The CSEF was established in 1952. Ever since it has taken place each year at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The only exception occurred in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about its history and noteworthy moments on the pages of los-angeles.pro.
The first science fair in Los Angeles
The event was held on April 19 and 20, 1952. It has been the official science fair for the state of California ever since.
The idea for the CSEF was born in the fall of 1951, thanks to a group from the California Science Teachers Association. They were inspired by the impressive achievements of students at the National Science Fair, which is currently recognized as the International Science and Engineering Fair. The outstanding outcomes of these projects were featured in Science News magazine.
Representatives from the California Science Teachers Association, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Institute of Technology registered the fair. At the time, Ms. Gretchen Sibley, the acting Treasurer of the Science Teachers Association, was appointed Chairperson of the Steering Committee. Following the science fair’s incorporation, she was elected Executive Director. Ms. Gretchen Sibley held this role for the initial decade of the science fair’s existence.
Ms. Gretchen Sibley
The woman made significant contributions as a science educator. She pioneered the docent program at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and held the esteemed position of the inaugural Executive Director of the California State Science Fair.
From a young age, she has been passionate about museums and art. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she completed her teacher’s education in her hometown before teaching at a local high school. At the same time, Ms. Sibley was pursuing an advanced degree in zoology at USC. Upon completing her dissertation, she obtained her master’s degree in 1946.
Following her retirement, the woman remained active in the museum as Archivist Emeritus and Museum Education Specialist Emeritus. In 1996, she received the honor of being named Los Angeles County Volunteer of the Year.
Ms. Gretchen Sibley spent her later years at a senior care center in Lake Forest, where she hired a driver and obtained adaptive equipment to continue her museum work weekly. She passed away at the age of 99 in 2013.
Awarding
The fair comprises 28 regional scientific events, each of which showcases projects based on past winning submissions. For instance, in 2009, there were 908 projects distributed, equating to 24.7 projects per million people.
It’s fascinating to take a closer look at how winners are recognized.
- The CSEF includes a variety of categories in which both junior, grades 6-8, and senior, grades 8-12, are awarded.
- After the fair ends each spring, the winners are announced and awards are presented.
- Several special awards are sponsored by organizations participating in the CSEF, some of which comprise monetary prizes, such as the UCLA Brain Research Institute award.
In 2009, David Zarrin from Redwood Middle School in Saratoga won the Patricia Beckman Project of the Year Award for the Junior Division, earning a $5,000 prize. Likewise, Anna K. Simpson from Patrick Henry High School in San Diego was named the Senior Division winner and received $10,000 in that year.
In 1990, the actual status of the fair was changed, it was declared the official Science Fair for the State of California. Currently, this esteemed event takes place in all regions of the state. Despite the increased difficulty in qualifying compared to 1952, around 1,000 students compete at the state level annually. Although the fair has expanded, some aspects remain the same. The primary goal is still to inspire students to explore the field of science through their own projects.