Earlier in 2026, more than 60 students from Pocahontas County Public Schools (PCPS) gathered in the main gymnasium of the high school for the annual Science and Engineering Fair — an event that showcases budding scientists, naturalists, and engineers from across the county. Several staff members from the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Observatory (NSF GBO) served as judges, including Thomas Chamberlin, Ray King, Ryan Lynch, Emily Moravec, Sophie de Saint Georges, and Evan Smith. For many of them, this wasn’t the first time they’d supported PCPS students.
NSF GBO staff have been part of the Pocahontas County Science and Engineering Fair since its very beginning. Senior Education Specialist Sophie de Saint Georges recalls that it was a predecessor, educational specialist Kathryn Williamson, who first approached local schools about hosting a science fair back in 2013. “It just makes sense for a major scientific facility to encourage local students to pursue STEM careers,” says Sophie, “and what better way than a science fair?” For many years, the event was held at the Observatory itself, with the Education and Public Outreach (EPO) division running the whole show, supported by scientific staff. “2026 marks the first year that the schools have operated the event completely independently, with Observatory staff assisting as volunteer judges,” Sophie noted.
Twelve students from PCPS advanced from the county fair to the Regional level — and all twelve earned placements high enough to move on to the State competition in the state capital. At the State level, two Pocahontas County students placed third in their categories. One of them has a direct connection to the Observatory.
Another part of the NSF GBO’s community education is Nature’s Mountain Classroom, a program that introduces local students to healthy living, the natural world, and hands-on experience with the scientific method. “Through our involvement with Nature’s Mountain Classroom, we get to model the STEM activities that are often part of a science fair environment,” Sophie explained. Every sixth and seventh grader in the county has the opportunity to learn to operate the NSF GBO’s 40-foot radio telescope. Students also participate in focus groups organized around science fair categories, where they could discuss project ideas with an Observatory staff mentor.
One student was particularly interested in the 40-foot telescope, and Sophie took extra time to walk him through the science and technical details behind it. That 30-minute conversation grew into a series of observations and data analysis sessions. The student, Brayden Ray — whose father works as an engineer at the Observatory — transformed his time with Sophie into a project that earned him third place at the State level in physics and astronomy.
Sophie was understandably quite proud of the work of all of the students who participated in the local Science Fair. “We get to interact with so many students from all over the country through our educational programs, but it means so much more knowing we are making an important difference right here in Pocahontas County.”
To learn more about the educational programming and events at NSF Green Bank Observatory, visit us on our website greenbankobservatory.org/education.
About GBO
The Green Bank Observatory (GBO) is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.