Young scientists to experiment with project ideas at Riverside County Office of Education Science Expo

RIVERSIDE – More than 200 budding scientists will meet with staff from the Riverside County Office of Education at the annual Science Expo on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Riverside County Office of Education Conference Center located at 3958 Twelfth Street in Riverside.

The Science Expo is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) project geared toward helping students in 4th – 12th grades with science or engineering projects. The event is aimed at helping students convert their ideas into projects that may be displayed at the Inland Area Science and Engineering Fair to be held April 6 - 7, 2015.

“The importance of the Expo is to really allow kids who want to do a project to interact with adults and older students who have experience to share. Additionally, it gives the kids an opportunity to meet scientists and discuss ideas with them,” said Saumya Keremane, a senior from King High School who has done Science Fair projects since fourth grade. Keremane is preparing a molecular biology project, now in its second year.

“The Expo allows young scientists, such as those who have attended the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (the world’s largest pre-college science fair), to showcase their research and inspire their peers to better the world of STEM,” said high school senior Jared Tramontano from Corona-Norco Unified School District. This year, his project involves foundations for a new area of math denoted as "Fuzzy Differential Topology" for application to artificial intelligence algorithms such as manifold learning. Tramontano has presented projects for the last three years in the pure mathematics category — an often overlooked area of the fair.

“Completing a research project is ideal for implementation of the scientific or engineering practices as well as the California Common Core Science Literacy Standards,” said Yamileth Shimojyo, Coordinator for the Riverside County Office of Education.

The Expo is designed to support students’ efforts and sophistication of their individual research projects while supporting them in their pursuit of STEM skills and careers. Hands-on workshops related to Science Fair projects will be offered and exhibitors will help promote critical thinking and exploration. Scientists and engineers will be available for one-on-one consultations with students and their parents.

For more information, contact Yamileth Shimojyo, Coordinator, Riverside County Office of Education at (951) 600-5658 or at [email protected].