700 – 899 Students 16 Projects Maximum per School900 + Students 18 Projects Maximum per School
Junior DivisionGrade 6
70 Projects Maximum per School
Teacher Checklist
Print a Media Release Form and Student Checklist for each student who won at your school’s science fair
By Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.Finalize online registration and Submit a complete school packet to
Austin Energy
On Friday, February 19, 2016 from 2:00-7:00 p.m.Check in and set up projects at Palmer Events Center
On Saturday, February 20, 2016 Students should be at their project 15 minutes before judging begins Attend the Awards Ceremony Dismantle Projects, 4:30–5:30 p.m. Projects not picked up by 5:00
p.m. on February 20 will be discarded.
Registration Deadline & Fees
Deadline to Submit Registration Packets: February 04, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
Fees
Student Project Fee $15 School Registration Fee $45 No late entries can be accepted!
What is in a School Packet?
Deadline: Thursday, February 04, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.Pay your invoice (instructions are on the invoice)
ThenSubmit to our office:
1. Copy of the school’s online registration confirmation2. Copy of Elementary Project Research Form 3. Original signed Media Release for each student
2015 Sponsors
Austin Science Education Foundation
Special Awards
Awards for 2016 to be listed on website later this year. www.sciencefest.austinenergy.com
2015 Special Awards:Austin Energy Best Use of Electricity
Austin Energy Best Use of Renewable EnergyAustin Energy Best in Climate Protection
Internet Resources
Austin Energy Regional Science Festival www.sciencefest.austinenergy.com
Science Fair support – ideas and “how to” for projectswww.sciencebuddies.com
Austin Science Education Foundation– non profit support organization for the regional fairwww.austinscience.org
Contacts
sciencefest@austinenergy.comRegional Fair Director
Russell Cowen (512) 972 9532russell.cowen@austinenergy.com
Austin Science Education Foundation
Ingrid Weigand ingrid.weigand@austinscience.org
Advisory Committee Members:
Barbara tenBrink, ChairSueAnn DecuirMichele MannLisa RogersIngrid Weigand