Every spring semester, one of the biggest projects for Cornerstone students takes place. A project where students showcase their scientific mind to the next level. A project where you can test your patience to the extreme. The Cornerstone Science Fair is an annual project/event where all students participate to present their own scientific research and discuss with peers and teachers. And this year, just like every other semester, many students have worked amongst themselves to challenge their scientific minds.

To celebrate to successful outcome of this year’s Science Fair, I interviewed one of our science teachers. Thus, I interviewed our very own science department head and chemistry teacher, Ms. Samantha Kim.

Can you give a brief description of our Cornerstone Science Fair? How long has it been going on and why is it so important?

My first experience with the Cornerstone Science Fair was during the 2018-2019 school year. The main goal of the science fair is to give students a place to showcase their creativity and explore various science fields outside of the classroom setting. As science teachers, we wanted to encourage students to experience scientific exploration on their own while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills. We also wanted them to realize that new scientific discovery doesn’t only happen in a lab setting; it can happen anywhere through creative thinking and experimentation.We wanted to let students know that you can conduct experiments at home, have fun, and find something new using your own knowledge.

What criteria or aspect do you consider the most important?

One of the most important aspects we look at in a science fair would be creativity, in other words, how innovative and original the experiment is. Another key factor is what the student has learned throughout the process and what is the new idea that they have found through the experiments.

Is there anything to say for the students who are preparing for this semester’s science fair?

First of all, congratulations! I know you guys put a lot of time and effort into the science fair. I truly appreciate your hard work. Completing a science fair project is not an easy task, so I hope you got something out of it. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished. I am looking forward to seeing all of your projects and asking questions during the science fair!

I thank Ms. Samantha Kim for cooperating with me to write this article. I give my applause to all of those who participated in the Science Fair. Well done everyone!