OMAO Hosts Local Science Fair

Jeanne G. Kouhestani
Office of Marine & Aviation Operations (OMAO)

OMAO's Danielle Swallow discusses a science project with a Shepherd Elementary School student.
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(Credit: Jeanne G. Kouhestani, NOAA)

The annual James D. Martin Science Fair of Shepherd Elementary School, Washington, D.C., was a big success, as 40 NOAA judges representing every line office talked to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders and scored their projects. The fair, hosted by the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, was held in NOAA’s Science Center in Silver Spring, MD, on January 23. This partnership between OMAO and the school enables the students to talk to scientists about their projects in a professional venue, providing that extra spark of excitement that may just lead them to a science career someday. Many thanks go to the judges from OMAO and the other line offices who volunteered their morning to provide valuable feedback and encouragement to the students.  Thanks also go to the seven mentors who spent time each week for two months working with students on developing their projects from beginning to end. Mentors include Jennifer Hammond, Jeanne Kouhestani, Liz McMahon, and CDR Guy Noll (all of OMAO); Gene Cope (NMFS); Meka Laster (OEd); and Clarence Tignor (NESDIS). Finally, special thanks go to Jennifer Hammond and Liz McMahon for all their efforts in coordinating the Science Fair with Shepherd Elementary.

Shepherd Elementary is OMAO’s adopted school.  Its science fair is named in honor of the late Jim Martin of OMAO, who frequently volunteered his time to support the school, including participating in career fairs and classroom presentations and facilitating the donation of surplus NOAA computers to the school.

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