SATURDAY: More Than $55,000 in Awards and Scholarships to Be Given Away Saturday at UC Science Fair

On Saturday, March 13, 400 students in grades 7 through 12 will gather at UC for the sixth-annual Science & Engineering Expo (SEE) to compete for more than $55,000 in awards and scholarships. 

The students had to have earned a rating of “superior” in their schools’ fairs to participate in UC’s SEE, representing the five counties of the Ohio Academy of Science’s Southwest District — Hamilton, Preble, Warren, Butler and Clermont.

“We were again worried going into this year with the economy the way it is,” said Tom Cruse, director of the Science & Engineering Expo. “Although some sponsors had to bow out, we were pleased that so many sponsors returned and even increased their contributions over previous years.”

This year, of the 400 students with their 345 projects representing 39 schools (including several home-schooled students), 151 projects (and 15 alternates) will be eligible for the chance to compete at State Science Day on May 8 in Columbus. Students from UC’s SEE will also be able to compete at the country’s largest science competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which takes place this year in San Jose, Calif., from May 9–14.

In addition to the scholarships and awards for the students themselves, the science fair at UC offers intangible rewards throughout the day. A day full of events involving science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEMM) takes place on campus with many hands-on activities and demonstrations for the public. All activities are free and open to the public.

Schedule of Events — 2010 UC Science & Engineering Expo

Friday, March 12, 2010:

• 6–8 p.m. Drop-off of Exhibits (optional) CCM Circle 
• 7 p.m. UC Professor of Geology Warren Huff Presents the Red Planet, 450 Richard E. Lindner Center
  

Saturday, March 13, 2010:

• 7–8:30 a.m. Drop-off of Exhibits 
• 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Judging, Great Hall TUC 
• 1– 2:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open to the Public, Great Hall TUC 
• 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Tours, Exhibits and Demonstrations 
• 3 p.m. Award Ceremony in Shoemaker Center — Keynote Speaker: NASA’s Kobie Boykins

 What goes on during a district science fair? Here are some scenes from the 2008 UC Science & Engineering Expo.