4 ms·

I think this is on the media that reported it for not doing their research. It seems harsh to claim that it's plagiarized. I didn't realize sixth grade science

by imgabe 12y ago

I think this is on the media that reported it for not doing their research. It seems harsh to claim that it's plagiarized. I didn't realize sixth grade science projects were supposed to be original research. Are all those papier-mache and baking soda/vinegar volcanoes novel insights into how volcanoes work?

jonlucc 12y ago
None of the papier mache volcanoes claim to have discovered something novel. It is clear to all involved that those are an imitation intended to give children something to do, rather than to force them to actually learn and understand the scientific process.
- metacorrector 12y ago
  the scientific method includes independent confirmation of results, so duplicating others' work is actually learning and understanding the scientific process. publication on the other hand...
TrainedMonkey 12y ago
There is a strange coincidence that the girl is not some random kid. She is daughter of the friend of professor who supervised original researcher. It is possible she overheard her father and supervisor talking about the problem and figured things out herself, but what are the chances of that?
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- tmarthal 12y ago
  For the last eight or so years, I have been a judge at the California State Science fair. At this level, the projects must have won the county or city level (not quite the same for all of them, but it is usually their second or third fair presenting their projects). There is a a Senior division (for anyone in high school) and a Junior division for everyone younger. Let me tell you, even though it is usually the kids second or third career fairs, all of the Junior level kids that I have judge have only a very basic idea of the science that they are doing. They are usually very unprepared to talk about their methods or accurately understand the scientific method and what they are measuring. Granted, it is usually the first time talking to a "scientist" with industry or academic experience (rather than elementary school teachers), but usually the conclusions that they draw are rather unlikely. The experiments are never setup properly, they do not measure anything really, they get their ideas off of the internet or out of a "science experiments for science fairs" book (and usually tweak it to win their way to the state level). This may be different with a professor for a father, but I am skeptical that any child ,even at the high school level, can come up with independent ideas for applicable science experiments.
- pcvarmint 12y ago
  Or more likely, her father had a political gripe with Jud and used her as a pawn to get back at Jud. Her father is friends with Jud's former supervisor; maybe Jud and his former supervisor had a falling out, and this is a friend's way to help get back at Jud.
frodopwns 12y ago
This is on the Father AND the Media. The father being a professor understands (or should understand) academic integrity. He knew the work was done by another researcher and yet he let all this acclaim rain down on his daughter for her "discovery".
- bksenior 12y ago
  It's a children's science project! How is this a story?
  - hyperliner 12y ago
    But..., but..., it's FOR THE CHILDREN!

by imgabe 12y ago

jonlucc 12y ago

None of the papier mache volcanoes claim to have discovered something novel. It is clear to all involved that those are an imitation intended to give children something to do, rather than to force them to actually learn and understand the scientific process.

metacorrector 12y ago
the scientific method includes independent confirmation of results, so duplicating others' work is actually learning and understanding the scientific process. publication on the other hand...

TrainedMonkey 12y ago

There is a strange coincidence that the girl is not some random kid. She is daughter of the friend of professor who supervised original researcher. It is possible she overheard her father and supervisor talking about the problem and figured things out herself, but what are the chances of that?

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
tmarthal 12y ago
For the last eight or so years, I have been a judge at the California State Science fair. At this level, the projects must have won the county or city level (not quite the same for all of them, but it is usually their second or third fair presenting their projects). There is a a Senior division (for anyone in high school) and a Junior division for everyone younger. Let me tell you, even though it is usually the kids second or third career fairs, all of the Junior level kids that I have judge have only a very basic idea of the science that they are doing. They are usually very unprepared to talk about their methods or accurately understand the scientific method and what they are measuring. Granted, it is usually the first time talking to a "scientist" with industry or academic experience (rather than elementary school teachers), but usually the conclusions that they draw are rather unlikely. The experiments are never setup properly, they do not measure anything really, they get their ideas off of the internet or out of a "science experiments for science fairs" book (and usually tweak it to win their way to the state level). This may be different with a professor for a father, but I am skeptical that any child ,even at the high school level, can come up with independent ideas for applicable science experiments.
pcvarmint 12y ago
Or more likely, her father had a political gripe with Jud and used her as a pawn to get back at Jud. Her father is friends with Jud's former supervisor; maybe Jud and his former supervisor had a falling out, and this is a friend's way to help get back at Jud.

frodopwns 12y ago

This is on the Father AND the Media. The father being a professor understands (or should understand) academic integrity. He knew the work was done by another researcher and yet he let all this acclaim rain down on his daughter for her "discovery".

bksenior 12y ago
It's a children's science project! How is this a story?
- hyperliner 12y ago
  But..., but..., it's FOR THE CHILDREN!