science fair

Young Scientists Take Center Stage at UCR During Riverside Unified School District Science and Engineering Fair

joanny — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:17:28 +0000

Young Scientists Take Center Stage at UCR During Riverside Unified School District Science and Engineering Fair joanny Tue, 02/17/2026 - 13:17 More College News February 02, 2026

On January 27, 2026, HUB 302 at the University of California, Riverside was filled with poster boards, lab notebooks, and a steady hum of scientific curiosity as students from across the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) gathered for the district’s annual Science and Engineering Fair. For a few hours, the room became a hub of discovery — where local RUSD students shared research, answered probing questions, and stepped into the role of scientists.

For UC Riverside’s College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), hosting the event is more than a one-day partnership. It is part of an ongoing commitment to community engagement, scientific encouragement, and building pathways from local classrooms to future careers.

“This is the future,” said CNAS Dean Peter Atkinson. “These are our future physicians, scientists, and teachers. The pipeline that is coming from multiple schools within RUSD is strong and continuous, and you can’t help but be inspired by the quality of the students and the work they present.”

Science in action — and in conversation

From early morning through midday, volunteer judges — more than 60 faculty members, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars from across CNAS disciplines — evaluated projects spanning environmental science, biology, chemistry, engineering, and beyond.

For younger students, judges evaluated projects based on poster presentations. For middle and high school students, judging included in-depth conversations about research questions, experimental design, and future directions.

Dr. Stephanie Dingwall, CNAS Divisional Dean of Student Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Teaching in Biochemistry, helped coordinate the judging effort. She said judges consistently walked away impressed.

“They have been extremely impressed with the students’ caliber — their ability to communicate their ideas clearly, their scientific rigor, and how proactive they are,” Dingwall said. “Some judges even remarked that many of these students would thrive here at UCR.”

The interaction between students and scientists is one of the most meaningful aspects of the event, according to Julie Smith, Instructional Services Specialist for TK–12 Science at RUSD.

“That conversation between students and judges is such a great opportunity for both groups,” Smith said. “Students get to share their ideas and research, and judges get to reconnect with what scientific curiosity looked like when they were younger. It’s inspiring on both sides.”

A campus experience that expands horizons

The science fair itself is only part of the experience. After judging concluded, many students participated in the CNAS Experience — an immersive introduction to life as a university science student.

Participants toured campus facilities, visited the Geology Museum, and conducted a hands-on strawberry DNA extraction experiment in a teaching laboratory. They also attended a welcome session and student panel featuring CNAS Science Ambassadors, who shared their academic journeys and answered questions about college life.

For many students and families, the visit marked their first time on a university campus — even for those who have lived in Riverside their entire lives.

“Our goal is to broaden their horizons and show them what is possible,” Smith said. “Some parents told us it was their first time ever being on the UCR campus. That exposure matters — it helps students and families see what their futures could look like.”

Creating that sense of possibility is central to CNAS’s role in the region, Atkinson emphasized.

“We are their University of California,” he said. “We are here for our community. We want students across the Inland Empire to feel a sense of belonging — that this is their university and a place where they can succeed.”

Near-peer inspiration

For CNAS Science Ambassador Amanda Arrieta, the most powerful part of the day is not the judging — it is the conversations.

Arrieta, a biochemistry major and transfer student, spends much of the event talking with students and families, sharing her own academic journey and answering questions about what college is really like.

“When I was their age, I knew college was a concept, but I didn’t really know what it meant,” she said. “So having them here — seeing labs, meeting students, walking around campus — it makes college real.”

She often sees the shift happen in real time.

“You can see it on their faces,” Arrieta said. “They realize, ‘Oh, I could do this.’ That moment — when it feels possible — that’s my favorite part.”

Big ideas from young researchers

The projects themselves reflect the depth of curiosity and ambition among RUSD students.

At Martin Luther King High School, juniors and seniors Patrick Moon and Ubaid Awan presented research exploring how bacteria might help break down PFAS — persistent industrial chemicals that contaminate water supplies and pose health risks worldwide. Their work examined whether specific bacterial isolates could help degrade these compounds in an environmentally sustainable way.

Both students were motivated by real-world concerns — environmental impact, human health, and the responsibility to solve problems created by modern industry.

“We want to help address the root causes,” Awan said. “If there’s a way to remove harmful compounds safely and responsibly, that could make a real difference for people.”

Moon added that science offers something uniquely powerful: the ability to create solutions where none existed before.

“Science is about solving problems in creative ways,” he said. “It shows that there is always more to discover — and that we can fix the problems we create.”

Across the room, fellow Martin Luther King High School junior Alyna Burgett presented research on nematodes as natural pest control agents — a potential alternative to chemical pesticides, particularly in regions where agricultural sustainability is critical.

Burgett has spent nearly a year on the project and hopes to continue research in entomology — ideally at UC Riverside, home to one of the world’s leading programs in the field.

“I want to be in a research lab,” she said. “I want to study insects all day. That’s the goal.”

A shared investment in the future

For CNAS leaders and RUSD educators alike, the science fair represents something larger than competition or recognition. It is about exposure, encouragement, and long-term opportunity.

It is also about strengthening a regional ecosystem of learning — one in which universities and school districts work together to cultivate curiosity from an early age.

“We want students to see that discovery is still happening,” Smith said. “That science is not finished — there are still problems to solve, questions to explore, and ideas waiting to be tested.”

For Atkinson, that message carries forward into the future of the region itself.

“This is how we build the next generation,” he said. “By showing students what is possible, by welcoming them onto campus, and by helping them see themselves as scientists.”

As students packed up their projects and prepared for the next stages of competition — including a community showcase and awards ceremony later in the week — one thing was clear: the day had offered more than evaluation. It had offered perspective, inspiration, and a glimpse of what lies ahead.

And for many young scientists walking out of HUB 302, college — and a future in science — felt a little closer than it had before.

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Val Verde Students Bring Curiosity and Creativity to UCR for First-Ever District Science Fair at CNAS

joanny — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:59:58 +0000

Val Verde Students Bring Curiosity and Creativity to UCR for First-Ever District Science Fair at CNAS joanny Sun, 02/08/2026 - 14:59 More College News January 26, 2026

For many Val Verde Unified School District students, stepping onto the UC Riverside campus on Friday, Jan. 23, marked their first time visiting a major research university. By the end of the day, they weren’t just visitors — they were scientists.

Val Verde USD students gathered at UCR for the district’s first-ever science fair hosted by UC Riverside’s College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), presenting projects that explored topics ranging from physics and engineering to environmental science and human health. The event brought together K–12 students, teachers, district leaders, and UCR faculty, researchers, and students in a day centered on curiosity, discovery, and mentorship.

“This wasn’t just about competition,” said Leonesa Sanchez, Val Verde USD Science TOSA and one of the event’s organizers. “It was about giving students the experience of being on a university campus, talking with scientists, and realizing that they belong in spaces like this.”

A Partnership Rooted in Access and Opportunity

Hosting the science fair at UCR was a deliberate choice — one aimed at expanding access to higher education and showing students what’s possible when classroom learning connects to real-world science.

“This event reflects what CNAS values,” said Stephanie Dingwall, CNAS Divisional Dean of Student Academic Affairs. “We want students to see science as something they can participate in, contribute to, and build a future around. Opening our doors to Val Verde students is part of that mission.”

Dingwall emphasized that the science fair represents more than a single-day event. It’s part of CNAS’s broader commitment to community engagement, mentorship, and building pathways into STEM fields for local students.

Scientists at Every Stage Giving Back

One of the defining features of the science fair was the range of judges who volunteered their time — including CNAS faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, K–12 educators, and CNAS alumni.

CNAS biochemistry faculty member Sarah Radi, who served as a judge, said she was impressed by both the quality of the projects and the confidence students showed in explaining their work.

“You could tell how much thought and care went into these projects,” Radi said. “Students weren’t just presenting results — they understood their process, their challenges, and what they learned.”

Alex De La Vega, a CNAS postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and science fair judge, echoed that sentiment, noting that the fair gave students an authentic glimpse into scientific thinking.

“This is what science looks like,” De La Vega said. “Asking questions, testing ideas, and being open to what the data tells you.”

Val Verde educators Ben Goodwin and Darshak Shah, both of whom served as judges, highlighted the importance of students seeing familiar faces alongside university scientists — especially for those considering futures in STEM. Shah, a CNAS alum, said returning to campus as a judge felt especially meaningful.

“I see myself in these students,” Shah said. “Being here shows them that these pathways are real and attainable.”

Students Finding Their Voice in Science

For students like Andrew Del Villar, Francine Habacon, and Noah Doney, the fair was both exciting and affirming. Presenting their projects on a university campus — and receiving feedback from scientists — helped them see their work in a new light.

“It made me feel like what I was doing really mattered,” one student shared. “I could actually see myself doing this in the future.”

That sense of belonging was reinforced by CNAS Science Ambassadors Saalar Zarnegar and Camilla Hernandez, who spent the day answering questions, guiding students through the space, and sharing their own experiences as UCR undergraduates.

“We want them to know that they belong here,” one ambassador said. “We were in their shoes once.”

Looking Ahead

As the science fair wrapped up, the energy in the room was unmistakable — students lingering by posters, judges offering final words of encouragement, and educators already talking about next year.

For CNAS and Val Verde USD, the day marked the beginning of what both see as a growing partnership rooted in shared values: access, mentorship, and the power of science education to open doors.

“When students can see themselves as scientists,” Sanchez said, “it changes everything.”

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CNAS Graduate Students Support REACH Leadership STEAM Academy Science Fair

joanny — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:16:59 +0000

CNAS Graduate Students Support REACH Leadership STEAM Academy Science Fair joanny Mon, 02/02/2026 - 18:16 More Blog Posts January 22, 2026

On January 22, 2026, REACH Leadership STEAM Academy in Riverside hosted its annual science fair, welcoming students, educators, and community partners for a late-afternoon event that highlighted curiosity, experimentation, and discovery. UC Riverside’s College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) participated by sending graduate students to serve as judges and mentors, reinforcing the college’s commitment to community engagement, science education, and local recruitment.

The REACH Leadership STEAM Academy science fair marked the first of several regional science fairs supported by CNAS this month. CNAS graduate students also participated in the Val Verde Unified School District Science and Engineering Fair on Friday, January 23 and will serve as judges at the Riverside Unified School District Science and Engineering Fair on Tuesday, January 27. Together, these efforts reflect CNAS’s ongoing goal of being a consistent and visible partner in Inland Empire schools.

REACH Leadership STEAM Academy Vice Principal Toiya Allen said hosting a science fair—and welcoming university partners—helps students connect classroom learning to real-world possibilities.

“Having graduate students here shows our students what’s possible,” Allen said. “They get to interact with people who are actively studying and working in science, and that helps make science feel real and attainable.”

During the science fair, REACH students presented projects exploring a wide range of scientific questions. CNAS graduate student judges circulated throughout the event, engaging students in conversation, asking questions about their methods and findings, and offering encouragement and feedback.

Stephanie Dingwall, Divisional Dean of Student Academic Affairs for CNAS, said

participation in local science fairs is a meaningful way for the college to support early interest in STEM while building long-term relationships with schools and families.

“These science fairs are about showing up for our community,” Dingwall said. “CNAS wants to be a partner—to encourage students’ passion for science, support educators, and help students see themselves as future college students and scientists.”

Dingwall emphasized that CNAS graduate students play a particularly important role in these efforts by serving as near-peer mentors who can help demystify higher education and research pathways.

Among the CNAS participants was Cameron Zappetta, an M.S. student with the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) program, who said he was impressed by the level of thought and engagement students brought to their projects.

“You could tell students had really spent time thinking through their ideas,” Zappetta said. “They were excited to explain their work and answer questions, and that kind of curiosity is exactly what science is about.”

Camille Groneck, a Ph.D. student in the Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology program, described the experience as a reminder of why outreach and mentorship matter.

“Seeing students so engaged and enthusiastic about science is incredibly motivating,” Groneck said. “Opportunities like this can spark confidence and help students realize they belong in science.”

For Reuben Franklin, a postdoc with the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology program, who also received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UCR, shared that serving as a judge was a way to give back and support the next generation of scientists.

“Moments like this can really shape how students think about their futures,” Franklin said. “Being able to encourage them and take their ideas seriously is important.”

Allen said the presence of CNAS graduate students added depth and excitement to the science fair experience.

“Our students benefit from having conversations with people who are further along in their academic journeys,” she said. “It helps them build confidence and see new possibilities for themselves.”

As CNAS continues its participation in regional science fairs across Riverside County, the focus remains on strengthening community partnerships, encouraging curiosity, and supporting students at every stage of their educational journey. By engaging with students early and often, CNAS aims to inspire future scientists while reinforcing UC Riverside’s role as a committed and accessible community partner.

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