Pre-College Programs

MRSEC-AIP Middle School Student Science Conference

The Annual Middle School Student Science Conference is co-hosted by the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) Education Division. The Conference has gained wide recognition and interest from area schools and the community. This program is designed for middle school and draws students from diverse backgrounds.

The conference program is guided by three objectives: 1) to improve students’ abilities in and perceptions of science, 2) to improve students’ research presentation skills, and 3) to involve families and community in science education. To accomplish these objectives, three components have been developed: 1) mentors work with students to carry out the scientific method by completing a science fair project, 2) mentors work with student to help transform their science fair projects into scientific presentations in one-on-one mentoring sessions, and 3) students present their projects at the conference day event.

Presentations are judged based on content, style, and how well students address questions from the judges and audience. The audience consists of parents, teachers, mentors, and distinguished community members.

The success of the conference can be seen in the feedback from students who have gone on to study science and engineering in high school and college. For example, a 1999 conference participant who is now physics major and Meyerhoff Scholar recently wrote, “I hope that you have seen what a profound impact your involvement, as well as your colleagues’, has made in the lives and career paths of aspiring young students; I am the result of efforts of people like you.”

2011 Winners from the 14th Annual Student Science Conference

For the full list of projects, see the 2011 Program

1st Place Winner:	S. Wagner, Takoma Park Middle School
Project Title:	The Effect of Magnesium on the Hill Reaction of Photosynthesis
2nd Place Winner:	B. Davis, Ernest Everett Just Middle School
Project Title:	Effect of Weight Distribution on Distance
3rd Place Winner:	L. Klett, Takoma Park Middle School
Project Title:	Creating a P-N Junction Semiconductor Solar Cell