Los Gatos Students Compete in Silicon Valley Science Fair

Editor's Note: This article was written for Los Gatos Patch as part of a San Jose State University journalism class assignment. The writer welcomes your feedback and comments.

With solutions to help aid cancer research, to in-depth data on how to prevent global warming, Silicon Valley students impressed judges with their science projects last Wednesday at the 53rd annual Silicon Valley Science Fair.

The fair, sponsored by Synopsys and the Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair Association (SCVSEFA), was held at the San Jose Convention Center.

According to SCVSEFA board member Veena Jain, the fair helps students develop the skills they learn in the classroom.

"The teachers work hard to get them here and their parents encourage that," Jain said. "All we're doing is providing a forum for them to compete with each other and do well."

Under strict fair deadlines and requirements, students must turn in an application before conducting their science experiments to ensure they follow safety and ethics rules, as well as reaching a certain science standard, according to SCVSEFA board member Heidi Strahm Black.

The experiments must also be independent, project-based research within the fields of computer science, environmental science, medicine, health, chemistry, biology and others.

This year, according to the 2013 Synopsis Championship statistics, 1,110 students participated.

Of those students, more than 10 represented Los Gatos High School. They are: Dan Burns, Jessica Chiu, Cathy Messenger, Brooke Murphy Ahmed, Justin Browns Brian, XinNi Chai, Eugenia Bing Huang, Andrea Rae Kibel, Adam Kevin O' Regan, Hannah Belle Spinner, Chinmay Manish Vaidya and Olivia Lynn Woodford-Berry.

Students who advance within the science fair continue on to the California State Science Fair, Broadcom Masters Competition, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and the I-SWEEEP Olympiad.

Eesha Khare, a Lynbrook High School senior, won the I-SWEEEP Olympiad gold medal for her energy storage project last year.

"It was just a great experience because this project was about sustainability so first you get to see how your project can really make an impact in the world in terms of sustainability," Khare said.

A fourth year participant, Khare said participation in the fair and further competition is a unique and eye-opening experience.

"The Synopsys competition prepares you really well for the international fair," she said. "I think it's really important to participate in these science fairs because it gives you the opportunity to think independently and ask really big questions."

According to Khare, focusing on what you're passionate about and meeting others who are just as passionate about different subjects is all the difference.

"It's a good experience in terms of friends and learning in that sense, but also to develop your individual talent," she said.

Winners of this year's science fair will be announced April 1.