First SEED Science Fair in Ecuador

Voices
First SEED Science Fair in Ecuador

May 2008 [Ecuador]

By Cristina Velasco, SEED Ecuador Coordinator

Passion for Science is discovered in early childhood. Sometimes it’s part of a child’s essence, it’s in the genes some may say, or maybe it’s learned?

Children properly guided and motivated can put their minds to the test. Investigation then becomes a great way to discover, create and learn new things. This is what we wanted to incentive by creating the First SEED Science Fair in Ecuador.

Seven SEED Schools in Ecuador were invited to participate in an event where students (ages 11-13) had to prepare science projects on themes related to nature, conservation and environmental care.

Five SEED schools confirmed their participation: Colegio Padre Miguel Gamboa (Coca), Colegio Tecnico Amazonas (Coca), Colegio Militar Capitan Giovanni Calles (Coca), Escuela Richard Burgos (Coca) and Unidad Educativa Pacifico Cembranos (Lago Agrio). The themes of their projects were: The Carbon Cycle, Trash Recycling, Global Warming, Environment Contamination and Greenhouse Effect.

Students had one month to investigate and prepare their projects with the support of their teachers under the guidelines given by SEED Ecuador. They could use any kind of materials and play with their creativity. Cristina Velasco (SEED Ecuador Coordinator) kept in touch with them to give advice, guidance and motivation.

The First SEED Science Fair in Ecuador took place on May 14, 2008. We had 47 students and 9 teachers participating. They came early in the morning to the Coliseum of the Colegio Militar Capitan Giovanni Calles (Coca) where the event was going to be held. Anxious, nervous and with high expectations to be the winners, the students prepared their projects so the jury could see them.

Representing Schlumberger and SEED at the event as part of the jury were: Carole Le Dez, LAM Environmental Manager; Clelia Cayama, Ecuador Personnel Manager; Luis Bastar, OFS Coca Base Manager; Christian Toaza, EIC Completions; Liz Niama, QHSE Coordinator; and Cristina Velasco, SEED Ecuador Coordinator.

All the projects were qualified under these parameters: creativity, theorical base, materials used, general presentation of the project, students presentation, relationship of he project with the theme. It was hard to define a winner because all the presented science projects were great!

Recycled materials, banners with information, well prepared speeches were part of excellent projects done with many details and care. Also we had a school that did a puppet show to demonstrate the consequences of global warming.

The day came to an end and we had to announce the winners:

This was a wonderful experience for all of us and we all agreed that this has to be repeated. A new seed was planted again in our children minds, a motivation to learn more about science and to discover the world were we live in, but especially the need to take care of our environment.