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A word from one of our judges |
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The following article was taken from the Spring
1998 issue of Science Loisir. Science Loisir is
published three times a year by the Conseil
de développement du loisir scientifique and 5000 copies
are distributed to teachers, school principals, libraries and other
partners of the CDLS-CLS network. Its purpose is to recognize the
work of both young people and professionals that share their passion
and know-how in stimulating the development of the next generation
of scientists.
Judging a Science Fair
Sharing the passion
This month's Science Loisir meets Jacques
Yves Gauthier, head judge for the Quebec finals of the Bell Super
Science Fair for the past nine years. Participants at the meeting
share a passion for science and the Science Fair. It's a way of thanking
the judges of all the Quebec Science Fairs for their hours of volunteer
work.
A short profile
A Research Fellow at Merck Frosst, Jacques Yves Gauthier is passionate
about science. He is the author or co-author of some fifty scientific
journal articles, and holder of some twenty patents. He has given conferences
throughout the world and has, on several occasions, acted as a university
keynote speaker. As a member of a huge research team at Merck Frosst,
he contributed to the discovery of a product for the treatment of asthma,
Singulair, which is currently being approved for use in more than 60 countries. He is a real researcher who also volunteers his time to share
his passion for science.
His commitment to the Science Fair is no accident. He was already keenly
aware of the shortage of up-and-coming scientists in North America. His
reaction was to make a personal commitment, at first by being responsible
for visits of Merck Frosst's facilities and by defending the role that
the company needed to play to help develop the next generation of scientists.
This path led him to the Science Fair.
"I get such a sense of pleasure from science. Never in my 15 years
with Merck Frosst have I not wanted to go in the lab. It's a feeling that
is very similar to the one experienced by Science Fair participants. It's
that passion that we have to find a way to communicate to young people."
A question of language
"Scientists aren't smarter than other people.
It's just that they speak their own language. The same can be said
for lawyers or German language specialists. When two scientists talk
about a carbon-carbon bond, of course most people won't be able to
follow the conversation."
"In my opinion, young people need role models to develop an interest
in science. Either that or major events. I'm sure that after Christian
Barnard performed the first successful heart transplant, more young
people saw heart surgery as an interesting career option. Just like
seeing man take his first step on the moon probably had many dreaming
about a career as an astronaut. These types of role models and events
encourage young people to consider careers in science."
Between school and "real" science
"The first time I judged a Science Fair,
I was immediately impressed with the organization. I was so impressed
that, between projects, I called some of my colleagues at Merck Frosst
to come and witness the event. Being the only participating judge
from the company, I was worried that people wouldn't believe that
such an event really existed. I really wanted to share this experience
with others! A Science Fair is like the science section in the newspaper,
but for thousands of people."
"The Science Fair is somewhere between school and real science.
It's more than school because young people conduct autonomous in-depth
scientific research, but it's not quite the life of a real scientist.
In my opinion, young people need even more encouragement, not only
from their teachers and parents. They need encouragement from neutral
parties, like visitors and especially science judges, who know how
to tell them just how close their projects are to real scientific
research."
Getting to know young people better
"The Science Fair is a way of getting to
know young people better. When I judged my first Science Fair, I felt
such a sense of relief. The participants were all so dynamic and passionate!
It's just the opposite of today's rhetoric that young people have
no motivation and want to quit school. The Science Fair is proof that
there are a lot of well organized young people.
Judges often return from their first judging experience completely
astounded. I've heard them say: 'I never thought they could do that!',
'It's so incredibly well done!' or 'They're brilliant . . . it's incredible!'
Even judges who started out feeling a bit smug or pretentious received
quite a shock. Their first experience was a humbling one."
"The adrenaline that judges get and the motivation to keep coming
back every year comes from the participants. Judges, after all, agree
to set aside office obligations and busy schedules. Science fair participants
really have to be stimulating in order for judges to keep coming back
year after year!"
Setting a good example
"Scientists aren't aliens. There are eccentrics
in every field and choosing a career in science doesn't mean becoming
a weirdo! Every judge is responsible for demystifying the image of
scientists. Judges are scientists and they are also people like you
and me.
Judges are also the link between school and careers that young people
may be considering. They are the proof that you can earn a living doing
science; they are concrete evidence of the science world. We often see
pills, but we never see the scientists (or the science!) behind these
great inventions.
Science is often perceived as an obscure environment. Judges are windows
into this real world, a world in which they work."
The stress of being a judge
So often, on the day of the judging, we hear participants
say, "My judge didn't understand a thing about my project."
These words, often repeated by stressed-out participants, bring a
smile to Jacques Yves Gauthier's face. "It happens frequently
that judges return to the judges' area astounded. Sometimes, young
people do such an in-depth presentation that they leave the judges
with few questions to ask. Often, these so-called poorly judged students
are the ones among the highest ranking."
"Judges are really scared when they arrive at the Science Fair
for the first time. I remember last year, at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf,
when we all entered this magnificent chapel where the Science Fair
was being held and the participants applauded the team of judges.
Our hands were just as clammy as theirs! After all, we know that young
people judge the judges. We are as afraid of judging as we are of
being judged."
Experiments or study activities
One of the ongoing debates surrounding the Science Fair is that
few experiments are being presented. For Jacques Yves Gauthier, this isn't
a problem. "What's important is sparking an interest in science,
more than experimenting. Once students acquire a passion, they will progress
on their own. The aim is to arrive at a destination. It doesn't matter
whether they are drivers or passengers, the important thing is to see
the scenery and to get there. Whether young people do study activities
or experiments, what's important is that they discover the world of science
and that they develop a passion for science."
"Every year at the Science Fair, I'm completely dazzled by what
I see. It's just fantastic to see so many young people doing exciting
projects. It's often difficult to say whether one project is better
than another. It's mostly the details and the presentations that help
judges make the final decisions."
A difficult task
"The hardest part is choosing the winners. We want to reward
everyone. At the same time, I think the competitive aspect is important.
It wouldn't help participants to believe that there is no competition
in life. Athletes that make it to the Olympics have to compete and scientists
in the world of research have to compete as well. Leading a research team
in a particular direction when everyone has good ideas and is very intelligent
is another type of competition. There's competition for ideas and research
budgets. Being judged by our colleagues encourages competition. It's everywhere
and we have to learn to accept that."
"I would certainly regret it if young people lost interest in
science because they didn't win a prize at a Science Fair. One of
the dangers of losing is that students become discouraged. I nevertheless
believe that we have to continue to reward students for their efforts,
while recognizing that they have all worked very hard. One of the
things that throws me every year is what little difference there is
between first and twenty-fifth place. They're only fractions apart!
All participants should be proud of their efforts."
You're all really impressive!
"It disappoints me to think that young people are afraid of
judges. I just want all participants to know how very impressive they
are and how much they impress everyone, from visitors to the head judge.
There's such an incredible amount of mutual respect at the Science Fair.
The judges have enormous respect for the participants, who, in turn, show
the judges the same courtesy. This climate of respect is definitely well
founded. The work accomplished by young people at the Science Fair deserves
every bit of respect and only the highest praise."
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© 2002, Conseil de développement du loisir scientifique
(CDLS). This document is distributed by the Conseil de développement
du loisir scientifique.
For more information, visit our Web site at www.cdls.qc.ca. |
The opinions
expressed in this section are those of the authors and do not
necessarily
reflect the opinions of Merck Frosst or its employees. |
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