Day 5: Judging Day - Wednesday May 15, 2013

Judgement Day!  By the time everyone everyone showed up at Cathy's room at 6:45 am, all that was kept cool overnight in their bath tub (thank you Sheraton for the ice!), was nicely spread out on their beds on a bright red table sheet.  Yogurt, fresh fruit, cereal, muffins, croissants and juice are all available and plentiful.

By 7:30 am, all of our students were all in their professional best and ready for the block walk to the Convention Center.  Judging began sharply at 8 am.

The long judging day was broken up by a planned lunch back at the Sheraton.  Our goal was to make a stress free environment to recharge our students and give them a break during their 11:30-1:15 break.  Poor Eisha ... she was rushed to noon pre-interviews for CFTR and CBC and as a result had to virtually swallow her lunch whole.  Listen for her ... she's scheduled for a Friday 7:30 am interview with Matt Galloway on CBC Metro Morning.  Not sure about the CFTR interview but I believe it's for 7 am ... will update.  We all can get a feel of her work from this press release.

Postscript ... Eisha's interview with Matt Galloway on Friday CBC Metro Morning ...
http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2385770927

Over the same judging period, our Calvin was involved in the Student Observer activities; on all accounts, he had a very enjoyable day.

While the students were being judged, the chaperones (minus Cathy ... again more IISEF meeting duties), entertained themselves at the movies (Ironman 3 and a Disney Work flick).

After the judging, the group redressed as casual, got rested and prepared for the INTEF arranged Mixer events, one for the students and one for the chaperones. The adult Mixer had a Blues theme while the students enjoyed a ............

Day 4: Baseball Night at the Arizona Diamnondbacks - Tuesday May 14, 2013

After lunch at the DBG, the group departed back to home base.  Tired and and baked for the past 2 hours, not many were looking forward to the long bus ride back.

A group headed to the Fair to attend the Science and Technology Discussion Panel with 5 Nobel Laureates in attendance.

The rest of us stopped over at a local Safeway to shop for pre-judging breakfast supplies on Wednesday morning.






Many of us showered up and got refreshed.  A few hours of rest and review of presentations passed the next few hours before heading out for an evening event arranged by IISEF ... a baseball game at Chase Field where the local Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves.  For dinner, the ticket allowed for $25 of food at all of the concessions ... not the most nutritious of meals.

Either because of dis-interest or a wish to retire back to their rooms for further refinements to their presentations, our group of 24 rapidly dwindled to 2 after 3 innings.  Jake and Calvin were the only two remaining by the end of the game at 9:30 pm.  By the way, Arizona won 2-0.

Liane, our YSC chaperone as you can see had a wonderful time at the game.  I think even moreso than our kids.

Parents, a question .... do you trust your kids with this woman?

A 10 pm meeting was held back at the Sheraton to remind everyone of the importance of the 11 pm curfew, a good night rest and setting the alarms ready for breakfast for tomorrow 6:45 am in Cathy's and Lianne's room.

Day 4: Excursion Day - Tuesday May 14, 2013

Good Morning  ... Phoenix.  .  It's going to be a mid 100 degree day and we're going on an excursion to Desert Botanical Gardens just outside of Phoenix.  It's going to be HOT! And we're warned to make sure we hydrate well.  Yesterday was hot enough but today is going to be even hotter. (pscript ... was 103 degree w 7% hunmidity).

Breakfast was an informal grab bag of nutribars, juice and cold cereal.

Transportation to the DBG was by public buses.  We learned very quickly that the Phoenix bus schedule is not very reliable and waiting was to be expected.  The kids participated in some playful games to pass the time during the wait. However, the hot weather and beating sun did not make it easy on the group.  Water bottles, hats and sunscreen was protocol for all.

HOT!

HOT!

HOT! 

NATURAL

BEAUTY

Day 3: Opening Ceremony - Monday May 13, 2013

Good Morning ... Phoenix.  It's going to be 104 degree F.  Thank goodness for AC!

A scheduled 8 am breakfast at the nearby Corner Bakery goes awry.  The latter was unprepared to process the large Canadian contingent's breakfast orders forcing the group to split up and be redirected to Starbucks and the Sheraton Bistro.

Not feeling rushed at all (just kidding), the group was herded over to the Fair to participate in a workshop on Presentation Techniques scheduled for 9 am.  Our students learned from one of the best, a Jack Franchetti (www.jfci.com).  I thought I heard that he's been doing this at ISEF for over a decade.  I believe that our students benefited greatly as I did.  I hope our students will be able to apply his key guiding principle ... "smile ... and give your key message in your opening sentence ... and repeat it a few times".

Avinash and Sruti from YSC had Intel TV interviews; I am sure you will be seeing their interviews soon posted in the upcoming months on the ISEF site (http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/).  The rest of us proceeded back to the Sheraton where chaperones conducted mock presentations for the student over the course of the next couple of hours.  Thereafter,  students and chaperones had a sliver of free time for lunch and rest  before meeting to go to the Opening Ceremony.

The group congregated in the Sheraton Lobby in preparing for our departure, it was inspiring to see how the group had bonded in such a short time.  All dressed in some sorts of identifying Canadian garb and paraphernalia, the group moved enmasse leaving no doubt to all observers that "We Are Canadians".




Prior to the Opening Ceremony, IISEF had an incredible buffet dinner ready for all of the particpants.  I think I enjoyed it a little bit better than Casa Roma Pizza.



An oh yes, at the beginning of the Opening Ceremony, I learned that my beloved Maple Leafs were up 4-1 in Game 7 in their Stanley Cup series.  I thought .... it was going to be a great night! ...........NOT

Prior to the scripted part of the Opening Ceremony, there is a spirited invitation to all of the students to run around and show their spirit.  Canada shone.  It was easy to identify us as our group meandered around the crowd and the other countries' teams. We were the red mass with the large Canadian flag.  And there was Calvin also caped in a Toronto Maple Leaf flag.  I wondered how many in the crowd ever heard of the country Toronto.

I am not sure what the crowd found more entertaining ... the kids running around or the acrobatic gymnasts on stage

 

Students and crowd were entertained and inspired by the evening's keynote speaker, Adam Steltzner.  The latter is NASA's JPL head engineer who headed Mars Rover Curiosity's entry, descent and landing (EDL) team and pulled off a bold, unprecedented and seemingly improbable touchdown on Mars. The evening was also the initial news release of Intel's latest of The Tomorrow Project and Competition.

By 9 pm, the event was drawing to a close.  Canada's popularity was evident by all of the many requests from other teams wanting to have their pictures taken with our group.  Very compelling about our groups's spirit and energy.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENING ... UNFORTUNATELY NOT FOR THE LEAFS ... I LEARNED LATER THAT OUR 4-1 LEAD WAS WASTED and WE LOST IN 5-4 IN OT.  Tears ..........

more pics ...