DOINews: DOI Employees Participate in SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C.'s Annual Science Fair

The School for Education Evolution and Development Public Charter School of Washington, D.C.'s Annual Science Fair was held on March 25. Representatives from the Department of the Interior served as judges. Fifty-five eighth-grade students participated in the event. The science fair projects were judged in six categories: biology, chemistry, physics, Einstein excellence award, innovative design, and best presentation.

Representatives from the Department of the Interior gather for a group photo on March 25, 2015, at the SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C.'s Annual Science Fair.(Volunteers, front center, Robert Pos, USFWS; back row, from left, Lora Turner, BOEM; Theresa Jefferson, BLM; Cecil Slaughter, OSM; Marc Buursink, USGS; Jeffrey Lucero, USBR; Angel McCoy, BOEM.) Photo by Brenda Woods, DOI.

The DOI volunteers included Theresa Jefferson, environmental education specialist, Bureau of Land Management; Angel McCoy, meteorologist, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; Cecil Slaughter, hydrologist, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; Robert Pos, fishery biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Lora Turner, oceanographer, BOEM; Marc Buursink, research geologist, U.S. Geological Survey; and Jeffrey Lucero, associate deputy commissioner-operations, Bureau of Reclamation.

The students were eager to share their science projects with the judges. The volunteers reflected upon their experience. “The student science projects I had the opportunity to judge were consistently of the highest quality,” Lucero said. “The judging was well organized while the school was welcoming and were gracious hosts to the guest judges.”

McCoy said, “It was inspiring to see the enthusiastic support from staff to students and students to one another.” I look forward to future activities with SEED Public Charter School.”

“What makes a science fair great is not just the cool science but the kids sharing and communicating their projects,” Turner said. They did a fantastic job!”

Pos said, “I am happy to be a part of the SEED Public Charter School's Science Fair every year. These students need an adult influence that can show them that they can achieve and go forward. They want to learn and with a few suggestions they can go on and become great scientists, chemists and biologist.”

SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C, serves students from sixth through 12th grade. Other partnership program activities have included DOI specialists serving as guest speakers; coordination of field trips to DOI managed sites; Work and Learn Internship Program student placement; and participation in the school's Tutor Enrichment Program.

For additional information about volunteer opportunities, contact Brenda Woods at (202) 208-3617 or via e-mail at Brenda_Woods@ios.doi.gov.

By: Brenda Woods, program manager, Educational Partnerships Program, OS, DOI
May __, 2015