KidNews
High school students' science fair opens April 2

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

"Today's high school students, tomorrow's leaders in science."

For 44 years, the Hawai'i State Science and Engineering Fair has made that its unofficial motto.

Students' science projects will be on public display from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. April 4 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Admission is free.

More than 350 students from 60 schools will participate in the April 2-4 fair.

Diversity is usually the order of the day: Last year's winners had projects in subjects ranging from botany to biochemistry, from gerontology to zoology.

But more importantly, the science fair gives students grades 6-12 the opportunity to explore a particular interest without the structure of textbooks and scheduled classes.

"I learned many lessons that could never be taught, but only experienced," wrote Michelle Tsang Mui Chung, a student at Waiakea Intermediate School and a former participant.

And that experience can reap tangible rewards, too. The McInerny Foundation will offer six $1,000 scholarships to seniors with outstanding projects, with a preference to those in math, physics, computer science and engineering. The six winners' teachers will receive $1,000 matching awards to purchase classroom supplies or teaching aids. Other sponsors have donated cash prizes and trips to the 2001 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose, Calif., and the Comdex Tradeshow in Las Vegas.

For more information, visit www.hawaii.edu/acadsci or call 956-7930.

Correction: The Hawai'i State Science and Engineering Fair is open to students grades 6-12, not just high-schoolers. Incorrect information was contained in a previous version of this story.