Background

The Virginia Tech Flip the Fair began in 2021 as a graduate student capstone project that quickly expanded into a collaborative outreach effort. The first organizing team included students who were interested in rethinking the traditional science fair model to center accessibility, equity, and student empowerment.

With support from a small outreach grant offered by the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the original team adapted the idea for a “flipped” science fair where elementary school students judge posters and presentations created by graduate student researchers. Flip the Fair at Virginia Tech partners with a local public library branch to host the event, which has made the fair accessible to nearby Title I schools and students.

Title I schools serve a high percentage of students from low-income families, including elementary school students who may experience poverty, housing instability, and food insecurity. Such schools may not have the resources or opportunities to provide their students with the same programming that's available at wealthier schools. Supported programming can help expand how students think about and engage with science. Flip the Fair helps fill that gap.

The initial team of nine divided responsibilities across subcommittees — for venue logistics, presenter preparation, donation procurement, and inclusive programming. In later years, the organizing team has been smaller, and roles have been streamlined, proving that the event can be scaled to fit local capacity. While proximity to the event location is helpful for logistics, it’s not essential for leading a successful Flip the Fair.

The first year Virginia Tech graduate students planned a Flip the Fair event, it was open to the public on a Saturday and was attended by about 150 people, including teens who like to hang out at the library, families with school-aged children, and others. In subsequent years, we have partnered with the Roanoke school district, which bused fifth graders to the event.