About the Nonprofit
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Mission:
LACSEF’s mission is to expose as many Los Angeles County students as possible to inquiry-based science and design-thinking based engineering that extends beyond the classroom through the development and presentation of science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM) research. The fair is designed to expose participants and the general community to science and engineering through a science fair competition, hands-on activities and workshops, and an exhibition that is open to the public.
Programs:
Our primary program is an annual science and engineering fair, which we have conducted since 1950. The multi day event is designed to expose students and the general community to inquiry based science and design thinking engineering that takes them beyond the classroom and provides them the opportunity to interact with experts in their respective fields (judges). In this regard, they learn to describe their research, explain the methodology they used, present their findings, and field questions about their project. Participants receive feedback from the judges on how the procedures, design, testing, and analysis could be improved so they could adjust their methodology and build upon their research for future competitions or the next year’s fair. As a result of this experience, many participants “catch the STEM bug” and continue to expand their science and engineering education and later pursue STEM majors in college.
LACSEF assists participants in furthering their participation in the science and engineering community by providing additional exposure to science and engineering competitions. To assist in this, we provide small financial awards to participants who place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their category in an effort to help eliminate financial barriers to their participation at the California State Science Fair. We pay all the costs associated with registration and travel for students selected to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In addition, all middle school students who place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their category are nominated for the Broadcom MASTERS national competition.
We also seek to assist Los Angeles County schools in implementing more hands-on inquiry based science instruction, something that is at the heart of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). To accomplish this, we conduct several free workshops (five planned for this year) to help support teachers in implementing and improving their science inquiry and design thinking engineering curriculum.
To expose the general community to STEM related activities and innovations, LACSEF conducts a public exhibition at the annual fair. Along with viewing the submitted projects and receiving presentations from students, attendees can take part in interactive exhibits. These hands-on activities allow the public to learn about new technologies and experience being a scientist or engineering.
Program Impact:
Participation in the LACSEF has a dramatic impact on students and in promoting STEM education. Participation in the fair helps students develop and integrate organization, research, data collection, analytical thinking, problem resolution, written and oral presentation, and resiliency skills. Many students hone these skills on their path to engineering, scientific, medical, or research careers. They equally promote success in other areas of study and careers. More than any other school project, it instills a level of confidence that encourages students to step outside of their comfort zone and achieve something they thought was outside their abilities.
Recent accomplishments of our students demonstrate the potential impact of our program. Three of our students were finalists in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search, the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Four of our students placed in their categories at the 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In 2020, one of our students received one of the top four awards at the Broadcom Masters competition. To learn more about the impact LACSEF has on the community, please watch our Video (https://youtu.be/BkN4I7IYsGI).