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Google Holds Global Science Fair

Posted by samzenpus on from the no-cheating-kid dept.

theodp writes "Google put out an APB Tuesday, looking for young Einstein and Curie wannabes for its new global online Google Science Fair (nice Rube Goldberg YouTube promo, btw). Students between the ages of 13-18 with access to a computer, the Net and a browser can compete for prizes that include a trip to the Galapagos Islands, scholarships, and a five-day trip to CERN. Google hasn't yet figured out a way to web-enable science fair boards, so projects like Crystal Meth — Friend or Foe will have to be created as Google Sites (example). Unlike a typical local school science fair, the judges here are the real deal, so you can forget about blaming scientifically-clueless students, parents and teachers for your loss this time, kids!"

11 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Alright! by The_mad_linguist · · Score: 2

    Time for people to start investing in vinegar and baking soda, since the demand is going to skyrocket in the next couple of days.

    1. Re:Alright! by Seumas · · Score: 2

      Unfortunately, that's about the extent that you can expect in a public school. If Google is really looking to engage and facilitate critical thinking and discovery among children, they might truly be able to offer something for those children who want to have the encouragement and resources for advanced learning, but are typically not served by or even discouraged by the public school system. I was a pretty awful student, when it was my turn, but things like having the same Earth Sciences text book in high school that I had already used in the fifth grade didn't really promote curiosity or education - nor did the teachers who (by choice or force) were stuck catering to the common denominator -- which often meant just trying to get through a class without students humping each other or the teacher getting hit with a text book.

      I'd love to see more of this. Companies that bitch about the supposed lack of knowledgeable young people as justification for flooding H1Bs actually doing something about it - even bypassing the public education system, if necessary. Whatever people may say about kids "this generation" (it's always "this generation - fifty years ago, today, and fifty years from now) -- there are always a ton of them who will enthusiastically embrace an opportunity and excel if given just a bit of guidance and resources.

      Hell, I'm an adult and I totally want to participate in a Google science fair!

  2. Can't figure out a way to host the fair? by Deathnerd · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Put up a message board where the kids post their project and a detailed summary with pictures, research, etc. The judges then pick out the outstanding ideas, and google flies them out to give a real life presentation. Maybe 50 or so projects could be selected. They could hold a public event as well. Fixed that for ya, Google.

  3. Uh, about that Nobel Laureate... by jheath314 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Google boasts that they've assembled a "panel of acclaimed scientists including Nobel Laureates, tech visionaries and household names". The only Nobel Laureate on their list is Kary Mullis, who has a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his invention of the polymerase chain reaction. His bio conveniently does not mention his AIDS denialism, Climate change denial, and his belief in astrology.

    It's too bad I'm no longer a teenager... I'm sure would you have loved my project "Why Astrology is Bunk, and AIDS Denial is Dangerous"

    --
    Procrastination Man strikes again!
    1. Re:Uh, about that Nobel Laureate... by Skidborg · · Score: 2

      So long as he is only judging in his area of experience, do his other beliefs matter?

      --
      Supporter of the +1 Over Dramatic mod option. In memory of apk.
    2. Re:Uh, about that Nobel Laureate... by rnaiguy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Except that is area of expertise is biology, making the AIDS denialism very relevant.

  4. Re:My take on Google's resources: They're Misdirec by Amorymeltzer · · Score: 2

    You're the first person I've seen who thinks cultivating scientific understanding and curiosity among teenagers is a waste of money compared to being able to more easily color spreadsheet data. The world would be a much better place if other gigantic corporate entities did things like this more often.

    --
    I live in constant fear of the Coming of the Red Spiders.
  5. References? by Deathnerd · · Score: 2

    I wonder if they'll restrain the kids to only citing references from books, because, you know... you can't trust everything you see on the internet, right?

  6. What if by zill · · Score: 2

    prizes that include a trip to the Galapagos Islands, scholarships, and a five-day trip to CERN

    Wouldn't it be sad if some kid from Galapagos Islands won?

  7. Re:Oh Wow by thoughtfulbloke · · Score: 2

    Neat project, but I'm more impressed that your 11 year old daughter can write python

    In teaching her python, the key explanation that made things understandable was:
    hey_you.do_this(with_this)
    Which covered enough understanding of object orientation to make useful progress.

  8. What people forget about scientists by Chicken_Kickers · · Score: 2, Informative

    What most people forget about scientists is that they are human beings like you and me. They are not angels, prophets or saints or robots. They are fallible and have their own beliefs and values that might not be compatible with yours but they are as entitled to it as you are. A Nobel laureate might be the leader of his field of expertise but might be useless at repairing his car, for example. So, do not automatically accept what they say when they are talking about stuff outside their field. Thisd does not however, reduce what they have contributed to the advancement of knowledge.