BEMIDJI, Minn. (Feb. 17, 2011) — On Saturday, Feb. 19, more than 50 high school and middle school students from across northern Minnesota will descend on Bemidji State University to display science experiments and projects as part of the 58th Annual Northern Minnesota Regional Science Fair.

The 58th Annual Fair will include students in grades 6-12 from 15 counties across northern Minnesota. The single-day event, judged by well-qualified BSU staff and local and regional volunteers, will select students to advance to competition at the 74th Annual State Science Fair, March 20-22 in St. Paul, Minn., while one student project will also move on to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair presented by Agilent Technologies (ISEF). Two additional student projects will advance to the ISEF as observers.

The Regional Science Fair is the first step in science fair competition, with selected students progressing on to the state fair, and finally to the ISEF. This competition sequence is one of the few ways that scientific interest and initiative is recognized at the high school level. Particularly for rural students who may be isolated from other students or adult mentors with similar interests, the fair provides a tremendous networking opportunity and also is an important avenue for recognizing students with strong interest in science.

Most of Minnesota’s regional science fairs are held at and supported by state colleges and universities. Each of the 11 regional fairs in Minnesota, as well as the Minnesota State Science Fair, are affiliated with the ISEF, which is run by Washington, D.C.-based Society for Science and the Public. This affiliation enables one or more top students from each fair and their teacher or chaperone to participate in the ISEF, which this year will be held May 8-13 in Los Angeles.

The Intel ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college science competition. Now in its 61st year, the Intel ISEF is the world’s only science project competition for students in grades 9-12. The Intel ISEF brings together students, teachers, corporate executives and government officials from around the world. Students compete for over $4 million in scholarships, tuition grants, scientific equipment and scientific trips.

The 58th Annual Northern Minnesota Regional Science Fair will be held in the recently remodeled Sattgast Hall. The awards ceremony to conclude the fair will be held in the auditorium in Hagg-Sauer Hall. Public viewing of the exhibits in Sattgast Hall will be available from 11:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact fair directors Patrick Guilfoile at (218) 755-2016 or Diane Morris at (218) 755-2786.

ON THE WEB
• Intel International Science and Engineering Fair: http://sciserv.org/isef