'Uncontrolled Variables,' Documentary About Science Fair, to Be Shown on Campus March 14

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A student collects data for her science fair project.

A new documentary about the science fair produced by University of Arkansas faculty members will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 in the Gearhart Hall auditorium on the U of A campus. The showing is free and open to the public.

William McComas, who holds the Parks Family Professorship in Science Education in the College of Education and Health Professions, envisioned and produced the film — Uncontrolled Variables: A Science Fair Story. He worked with award-winning filmmaker Dale Carpenter, professor of journalism in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, who wrote and directed the film. McComas saw the film as a natural outgrowth of his professorship, an opportunity to advance an understanding of science teaching and learning.

The 52-minute documentary tells the story of students from Alma High School in Crawford County, Alpena High School in Boone County and Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville as they conceive, then carry out their science fair projects. The three schools have a record of success at the regional science fair hosted at the U of A. A trailer can be viewed online.

"There is no more authentic aspect of science teaching than to demonstrate how science works, and that happens most effectively through the science fair," said McComas. "The science fair gives students the unique opportunity to engage in the same problem-solving processes as scientists do. Students start with a personally relevant research question, then they design a research project, collect data, analyze their data and present the results. This process lies at the foundation of both the science fair and science itself and is one that we must foster in all science learning settings."