CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Several local schools will be taking part in the 64th annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair Tuesday at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, with the prize even greater for those in the senior division.
Dr. Chelsea Grigery, who participated in the event from 6-12 grades at Sikeston and has been the director of the Science Fair for the last four years, said for the first time in the history of the event they will be able to send three senior level projects to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
“This is truly the Olympics of scientific research and young scientists from all over the world will gather in Anaheim in May 2020 to compete at this extremely prestigious competition,” Grigory said. “We are thrilled to be able to send another student to participate at this level. Not often can a student say they competed at an international level.”
Grigory said recognition just to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair is a tremendous honor and is very well recognized by colleges and universities.
“Students who participate are often awarded with extra scholarship money in addition to the awards and scholarships they have already received at local level competitions,” Grigory added. “We are incredibly proud of this new update for this years fair for the students of Southeast Missouri. The more students who participate and the more the fair grows, the more slots we will be awarded at ISEF.”
There will be 683 students from 43 area schools participating in Tuesday’s event, making up a total of 426 projects with 274 in the junior division and 152 in the senior division.
Grigory said this is the most students they’ve had participate in over a decade and possibly ever. It is a 40% increase in students since 2010.
“Competing in a science fair shows a student’s determination to work on a long-term project that involves multiple disciplines,” Grigory said. “It requires science, math, English, background research, reasoning, and sometimes statistics to complete a science fair project. This combining of disciplines is an excellent lesson for students for school, college, and the eventual workforce.”
Grigory also said students participating in science fairs have the ability to win scholarship money, advance to other prestigious competitions, and the recognition they receive from colleges and universities when science fair is listed on their application is invaluable.
The projects include studies in behavioral and social sciences; biochemistry and microbiology; biomedical and health sciences; chemistry; earth and environmental sciences; energy: physics and chemistry; engineering and robotics; material sciences, mathematics and animal sciences; physics and astronomy and plant sciences. Judging will begin at 1:15 p.m. and will be available for public viewing beginning at 3:30 p.m. with an awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Schools in the Standard Democrat coverage area taking part are: Portageville Middle School and High School, Richland Junior High and High School and Sikeston High School.
“We always want to continue to grow the fair, and in particular, encourage more 9th-12th grade students to be participating as it is most meaningful for them and their future secondary schooling,” Grigory said. “If a student wants to have a future in a science and technology career, they are missing out by not doing science fair.”