School Science Fair Public Relations Plan
The Local Section Public Relations Guide provides a very detailed description of how to publicize a program including the suggested timeline below.
School Science Fair Program Overview
Science fairs give students the opportunity to study a topic that interests them. They can be an exciting component of a science curriculum in a variety of educational environments. Through their projects, students will discover that science is found in every niche of the universe.
School Science Fair Talking Points
- Science fair programs can generate all sorts of amazing results from inspiring and engaging projects.
- Preparing a science fair project is an excellent example of what education experts call active learning or inquiry (also "hands-on" learning).
- Science fair projects satisfy key requirements for student learning outlined in state and national science education standards documents.
- A science fair project requires a student to learn to plan over two or three months, a skill of immense importance in adulthood.
- Our society relies more on science every day, and science fairs are a great way for students to become more knowledgeable about how the world around them works.
- Every citizen needs sufficient science literacy to make educated decisions about what they see or read in the media, about their own health care, and about other every-day problems.
- Colleges want to see what students have done with the opportunities they have available to them, and science competitions are a fantastic opportunity.
PR Timeline
6 months before program begins:
- Determine site for project
- Take “before” pictures – What did site look like before the program?
- Determine the message (e.g. outreach, education, partnerships, service)
- Determine the audiences (local media, national media, partner’s outlets for media)
- Prepare materials (media release(s), invitations, signage, t-shirts, online products)
2 weeks before program begins:
- Invite the public through media outlets (television, radio, newspaper, Internet)
- Identify the spokesperson and key messages
- Gather sample data from site to use in key messages
- Depending on the news outlet timing send media release
(Note: do not ignore local media)
2 days before program begins:
- Make follow-up phone calls to the media
Day of the Event
- Send summary of the event and photos to the media
- Upload summary of the event and photos to the SOP webpage
After the Event
- Send notes of appreciation to participants and organizers.