Opportunity Details
In order to make WESEF a success, we need over 400 judges each year.While many of our judges continue to volunteer year after year, we are still looking for medical and mental health professionals, research scientists, biochemists, pharmacists, engineers, environmentalists, veterinarians and computer scientists to volunteer to watch student presentations of their research via poster at our annual science fair.
The top winners will represent our region at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
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JUDGE QUALIFICATIONS…
Currently enrolled in a graduate program (M.S., M.A., M.Ed, D.O., Ed.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., Ph.D, M.D, etc.)
OR
Bachelor’s degree + 2 years of job-related experience
OR
Current or retired professional holding an advanced degree and/or experience working in any of the scientific fields represented at WESEF. This includes school psychologists, social workers, registered nurses, EPA, DEA professionals, etc.
NOT eligible to judge: Current K-12 teachers unless holding a PhD and not currently teaching Science Research students.
Basic Information for the Day of the Fair (Saturday, March 15, 2025):
A light breakfast and full catered lunch will be provided
Each judge will receive a ‘thank you’ gift from WESEF
The judging rubric is available in the “For Judges” section of the www.wesef.org website
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THE JUDGING PROCESS
Projects will be presented via poster. Each project will likely have 3-5 official judge interviews. The students should be prepared to give a 7-8 minute uninterrupted summary of their research. Judges are then permitted 5 minutes for Q&A.
There will be official judging periods which will be posted – we will NOT be using bells this year based upon feedback from prior years.
Please try to stick to the schedule – you MUST give students the full time to present. Judges will then have a 5 minute window to score rubrics and move to the next presentation.
Judges will submit rubrics electronically using their cell phones. PLEASE BRING YOUR PHONE FULLY CHARGED so you are ready to go.
In some cases, Special Awards Judges will also meet with and interview students.
Under no circumstances should a Judge review a student project for which there may be a conflict of interest.
Judges are asked to recuse themselves from any projects where they do not feel they can fairly assess a student project.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT JUDGING AT WESEF
Q: Is there any special training needed to be a judge?
A: No. However, detailed instructions and the grading rubric/score-sheet will be sent via email. An optional, Zoom-based workshop will also be available. More information will be sent via email.
Q: Will I be able to see the projects I will be judging, in advance?
A: No. Judging assignments may change before or during the fair, for a variety of reasons.
Q: How many projects will I be asked to judge?
A: Approximately 10.
Q: How do I judge/rate/score the students?
A: Judges use an online/digital scoring rubric/score-sheet on their cell phone or tablet and submit after each presentation
is completed.
Q: What is the approximate time commitment for the day?
A: From 8:30am to 3:00pm
Q: Do I have to judge a project if the project is out of my knowledge area?
A: No. However, we suggest that you review the poster and grade the project and presentation based on the
rubric/score-sheet . If you are still not comfortable with the topic, you can contact the judge liaison in the building and
ask for a different project to judge.
Q: Do I have to judge a project if I have a connection/conflict with the school that the student comes from or if I
know the student?
A: No. After seeing the poster and the student, you can contact the judge liaison in the building and ask for a different
project to judge.
Q: Will food be provided?
A: Yes. A light breakfast and catered lunch will be provided.
If you have additional questions...
Contact us at WESEFJudges1@gmail.com
Available Shifts
| Shift Name | Signup Max | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judge | no limit | n/a | n/a |
Opportunity Details
Project Ropa is seeking dedicated individuals to join our Board of Directors and help shape the future of our organization. As a small nonprofit, we work tirelessly to provide clothing and hygiene essentials to people in need while advocating for clothing to be classified as essential by the government. Despite the critical nature of our work, we are often overlooked by traditional funders and do not qualify for substantial government funding, unlike many organizations within the continuum of care. With a waitlist of 65 organizations at 87 locations requesting supplies, the need for our services is overwhelming.Clothing is essential for dignity, health, and opportunity—it is a basic need that affects every aspect of a person’s life. Yet, as clothing is not currently classified as essential, access remains a challenge for many. By joining our Board, you can play a pivotal role in driving awareness, securing resources, and advocating for systemic change. Your expertise and leadership can help us expand our impact and ensure that everyone has access to these fundamental necessities. Join us in creating a more equitable and compassionate community.
Board members must be able to commit to attend at least four one hour board meetings a year and fundraiser events which are 1-2 times a year. Board meetings are done virtually.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Raise awareness
- Engage donors and fundraise
- Plan events
- Be engaged and communicate promptly and professionally
- Attend regular meetings
- Benefits to Member
- Sit-ins on Governing Board meetings
- Professional development
Opportunity Details
Goal:Be part of a transformative effort to restore Scotch Creek and its surrounding watershed! Together, we’ll improve water quality, protect wildlife habitats, and create a healthier environment for future generations.
Purpose:
Join the Scotch Creek Restoration Project and make a real difference! As a volunteer, you’ll have the chance to:
-Assist with planting trees and native vegetation to reduce erosion.
-Help monitor water quality and gather important environmental data.
-Participate in cleanup events to remove debris and improve habitat conditions.
-Support community outreach efforts by sharing the project’s mission with local landowners and residents.
Whether you’re passionate about conservation, enjoy hands-on outdoor activities, or want to help raise awareness about protecting our waterways, this project offers a meaningful way to contribute.
Why Volunteer?
Your efforts will not only benefit Scotch Creek but also have a positive impact on the watershed all the way to the Gulf of Mexico! Let’s work together to restore this vital resource and create a lasting legacy.
Sign up today to make a difference for our environment and community!
Opportunity Details
Clean Up Australia is looking for an experienced Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud specialist who can provide expert advice and guidance in Salesforce CRM management and the deployment of Marketing Cloud. This is a unique opportunity to play a critical role in improving CRM and marketing systems for Australia’s leading environmental charity.In recent years, Clean Up Australia has undergone significant development and improvement in our systems use. We now have Salesforce as our CRM as well as Salesforce Marketing Cloud. Unfortunately, without a dedicated CRM or Marketing Cloud Manager we are still utilising older systems eg. Mailchimp for EDM communications. Please note we have used Marketing Cloud for one campaign only, with the assistance of a consulting company - this means some templates already exist.
We require the assistance and guidance of an expert who can help with the following:
- Integration of different systems - all of CUA's systems are feeding into Salesforce but we require dedicated data management and cleaning, or guidance on this
- Management and segmentation of data
- Development of EDM templates (Marketing Cloud)
- Journey-building for specific segments
You will have experience in:
- Technical Development of Marketing Cloud
- CRM Management
- Marketing automation solutions
- Leveraging Marketing Cloud functionality for campaign orchestration
- Flow building
And be able to act as a mentor to CUA staff and assist in guiding marketing opportunities via CRM systems.
The role is located at Clean Up Australia’s Sydney office (within short walking distance of Museum and Town Hall stations). Volunteers in this role would elect to give Clean Up Australia a minimum of 6 hours of their time each week.
**What's in it for you:**
• Opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a charitable organisation
Clean Up Australia inspires and mobilises communities to improve and conserve our environment, eliminate litter and end waste.
What was started over thirty years ago, by Ian Kiernan, AO, an "average Australian bloke" who had a simple idea to make a difference in his own backyard has now become the nation's largest community-based environmental event.
Of course, Australia's waste challenges can't be solved in just one day, so over the past three decades, Clean Up Australia has evolved into an organisation that works with community, government and businesses to provide practical solutions to help us all live more sustainably every day of the year.
Today Clean Up Australia’s focus is as much on preventing rubbish entering our environment as it is removing what has already accumulated.
This role will commence in the New Year 2025 but we will be conducting interviews as applications come in.
*Only applicants selected for interview will be contacted*
Opportunity Details
Every summer, we register thousands of loggerhead turtles nesting on the beaches of Sal Island, making the island a critical region for this species worldwide. However, this species faces human threats such as poaching, light pollution, and habitat loss, which affect both the adult turtles and the hatchlings. This is where we need you; you can help in different ways! The sea turtle nesting season runs from June until October, with the hatchling season from September to December. As a volunteer during the nesting season, your primary role will be to patrol the beaches at night, joining forces with other assistants to ensure the sea turtles can nest safely. During these beach patrols, you will also assist with essential fieldwork activities, including measuring turtles, relocation and excavation of nests.Volunteers will also help with general tasks such as maintaining equipment and materials so the work can run smoothly for everyone! With this experience, you’ll gain valuable insights into turtle conservation techniques and have the chance to impact the survival of sea turtles positively.
Available Shifts
| Shift Name | Signup Max | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night Patrol | 5 | n/a | n/a |
Opportunity Details
Volunteers serve a vital role at Fernbank and are essential to our operation, and are a great way for clubs, community groups, and companies to build teamwork as well as support our community.There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available. Fernbank can make available opportunities for volunteers to participate in science enrichment programming on a Family Discovery Day, where volunteers would lead science experiments and activities. There are seven Discovery Days throughout the year, each with a different theme including dinosaurs, animals, forestry, and adventures in science. Each of these opportunities would be in a three-hour increment. For those interested in longer-term volunteer commitments, Fernbank’s adult volunteer program is an opportunity for adults of all ages to be directly involved in museum operations, interpretation, and more. Adult volunteers must commit to 50 hours of service annually. In order to be eligible, volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, complete an application, attend a required orientation and training session and submit to a background check. These opportunities include Customer Service, Exhibit Facilitation and Interpretation, live animal care, and more.
For a larger group of volunteers, Fernbank has service opportunities in Fernbank Forest. An added benefit is participants will be able to learn about native woodland ecosystems and current and future ecological restoration efforts on Fernbank's campus, as well as assist with restoration activities such as removing invasive plant species and replanting native plant species. Our team can work with your group to schedule one event or ongoing dates. Projects vary based upon the season, and include but are not limited to removing non-native invasive species, installing new native plants, removing trash or plant debris, blowing leaves, trail maintenance, and cleaning signage. There are many benefits to volunteering in Fernbank Forest, including:
- Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet and build relationships with the Fernbank Forest staff while contributing to the Museum’s ongoing conservation efforts.
- Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn more about our native plants and wildlife.
- Volunteers will receive complimentary admission to the Museum on the date of their service.
Opportunity Details
If your team is passionate about doing something good for the environment, this teambuilder is for you! Our ReStore Renew & Reuse (R&R) Day is ideal for companies looking to bring a group of 10 to 20 employees together.Teams will join us at the Central Distribution Center to help ReStore staff with product prepping, sorting, pricing, and packaging. Your team plays a direct role in addressing climate change by extending the life of household items, reducing the need for new products to be manufactured, and reducing our carbon footprint.
Your R&R Day includes:
• Training & tools per task
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Snacks, lunch & refreshments
• Digital photos of the day
• Dedicated coordinator to ensure you have a fun & safe day
• That warm, fuzzy feeling you get from doing something good for the planet!
Minimum donation required.
Opportunity Details
Volunteers will visit the Ackerman Nursery in Middle Ranch, where they’ll assist horticulturists with tasks like up-potting, dividing sprouts, planting sprouts, seed sowing, seed collecting, and light maintenance. While learning about horticulture, volunteers will contribute to the Island’s conservation efforts by helping cultivate, protect, and restore native plants that will later be used in landscape restoration. These native plants are vital for preserving local biodiversity and supporting the health of island ecosystems.
Opportunity Details
Volunteers will visit the Ackerman Nursery in Middle Ranch, where they’ll assist horticulturists with tasks like up-potting, dividing sprouts, planting sprouts, seed sowing, seed collecting, and light maintenance. While learning about horticulture, volunteers will contribute to the Island’s conservation efforts by helping cultivate, protect, and restore native plants that will later be used in landscape restoration. These native plants are vital for preserving local biodiversity and supporting the health of island ecosystems.