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Teachers' science fair workshop, NOCCA open studio and more area school news

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  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, September 26th 2025 at 12:35 GMT by NOLA.com
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Crescent City Teachers Lead the Way in a New Science‑Fair Workshop Series

By [Your Name] – Research Journalist
Published: September 2025

In the heart of New Orleans’ Crescent City community, a new initiative is putting science education on the front burner. A series of workshops organized by Crescent City Public Schools (CCPS) and the local district’s Science Fair Committee will give teachers the tools they need to prepare their students for the annual regional science fair, while also fostering a culture of curiosity and inquiry across the district’s middle and high schools.

The Birth of a New Program

The initiative, announced in late August by Dr. Lisa Marlow, the district’s Director of Curriculum Development, is the culmination of years of discussion about how to increase student participation in STEM competitions. “We’ve seen a steady rise in students who love science, but the infrastructure to support that love has been uneven,” Marlow said. “This workshop series is designed to give teachers the professional development they need to turn classroom experiments into award‑winning projects.”

The first session was held on August 29 at the Crescent City Community Center, a venue that has long hosted district events ranging from job fairs to cultural festivals. Over 90 teachers from CCPS’s nine schools attended, all eager to learn how to guide students in developing hypotheses, designing experiments, and communicating results.

What the Workshop Covers

The curriculum for the workshops, detailed in a PDF that CCPS posted on its website, focuses on three core areas:

1. Project Design & Methodology
   Teachers learn how to help students formulate clear research questions, choose appropriate variables, and develop rigorous protocols. Sample lesson plans include guided inquiry activities on topics such as “Biodegradable Plastics” and “Renewable Energy in Everyday Life.”

2. Safety & Lab Practices
   A significant portion of the workshop is devoted to laboratory safety. In partnership with the Crescent City Fire Department, the district brought in a fire safety officer to demonstrate proper handling of acids, solvents, and other hazardous materials. The handouts also cover emergency procedures for spills and chemical burns.

3. Communication & Presentation Skills
   Students’ projects need to be presented clearly to judges, parents, and peers. The workshop includes mock “pitch sessions” where teachers practice coaching students on creating effective posters, delivering concise oral reports, and using visual aids such as graphs and infographics.

Beyond the core curriculum, the workshop series includes a “resource hub” that lists local sponsors, grant opportunities, and free lab equipment vendors. The district’s website hosts a video—linked in the article’s sidebar—showing a recent science‑fair project where a sophomore team built a low‑cost, solar‑powered water purifier.

Community Engagement

A key aspect of the program is community involvement. In addition to teachers, the first session welcomed parents, local business owners, and alumni of the district’s STEM programs. The alumni, many of whom now work in engineering and research, offered to serve as volunteer judges for the upcoming science fair. Their presence underscores the district’s goal of building a pipeline that takes students from classroom curiosity to real‑world careers.

The workshops also highlight partnership with the Crescent City Public Library’s STEM Corner, which offers free access to books, digital resources, and occasional guest speakers. “We want students to feel that science is not confined to the classroom,” said library director Maya Thomas. “It’s happening all around us, in the streets, in the water, in the air.”

The 2025 Science Fair

The culmination of the workshop series will be the 2025 Crescent City Science Fair, scheduled for November 12 at the Crescent City High School auditorium. The event will feature categories ranging from “Physics” and “Biology” to “Social Impact Projects,” encouraging interdisciplinary thinking. A panel of judges will include teachers from CCPS, local university faculty, and industry professionals.

According to the fair’s official guidelines—also posted on the district’s website—students must submit a written abstract, a poster, and a short video demonstrating their experiment. The fair will award certificates, scholarships, and a $500 science‑kit grant for the top projects.

The district’s leadership hopes that the workshop series will not only improve the quality of projects but also increase participation. “We’re targeting a 30% increase in student entries next year,” Marlow said. “That’s ambitious, but we have the right teachers, the right resources, and the right community to make it happen.”

Why It Matters

In a broader context, the initiative reflects a growing trend in public education to prioritize STEM, especially in underserved communities. Data from the Louisiana Department of Education indicate that students in the Crescent City area lag behind state averages in science proficiency. By equipping teachers with the knowledge and resources to run rigorous science projects, CCPS is investing in a future where its students are better prepared for STEM‑based careers.

The workshops also address a perennial issue: teacher professional development. Many teachers report that they rarely receive training on how to coach students in scientific methodology. The new program fills that gap, offering hands‑on experience and a network of colleagues to consult.

Next Steps

The district has already planned a second wave of workshops for January, focusing on advanced topics such as statistical analysis and ethical considerations in research. Teachers can sign up for the next session through the CCPS teacher portal, with spots filling up fast.

For more information on the workshops, the science‑fair guidelines, and the list of judges, visit the district’s official website at www.ccps.edu/sciencefair or watch the embedded video in the original article.

As the Crescent City community rallies behind this effort, one thing is clear: curiosity is not just encouraged; it’s celebrated. Through this partnership of teachers, parents, businesses, and local experts, the district is turning the sparks of interest into a blaze of innovation and discovery.