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How I Judged at the International Science Fair

How I Judged at the International Science Fair. -or- 12 Angry Men on Steroids. Direction. Physics & Astronomy Grand Prize Winner Cataclysmic Variables Judging Process Other great projects I voted for Insights Top ISEF Winners. Physics & Astronomy Grand Prize.

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How I Judged at the International Science Fair

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  1. How I Judged at the International Science Fair -or- 12 Angry Men on Steroids David Barnaby, WKU

  2. Direction • Physics & Astronomy Grand Prize Winner • Cataclysmic Variables • Judging Process • Other great projects I voted for • Insights • Top ISEF Winners David Barnaby, WKU

  3. Physics & Astronomy Grand Prize David Barnaby, WKU

  4. Cataclysmic VariablesRoche Lobe Overflow David Barnaby, WKU

  5. Cataclysmic Variable Light Curve • Low state: accretion • Flares: thermonuclear runaway on white dwarf surface. • Subclasses • Novae • Dwarf Novae David Barnaby, WKU

  6. Dwarf Novae Classifications • Arranged by magnetic activity. • None magnetic: dwarf novae • Intermediate polars: DQ Her, 10 MegaGauss • Polars: AM Her, 100 MegaGauss David Barnaby, WKU

  7. Intermediate Polars: DQ Her • WD: relatively strong magnetic field • Plasma dragged away from inner disk • Channeled to and crashes into magnetic poles. • Can produce hard X-rays. David Barnaby, WKU

  8. Polars: AM Her • WD: extremely strong magnetic field • Prevents accretion disk. • Plasma crashes preferentially into magnetic pole. • Consequences • Strong source of soft & hard x-rays • Rotation introduces variation in soft x-rays • WD magnetically locked to companion David Barnaby, WKU

  9. Question: why does X-ray emission decrease during low states? David Barnaby, WKU

  10. The Judging Process • 1510 Contestants • 17 Panels • 1200 Judges • Physics & Astronomy • 86 judges • Affiliations David Barnaby, WKU

  11. The First Day • Schedule, Schedule, Schedule! • Pep talk from software designer. • Decision making with partial information. • Most will not have interviewed the winner! • Look over all 86 entries • Including team entries. David Barnaby, WKU

  12. Some of the 20 Astronomy Projects • Variation on the Star Formation Rate from Galaxy Cluster Center c11037 • Simulations of Gravitational lensing Events Involving Nearby Lenses and Effects of Parallax • Mars Rover: Could It Be Better? • Determining Surface Composition of KBOs Through Spectrum Matching • Heating the Rings: The Thermodynamics of the Rings of Saturn David Barnaby, WKU

  13. The Second Day • 10 interviews assigned • 15 minute blocks • Scantron cards. • Back in caucus room • Straw poll of early favorites. • Distinguishing elements of my approach • Questions. • Form 1C. David Barnaby, WKU

  14. Early Favorites and Extra Interviews • Cosmic Rain • Ball Lightning • Leidenfrost Effect • Kuiper Belt Objects David Barnaby, WKU

  15. Now, for the Caucus! • Process for selecting • 3 1st place • 4 2nd place • 5 3rd place • 6 4th place • Co-chairs, blow-hards, and curmudgeons. • My ranking • Mr Temple won: solved long-standing problem; 2 papers “in press” • Wrapped up with 5 minutes to spare! David Barnaby, WKU

  16. My Insights • Get abstracts of all 1st and 2nd place winners! • Helps to have a well-endowed mentor. • Data, ideas, money, equipment. • Mentor contribution did NOT appear factor. • Publications, even rumored, help a lot! • Depth of understanding equally important. • How does this fit into a larger picture? • An intriguing solution to a problem? David Barnaby, WKU

  17. Top ISEF Winners David Barnaby, WKU

  18. Comment from Intel CEO • Inspiring teachers made a difference in this contestants life. • Opportunity did as well. • His complaint. David Barnaby, WKU

  19. Thanks for your attention. David Barnaby, WKU

  20. Possible Mentors David Barnaby, WKU

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