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Massachusetts State Science Fair Announces New Leadership Team

Posted on: Thursday, 12 January 2006, 12:00 CST

To Focus on Expanding Inquiry-Based Learning Initiatives

The Massachusetts State Science Fair, Inc. (MSSF) is dedicated to encouraging and fostering inquiry-based science and technology learning among Massachusetts High School and Middle School students. Each year, thousands of these young men and women pursue specialized fields of interest by working on individual or team-based science projects through their classroom curriculum, in after-school programs or on their own. These projects allow students to delve deeply into their chosen areas of interest, raise questions and utilize a hands-on scientific process to reach their conclusion.

"The application of the scientific method is a precious, problem-solving tool that students will carry with them throughout their adult lives, whether or not they choose careers in science or technology," said Christopher L. Lawson, MSSF's recently elected Chairman of the Board. "Progressing through each step-- from observation to gathering information, to experimentation, data collection, analysis and conclusion, students become involved in a valuable learning process that's not easily duplicated. That's why the Science Fair is an experience that lasts a lifetime."

To promote the benefits of inquiry-based learning, science projects and the Science Fair program and lead the organization in its new direction, a recently elected leadership team will focus on a number of initiatives aimed at achieving the Fair's 2006 goals. Armed with a strategic plan, the MSSF seeks to increase the number of participants in the high school and middle school fairs, involve a greater number of volunteers in judging and mentoring students, grow its endowment, expand alliances with other science, engineering and technology minded organizations, work to enhance science curricula, and take a lead role in critical STEM issues.

The leadership team will guide a dedicated group of academic and corporate sector individuals toward meeting these goals and further the commitment to science projects as a learning experience that will continue to engage students in the exploration of science, engineering and technology. Newly announced team members are:

Christopher L. Lawson, Chairman of the Board. Mr. Lawson's association with the MSSF spans 15 years, beginning during his tenure at W. R. Grace & Co., the Fair's principal sponsor from 1990-2001. As Grace's Director of Marketing Communications, he worked with MSSF management to help create a new contemporary brand, image and messaging for the Fair and was subsequently responsible for its marketing and publicity.

Mr. Lawson brings more than 30 years of advertising agency and client side experience to this new role. Over half his career has been spent at Grace where he managed worldwide corporate communications for the Grace Specialty Chemicals Division. While at several prominent Boston agencies, he was responsible for a number of consumer and business-to-business accounts. He presently heads the Lawson Group, a communications agency search firm in Hanover, MA. Mr. Lawson has been a board member since 1997.

Barnas G. Monteith has been closely involved with the Science Fair for over a decade and was one of the most successful participants in MSSF history. He has been elected Chairman of the MSSF, Inc. Executive Committee.

A graduate of Tufts University, Mr. Monteith has founded several technology companies first building an application hosting company with a global distribution of servers and ultimately growing the firm to more than 50 employees. He has served on the board for SourceCode.com, Inc.; and an MIT-affiliated healthcare technology venture, Voxys Systems. He also manages Advanced Diamond Solutions, Inc., a company focused on the invention and commercialization of synthetic diamond products.

Over the past three years Mr. Monteith has been the recipient of awards from MIT, Harvard Business School, the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia University. He has co-authored several patents pending and has written more than a dozen scientific publications. He and his business partner, Dr. Michael Sung, have a grant pending for the development of science education curriculum at MIT.

Nancy G. Degon, immediate past Vice President of MSSF, has been elected its President. Coordinator of the Auburn Science Fair, chairperson of the Central Massachusetts Science Fair and a member of the MSSF's board of directors and operating committee, she brings considerable Science Fair management expertise to her role. Ms. Degon has more than 25 years experience as a science and math educator and currently serves on the staff of the Auburn Public Schools, grades 9-12. She was also a member of the adjunct faculty of Quinsigamond Community College and a visiting scholar in the chemistry department of the Massachusetts Academy of Mathematics and Science.

Ms. Degon's professional affiliations include the National Education Association, National Science and Math Teachers Association and regional and state educational organizations. She has also been the recipient of the Horace Mann Grant to coordinate the high school science fair, the Alliance Education Grant, and Auburn Education Foundation grants for science fair coordination. She holds an undergraduate degree from Clark University and a Master's in Natural Science from WPI.

Mary Ellen (Mel) Stephen, a mathematics, physics and chemistry teacher for more than 25 years, has been elected Vice President of the MSSF. After receiving her Bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto, Ms. Stephen spent 4 years in Cambridge, England, working for Fisons, an agrochemical company, while her husband earned his PhD in Geophysics.

Moving to Cape Cod she became a founding member of Falmouth Academy, a private school, where she taught math and science courses. In 2001, she transferred to Plymouth (MA) South High School and has continued to teach Physical Science and Chemistry. Ms. Stephen has served on local, regional and state Science Fair committees and is a 15-year plus member of the South Shore Regional Science Fair Committee, where she was chairperson for 5 years. From 2001-2004, she served as President of the MSSF and for the past 10 years has accompanied the Massachusetts delegation to the International Science and Engineering Fair.

About the Massachusetts State Science Fair, Inc.

The Massachusetts State Science Fair seeks to engage students in the inquiry and an exploration of science, engineering and technology. Established more than 50 years ago by dedicated members of the educational community and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the MSSF now supports several hundred competitive and non-competitive fairs involving 50,000 Massachusetts students each year. A statewide fair held in the spring at MIT for high school students (May 5 & 6, 2006) followed by a Middle School Fair at WPI (June 3) annually showcases their competitiveness and rewards students for their efforts and achievement.

Students participating in the MSSF develop self-learning techniques, build self-confidence, increase self-respect and expand their personality and awareness. The MSSF is proud to continue its role helping fuel the supply of bright and talented scientists, engineers and researchers. For more information, log on to www.scifair.com.

Source: Business Wire

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