Registration opens for Epic STEM Fair

Jeffco middle school students will find inspiration and empowerment in science and technology fields while discovering the possibilities of what STEM can offer!

Registration is now open for the Epic STEM Fair!  JOIN THE WAITLIST

Jeffco middle school students will find inspiration and empowerment in science and technology fields while discovering the possibilities of what STEM can offer!

Epic STEM Fair

Friday, December 13, 9  AM - 12:30 PM
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
15200 West 6th Ave. Frontage Road, Golden, 80401

Teams display projects and get critical feedback from a qualified judge.  While judges are reviewing entries, students engage with interactive STEM Stations.

Schedule for the Day

9:15 - 10 AM Students check in and set up projects
9:15 AM Interactive STEM Stations open
10 AM Welcome comments.  Epic STEM Fair officially opens
10:05 - 11 AM Judges review projects while students visit Interactive STEM Stations
11 - 12:30 AM  Judges talk with students about projects, students have lunch, and students visit Interactive STEM stations
12:30 AM Interactive STEM Stations close
12:30 PM – 1 PM Students pack up projects. Epic STEM Fair closes
  Parents are welcome to view student projects when judges are not interacting with teams.

Prizes

Schools - $500

Seven schools will win $500 for STEM classrooms or after school clubs.  If a homeschool student/team wins, the prize will be awarded to an approved homeschool association. 

Student Teams

Seven student teams will win a trophy and paid admission to a statewide or regional STEM competition or fair.

All Participants

Everyone receives an Epic STEM medal. 

Important Deadlines

October 1: Registration opens
October 21: Registration closes
November - early December: Students work on projects with up to three visits from an industry mentor.
December 13: Epic STEM Fair

Categories

Student teams should choose a project from one of these seven categories:

Better bots!

Design a machine or robot to solve a real-world problem.

Clean up your mess!

Human impact on local ecosystems can be negative. Identify a local impact and offer a solution.

Selfie! 

Develop a self-contained ecosystem to provide food for a future colony on Mars and demonstrate photosynthesis in action.

Up a creek without a paddle. 

Design a method to efficiently move two pounds of weight across water within a structure no larger than 8.5X11.

Is it hot or is it just me? 

Design a system that either amplifies or decreases the greenhouse effect.  

Citizen science.

Participate in a citizen science project creating a presentation based on your observations and findings. 

Less is more. 

Reduce, reuse, recycle – find an innovative solution for waste.

Mentor Workshops

Want to participate but not sure how to get started? Attend a mentor meetup (open to people who have registered for the Epic STEM Fair). Meet with your STEM mentors to prepare for the fair. Bring your ideas, questions and/or project. Get ready to collaborate and create something great!

Lakewood Library
Tuesday, October 22, 6 - 8 PM
Tuesday, November 5, 6 - 8 PM
Tuesday, December 3, 6 - 8 PM

Rules

Eligibility

  • Participants must be in grades 6-8
  • Participants may participate as an individual or in teams of up to 3 students
  • Participants must live or study in Jefferson County, Colorado

Rules

Student final projects must include the following:

  • Project title
  • Team name
  • Teacher/Sponsor
  • School
  • Abstract
  • Hypothesis based on observations and scientific principles.
  • At least 3 sources of research and information from authoritative sources such as library databases.
  • Written description
    • Problem statement or question
    • Background information on the problem and why it is important this problem be solved.
    • Description of investigational process including variables, evaluation of accuracy for data collection and testing
    • Documentation of at least 3 tests conducted
    • Description of solution using models (may be diagrams, graphs, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies and or computer simulations)
    • Charts and graphs supporting research
    • Lab notebook with research notes and bibliography of sources used

Projects align with one of the seven projects outlined for the Epic STEM Fair.

Participants must be prepared to explain and support your project and answer questions and critiques from judges.

All projects must comply with the ISEF International Science and Engineering Fair International Rules and Guidelines and be under the supervision of a qualified adult.   

All projects must adhere to the ISEF Ethics Statement.

All projects using vertebrate animals (including humans), potentially hazardous biological agents (including mold) and hazardous chemicals, activities or devices must comply with ISEF standards.

Participants may only submit one project.

A research project may be a part of a larger study performed by professional scientists, but the project presented by the student must be only their own portion of the complete study. 

Projects must adhere to local, state and U.S. Federal laws, regulations and permitting conditions. 

Items Prohibited from the Display

Certain items may be used in the experiment, but are prohibited from the display. Anything that could be hazardous to the public is prohibited from display. The intent of this rule is to protect the public and other students and not hinder the students' ability to present their project to the judges.

  1. Only plants may be included in displays.  All other organisms (e.g. insects, animals, microbes), may not be displayed including: pathogenic microbial and fungi cultures. live or dead, including unknown species.
  2. Chemicals, controlled or hazardous substance or devices. 
  3. Syringes, pipettes, and similar dangerous or sharp devices
  4. Any flames, open or concealed
  5. Highly flammable display materials
  6. Tanks which have contained combustible gases, including butane and propane, unless they have been purged with carbon dioxide
  7. Operation of a Class III or IV laser or other devices requiring access to electrical power or battery power over 120 volts AC or DC.
  8. Display of previous fair awards, including medals

Students are encouraged to use photographs, drawings, diagrams, paper, and clay to illustrate the research and experiment when the actual experimental materials cannot be displayed.

Judging Rubric

Check out the judging rubric to make sure your project meets the criteria.

Fliers

If you have questions about Epic STEM Fair please contact the library at 303-235-5275 or ask@jeffcolibrary.org.