Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/256387
ogy to industrial engineering to environmental studies, began to brainstorm what a community-wide science fair would look like. They had seen other cities such as Cambridge pull off exciting science events and knew that Wellesley, with its wealth of science professionals and committed parents, could pull off something just as great. Word spread, ideas flew, and the group started meeting weekly, tear- ing through action plans and many complex spreadsheets (they are scientists after all). As their vision grew, so did the group's need for funding and guidance. So they approached the Wellesley Education Fund (WEF), a nonprofit organization that provides grants to Wellesley Public School educators and invests in academic enhancing activities. "We jumped on the idea of a science expo," said WEF co- president Michelle Arbeely. "Over the years, a lot of WEF grants have been in English and professional development. But recently there has been a definite increase in science, technology, and mathematics grants…STEM is very important to a lot of parents in Wellesley." Known for orchestrating wonderful town-wide events like the Wellesley Spelling Bee, the WEF board helped the Expo organizers craft a vision for a free event, open to the entire community, that would engage and delight visitors of every age. 105 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 | W e l l e s l e y W e s t o n M a g a z i n e 104-110_WWMa14_science-tech fair_v2_WellesleyWeston Magazine 2/2/14 12:04 PM Page 105