PROFILE OF AN EXPO JUDGE

 

Judges should keep in mind that participating in the Expo for Young Scientists is not only a competition, but an educational and motivating experience for the learners. The best part of the Expo experience for most of the participants is their interview.

 

A GOOD EXPO JUDGE MUST BE:

• a volunteer who is committed to the entire judging process including using the Expo judging sheet when assessing the projects

• professional in their dress and demeanor

• a good team worker who values the opinion of his/her co-judges

• qualified to judge in a particular category either academically or vocationally

• interested in children and their view of the world

• empathetic towards others and a good listener who is willing to learn from a child

• non-judgmental and unbiased / fair/impartial/objective rather than subjective

• good at communicating both verbally and non-verbally

• understand the impact of the judging process especially the interview on the participant(s)

• able to find something good about every project even if it has been done many times before by other learners

• discrete in his/her assessment and discussion with co-judges

• non-confrontational in his/her relationship with the participants and co-judges

• able to make the interview experience a positive one for every participant which fulfills the aim of the Expo which is to inspire individuals and their love of science

 

A GOOD EXPO JUDGE LOOKS FOR:

• clarity of purpose (aim) and thought in the project

• knowledge and understanding of the topic under investigation

• originality in procedure and genuine scientific breakthrough while acknowledging guidance given

• thoroughness in research and investigation

• evidence to back up ideas eg research articles read and original data generated

• creativity in presentation of the data and of the project

• good science which follows the steps of the scientific method which includes well expressed discussion of results and their importance

• understanding of the limitations of the investigation

• proof of effort and time spent

• honesty and spontaneity in answers rather than learnt speeches

• investigations that have a real world application

 

Some information sourced from: http://www.exposcience.co.za/guidebook/judging.html http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/advice.html http://www.ehow.com/how_2044404_judge-science-fair.html http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/science-fair.html http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/judges/judges_criteria.asp