Chico Science Fair

The Chico Science Fair is excited to partner with the Gateway Science Museum to continue to bring science education to our community. Due to COVID-19 concerns, we will not hold our traditional in-person fair in the Spring of 2021. Instead, through this new collaboration we will foster scientific thought and exploration in an online format and investigate options for a more hands-on, interactive science competition for student engagement in the future.

The ability to observe change teaches us a lot about how the world works. Change may follow expected patterns such as growth and development of an organism, seasonal change, or phase changes like a heated ice cube melting, boiling and evaporating. You might see a flower growing toward the sunlight. An animal might change behavior in response to an immediate threat or adapt to a change in conditions in its environment. Other changes may be from chemical reaction, weathering or aging. Can you catch something in the process of change? What is it? How is it changing? (You can approach this challenge with a change in progress or with a before and after shot.) #ChicoNatureWalksPhotoChallenges #photosbyHilaryHassenzahl #ScientificObservationThroughPhotography

Click on the photos to see what Allie and Zach have to say about their finds.

Join us for this month's challenge, Tallest Tower. We're excited to see how tall you can build!

There's still time! Engineer your paper plane, test it out, take some pictures and tell us about it. Check out our website for full instructions and learn ab...out the science of flight. https://www.csuchico.edu//educ/for-kids/science-fair.shtml Post your photos in the comments below, or tag Gateway Science Museum, California State University, Chico and Chico Science Fair on your own post to share your exciting results! Then be on the lookout for October's challenge. #chicosciencefair #sciencechallenge #paperplanes #STEM #STEAM #sciencefair

Nature in the Neighborhood September Photo Challenge: WATER Water covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and is essential for life. Because it plays such a central role on our planet, water touches on every field of study. In our community Big Chico Creek is one of the most distinguishing features along with the forest and wildlife it supports. Join us to take a closer look at water and some of its amazing characteristics. Click through the photos for more fascinating ob...servations about water and what they teach us about science. The last picture includes more information about how to participate with your own photos. #ChicoNatureWalksPhotoChallenges #photosbyHilaryHassenzahl #ScientificObservationThroughPhotography

Science is all around us. Curiosity and observation are key elements to scientific discovery. Learning to notice, observe patterns, and make connections fills us with both ideas and questions to extend that knowledge. Join me as I take a closer look at the treasures under our noses right here in Chico through the lens of my camera. Share your own discoveries by participating in our monthly photo challenges posted on the 20th of each month. We can’t wait to see what you find! Click through the photos to learn more. #ChicoNatureWalksPhotoChallenges #photosbyHilaryHassenzahl #ScientificObservationThroughPhotography

We have liftoff! Gateway Science Museum is excited to partner with the Chico Science Fair for monthly science challenges. This month, we're testing our flight... skills! We're challenging you to design a paper airplane and test how far it can fly. Watch our video for inspiration, and go to our website for the challenge instructions and to learn more about the four forces of flight. https://www.csuchico.edu//educ/for-kids/science-fair.shtml Upload pictures and videos of your awesome airplane flights and tag Gateway Science Museum, California State University, Chico and Chico Science Fair, or put them in the comments below!

The USA Science and Engineering Festival is holding a Virtual STEM Expo on Sept. 16-23, 2020. This is a free resource available to students of all ages, teachers, parents, and other interested parties. To learn more and register to participate visit https://usasciencefestival.org/

We want to thank everyone again for making the 2020 Chico Science Fair such a success! We also wanted to let our many supporters know that Dinner with a Scientist, our annual fundraiser, which was scheduled for Friday, April 17, 2020, has been canceled for now, because of the coronavirus. We will keep everyone updated on a future date! Stay healthy and safe everyone, and remember....trust in science!

Congratulations to the following students who will be moving on to the California Science and Engineering Fair in April! The Chico Science Fair awards each student $500 to help with travel expenses! Abigail McPherren (grade 6, Effects of soda on teeth) Brady Johnson (grade 7, Is Gatorade the GOAT?)... Marie Huitt (grade 8, Queens, Queens, and More Queens! The Effects of Royal Jelly on Queen Rearing) Elena Enos (grade 8, Spherification, Yummy Science) Samrat Thapa (grade 12, Characterization of the rpz5 gene in Danio rerio)

Congratulations to the Rosette (Best of Grade) winners for the 2020 Chico Science Fair! We are so proud of you! Grade K (Shasta Elem): Liam Geddis, The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway: Which Liquids Expand When Frozen? Grade 1: Luke Thomason, Questionable Girl Scout Cookies... Grade 2 (Parkview Elem): Harrison Bamlet, Jump start your brain Grade 3 (Shasta Elem): Cody Martin, Dissolving Candy Canes Grade 4 (Notre Dame): Nicole Meyer, The Heat Wave Grade 5 (Shasta): Indra Martin, MothBusters Grade 6 (Bidwell Jr High): Zac Muff, How mass affects the distance traveled by a skateboard Grade 7 (CORE): Brady Johnson, Is Gatorade the GOAT? Grade 8 (Notre Dame): Marie Huitt, Queens, Queens, and More Queens! The Effects of Royal Jelly on Queen Rearing Grade 12 (Chico High): Samrat Thapa, Characterization of the rpz5 gene in Danio rerio View photos of the winners on our website! https://chicosciencefair.wixsite.com/2020projects/

Thank you Action News Now Telemundo for your coverage of our Chico Science Fair (in Spanish).

Thank you ChicoER for your great coverage of the 2020 Chico Science Fair! We had 381 projects, and 617 students participated!