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MEDARVA Healthcare will host a virtual science fair for Richmond-area students – and it’s enlisted a new celebrity to help judge the contest.
The Richmond-based health care provider and parent company to two of Central Virginia’s largest ambulatory surgery centers sought to support middle and high school students’ engagement in science during the pandemic, so it hatched the idea for a virtual science fair.
And the event will be judged by a team that includes Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020 and a current doctor of pharmacy student at VCU.
Submissions are being accepted through May 15 at https://www.medarva.com/virtualsciencefair.
“I’m excited that MEDARVA Healthcare has asked me to be a part of this fun and important project,” said Schrier, who is a graduate of Virginia Tech. “Thanks to MEDARVA Healthcare, students now have an opportunity to share the ideas and talent they would have showcased if schools hadn’t been forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Students are asked to investigate an interesting topic and submit a summary, an experiment design diagram and a short video highlighting the project. A team of judges that includes Schrier will score the student entries for a chance to win several monetary awards – including $1,500 for first place – in both the middle school and high school categories.
“Now, more than ever, it is a great time to inspire scientific curiosity in the students in our community, who could be the breakthrough researchers of tomorrow, finding cures for diseases similar to COVID-19,” said Bruce P. Kupper, president of MEDARVA Healthcare. “Miss America, Camille Schrier has demonstrated that science is exciting and every student should be encouraged to explore their interests in science. MEDARVA Healthcare is delighted to join Miss America in her efforts “to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and careers for girls.”
The competition is open to any Richmond-area student in grades 6 to 12 who:
• has already completed a project but did not get a chance to showcase, or
• would like to conduct an at-home do-it-yourself research project of their choosing; or
• has conducted an “epic fail” project: something that did not quite turn out as expected.
