The Intellectual Property Law Section of the D.C. Bar seeks volunteers to serve as Judges for the 2011 Benjamin Banneker Academic High School Science Fair. The Fair is on Friday, February 25, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m.

Banneker High School, located at 800 Euclid Street, NW, Washington, D.C. (202-671-6320), is a magnet school that attracts top local students with a particular interest in math, science and technology. Banneker proudly boasts that one hundred percent of its graduates are accepted into college.

All students participate by submitting a science project in one of a dozen categories, including Behavioral & Social Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics & Computers, Medicine & Health, Microbiology, Physics and Astronomy, Animal Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Biology and Botany. Past winners of the Banneker High School Science Fair have gone on to win at city, regional and even national level science fairs. 

Volunteer Judges need no scientific degree or prior training.  Judges may have to attend a short pre-Fair briefing followed by a half-day (morning) presentation of the science projects by the students. Judges will be assigned to categories based on preferences or prior judging experience. Each Judge views science projects in an assigned category, asks questions of the responsible student(s) about each project, and scores each project according to a list of prescribed criteria.  Each group of Judges then collectively selects winners for the assigned category.

The IP Law Section has been a proud sponsor of this annual event since 1996. Come join dozens of legal colleagues, local teachers, engineers, and other community volunteers in an event certain to again provide rewarding and gratifying memories for students and Judges alike. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided for Judges.

To volunteer, please send your name, contact information, science category preference and any dietary restrictions to outreach@dcbar.org by Friday, February 18, 2011.