Terra Fairs play a key role regionally and beyond as we strive to create a world that draws upon the potential of every person to make a positive difference in the world.
Through its network of seven New York and North Jersey regional science and engineering fairs, Terra Science and Education provides middle and high school students the opportunity to engage in authentic scientific research or engineering practice and to share their experiences and findings with others in an ISEF-affiliated science and engineering fair.
Through our support of educators, families and students with a focus on STEM, Terra works tirelessly to meet the educational needs of the underserved and under-represented, including women in STEM. While we concentrate on our 40 science fair counties, many of our resources are available to the general public regardless of geography.
Terra Fairs are affiliated with the international STEM fairs ISEF and GENIUS Olympiad. Terra fully funds selected finalist projects and students from its affiliated and partner fairs to attend ISEF or GENIUS Olympiad for exceptional international and scientific experiences.
Terra’s Terra Fairs include the following. They serve grades 5-12 unless otherwise noted.
Terra Science and Education is also the sponsor of the following ISEF-affiliated regional fair as the Terra Partner Fair:
Terra Science and Education even funds teachers and schools in the counties its fairs serve.
Become a Terra Fair
What Exactly is Terra Fair?
As Terra Fairs, ISEF-affiliated regionals simply add “Terra” to the front of your name and continue as before with your Fair Committee members and Fair Director(s). Terra pays ISEF affiliation fees, covers expenses for your selected finalists, and provides chaperonage for the Terra Fairs party of students. Additional benefits include each Fair Codirector receiving a stipend of $1000 plus Terra staff support of the fair committee with marketing, student recruitment, website maintenance, a secure project application process, liability insurance for the fair, printing services, full Fair Day support, special awards and gifts for students and judges, and more.
Our experienced staff will make sure that your fair committee members receive all the support they need throughout the year and will attend your meetings as needed to provide that support.
Who is Terra?
Terra Science and Education is an active innovator and sponsor of project-based STEM K-16 education through its diverse programs. Terra has made a long-term commitment to support internationally-affiliated science and engineering fairs. Terra consistently advocates for expanding youth experiences, supporting quality teaching, and affirming individuals with the passion to make a difference in their world.
Terra’s extensive experience in creating and organizing regional and international science and engineering fairs helps us understand that organizing a regional fair is a big undertaking. Therefore, Terra values those who volunteer their time in such efforts. However, it also knows that without much support, volunteers may burn out, leading to frequent turnover in fair committee membership or reduced funding and student participation.
What has Terra done?
Terra founded the TNRSEF in 2016 with a success of 50+ projects presenting on Fair Day, securing its affiliation with ISEF in its first year. In 2017, Terra founded the new TRFSEF after its predecessor fair closed. We quadrupled the region’s number of projects and volunteers within two years. The first ISEF affiliate in NYS – the Dutchess County Regional Science Fair – became our Partner in 2019, and the NYC STEM Fair affiliated with us in 2021. Due to our existing infrastructure and staff experience and despite COVID-19, Terra organized successful online fairs in 2020, 2021 and 2022. TNJSF’s affiliation with Terra Fairs begins with its 2023 fair.
What’s next?
If you are interested in becoming a Terra Fair, removing the pressures of funding and organization support, while keeping your regional fair committee and director in charge, please contact us at [email protected].
To see all to be gained by becoming a Terra Fair, please review the Benefits Document.
Terra Science and Education was founded in 2011 as a 501.c.3 non-profit organization for the improvement of K–16 education through consulting, scholarships, research, new program development, and public forums.
Mission
Terra Science and Education is dedicated to developing innovative young minds through project-based learning.
Our Key Initiatives:
We are committed to supporting those engaged in project-based learning with a focus on environmental and STEM education and constantly seek new programs and partnerships to enhance the educational experiences for students. Terra welcomes the opportunity to collaborate and tailor programming to meet your team’s needs.
- GENIUS Olympiad: A global competition where high school students from over 70 countries and 35 U.S. states come together to tackle environmental challenges through diverse disciplines such as STEM, art, writing, short film, business, robotics, and music.
- STEM Fairs Program: Terra sponsors and manages six regional science and engineering fairs across New York City, Northern New Jersey, Buffalo, Potsdam, Rochester, and Duchess County, providing students with platforms to showcase their innovations.
- Terra Journals: Open-access and peer-reviewed, our journals include the International Journal of High School Research, International Journal of Undergraduate Research, and International Journal of educational practice and leadership—providing valuable publishing opportunities for students and researchers.
- Gerace Research Partnership: In collaboration with the Gerace Research Center of the University of the Bahamas, we offer immersive, hands-on marine ecology experiences for all US or international educators and students in San Salvador, Bahamas.
- ACASU Accreditation: Terra recently launched the American Council for Accreditation of Schools and Universities (ACASU), which supports schools abroad in aligning with U.S. higher education standards by guiding them through a customized accreditation process.
- Terra Educational Data (TED) Solutions: Our unique data management software tool helps educators manage data efficiently by streamlining processes such as student tracking, assessment, intervention, and registration, all aimed at increasing student success.
At Terra, we are passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators through project based learning in STEM. We are excited to collaborate with you to develop programs that inspire, challenge, and prepare students for success using extracurricular activities. We look forward to working together to achieve meaningful educational outcomes.
Terra Science and Education is pleased to be a partner in the international STEM Learning Ecosystem network. STEM Learning Ecosystems bring together various STEM educational stakeholders to collaborate with each other to improve STEM instruction in their communities for students and lifelong learners in a mutually beneficial relationship which helps to stimulate local economies. STEM Learning Ecosystems include members such as school districts, colleges and universities, museums, educational nonprofits, businesses, and other educational stakeholders. Partners use their shared resources to develop STEM programs in their local areas.
Diversity Statement
Terra Science and Education envisions a world in which all children and adults celebrate their shared humanity and seek the realization of each person’s potential. As we strive toward this future with a focus on STEM, Terra works tirelessly to meet the educational needs of the underserved and under-represented, including women in STEM, offering tools and support for students, their teachers, and advocates to establish justice and equality.
Transparency
Terra received Platinum Level Transparency Seal from GuideStar, a national non-profit data source to help givers find effective charities. The Platinum Seal puts Terra Science and Education in the top 0.1% of non-profits in terms of transparency.Terra consistently keeps its general management expenses (MGE) below 10%, which is below the national average for nonprofits (within 14-18% range over the years).
Dr. Fehmi Damkaci - [email protected]
Executive
Dr. Damkaci is the founder and the executive of Terra Science and Education. He is an experienced Professor of Organic Chemistry with a demonstrated leadership experience in STEM teaching, program development, grant writing, recruitment, STEM outreach, and management. He is a strong leadership professional with an Executive Leadership Certificate on Nonprofit management from Harvard University School of Business, Certificate on Higher Education Administration from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a Certificate focused on Public Diplomacy, Leadership, and Management from Syracuse University School of Maxwell. Dr. Damkaci has received several recognitions for his service, teaching, research as well as cultural activities, and these recognitions include SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, Oswego President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Oswego President’s Award for Excellence in Research, Oswego Provost’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship, and International Educator Award from International Center of Syracuse.
Karen Valentino – [email protected]
Director of Operations
Karen Valentino is the primary contact for operation (i.e., Finance, Human Resources, etc.) and marketing inquiries as well as those related to the grant, scholarship, and fellowship programs. She is part of the management team at our regional science fairs, conferences, grants, and annual Genius Olympiad. She has more than twenty years of higher education experience in college teaching and management of programs committed to student learning and success. She was Assistant Provost for Special Projects at SUNY Oswego and directed major NSF and DoE grants to support success of diverse transfer students and to implement special programs to increase retention rates in STEM programs. As Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology, Karen instructed courses in natural hazards, geology, and environmental science at SUNY Oswego and Jefferson Community College. She holds an M.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Geology from Temple University.
Dr. Richard Beal – [email protected]
Director of International Programs & Accreditation
Dr. Beal is the primary contact for Bahamas, ACASU, GENIUS Olympiad, and professional services (grant writing, PD) and IJHSR Journal. He is also part of the management team at our regional science fairs, conferences, and grants. Dr. Richard Beal was the Assistant Dean of K-12 STEM Education and Director of ESF in the High School at State University of New York ESF for almost 20 years before joining Terra. He was also an Adjunct Associate Professor in Environmental and Forest Biology. Rick was the Director at Large of Environmental Science for the Science Teachers Association of New York. Rick received a B.S. degree in biochemistry from SUNY Buffalo in 1991 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the same institution in 1997. He was a Peace Corps teacher in Eritrea (East Africa) from 1997 to 1998 and a Fulbright Scholar in Cambodia Fall 2016. He specializes in University Teaching and Outreach, STEM Education, and University Partnerships and does extensive consulting in the Middle East on educational reform projects.
Ryan Smith – [email protected]
K-12 Program Coordinator and Terra Fairs Coordinator
Ryan Smith supports regional science fairs, summer STEM camps, and other K-12 Terra initiatives. Before becoming a team member at Terra, Ryan worked as a long-term substitute teacher, teaching both at the middle school and high school levels. Ryan received both his B.Sc. in Biochemistry and M.Sc. in Chemistry from the State University of New York at Oswego. While attending there, he earned an outstanding leadership award and an outstanding teaching assistant award. Ryan also was a volunteer with the Hall Newman Center as both a faith formation teacher and the Retreat Coordinator, serving many parishes in the Syracuse dioceses.
Mary Eileen Wood – [email protected]
STEM Engagement Coordinator
Mary Eileen Wood supports Terra Regional STEM fairs and its affiliates, Terra Fair Fellowships, and MakerHallsSM programs serving schools, nonprofits, and regional Maker Faires. She is part of the management team at conferences, grants, and annual Genius Olympiad. An educator and nonprofit director with decades of experience in grassroots organizing, STEM advocacy, and science and engineering fair development, Mary Eileen has been the bridge in providing funding and educational support to our Terra Fairs network of regional science and engineering fairs. She has extensive prior experience in K-12 teaching, outreach activities for K-12 schools in CNY region, non-profit management focusing on STEM engagement and regional STEM fair development.
Dr. Harold Clark
Director of Terra Rochester and Fingerlakes STEM Fair
Dr. Harold Clark recently retired from the Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, NY, where he was Senior Director for STEM Learning & Community. He had previously worked at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ, where he directed a team of 20 STEM Educators and at AT&T/Lucent Technologies/Bell Laboratories, where he led initiatives in manufacturing systems engineering, supply chain management, and conducted R&D in the manufacturing of optical fibers and photonic/optoelectronic devices. Dr. Clark has a Ph.D. in Materials Science from MIT and an A.B., magna cum laude, in Engineering & Applied Physics from Harvard College.
Dr. Ellen Murphy
Head Judge, Terra Fairs
Dr. Murphy received her Ph.D. in Microbiology from New York University in 1974. During her 35-year research career in academia, biotech, and the pharmaceutical industry, she published over 80 peer-reviewed papers on bacterial replication, antibiotic resistance, and vaccine development. Now retired, she has participated in the New York City Science Fair as a judge since 2009 and as a member of the Scientific Review Committee since 2015.
Yvette Santana-Taveras
Director, Terra New York City Fair
Yvette has been with the ISEF affiliated NYC science fair since 2007. One of her greatest memories of the fair was hosting President Obama at the NYC Finals Round in 2011. She is an advocate for all things students and passionate about helping them gain access to experiential programs on all levels of education.
Susan Appel
SRC Chair, Terra Fairs
A member of the International Science and Engineering Fair SRC, she has held managerial positions in NYC’s Science Fairs since 1997. With a Science Education and School Administration background, she taught Science Research, was an Assistant Principal in NYC Public Schools and taught Science Education at Fordham University. Ms. Appel published one book and created science curricula for the NYCDOE and the American Museum of Natural History.
Please communicate directly with your region’s fair director, unless you have a general question.
Email (Northeast Fair Directors): [email protected]
Email (NY City Fair Directors): [email protected]
Email (North Jersey Fair Directors): [email protected]
Email (Western New York Fair Director): [email protected]
Email (Rochester Finger Lakes Regional Science and Engineering
Fair Director): [email protected]
Email (Terra Fairs Management): [email protected]
Email (Terra Science and Education):
[email protected]
Phone: 315-422-2902
Office Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. US-EST
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