You remember sweating over the science fair? The three-fold poster boards that threatened to collapse. The painstakingly hand-lettered displays. The smell of the rubber cement holding the whole mess together. And on top of it all, the terror of having to explain your project to the judges.

It is a rite of education that separates the future scientists from the chaff.

Today's science fair is very sophisticated. Some of the students have done their research in labs at the University of Hawai'i or the Burns School of Medicine or Cancer Research Center under strict protocols. All of them are pretty eager to stand and explain their projects. One has hovercrafts.

Yesterday, 500 students from public and private middle and high schools took to the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall to set up their displays for the 52nd State Science and Engineering Fair. The Hawaii Academy of Science sponsors the annual program along with the UH-Manoa College of Education and state Department of Education.

These projects are the cream of the crop, selected from the work of thousands of students who competed at the school level. Though it has a long-standing reputation for educational excellence and learning potential, the science fair program is facing an uncertain future.

The program has been funded by the state Legislature through the DOE in the past, but this year, with all the wrangling and finagling, it wasn't even included in the budget.

"These projects not only show how good our students are, they show how committed our teachers are," said fair director Chris Trusty. "For many of the students, they wouldn't be here unless their teacher made them do it."

Today is the judging. The kids will have to stand by their boards and defend their methodology and findings. The projects will be judged by scientists — at least two Ph.D.s per senior project. There are also "celebrity" judges, including Sen. Daniel Inouye, Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona. The awards ceremony begins at 4:30 tomorrow. Winners will attend the International Science and Engineering Fair in Nevada this May.

Some of the top awards have a kind of game-show flair to them. One student will win a weeklong, expenses-paid trip to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facility of their choice. Last year's winner went to Alaska for 10 days and participated in NOAA research. Also, the Institute for Astronomy will award a trip to Mauna Kea for an evening of stargazing at a telescope.

Tomorrow, the projects are open to the public from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Free admission.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.