In conjunction with the 2021 Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair, students had the option of entering poems into our first-ever STEM poetry contest! We were blown away by the entries, which represented a range of forms and content. In fact, we were so impressed, we wanted to share them with the Minnesota Academy of Science community. So, for your edification and enjoyment, without further ado, we present our 2021 STEM poetry submissions!

A haiku: the future is in young scientists
Inquisitive minds
Changing the world through science
One step at a time
- Kyla, Eden Prairie

On the Periodic Table
There are so many elements.
Some are in a jumper cable
And even in some ligaments.
- Kiera, Madelia

Algebra, Chemistry,
Trigonometry.
This all makes you
Want to climb a tree.
- Kiera, Madelia

Albert Einstein was a genius.
It was like he didn't have a weakness.
He didn't receive a lot of respect,
Even though he discovered the photoelectric effect.
- Kiera, Madelia

Science
Exploring extreme
fun possibilities
extreme stretching of the cool mind
Endless
- Madison, North Mankato

The simple slow rain
A small drop from the sky, splash
The sad tears of clouds
Pouring down from the sky
Splish splash drop

The children go away
when the rain comes to play
but some stay to play
splish, splash drop
the worms come out
to wiggle around
the kids jump in the puddles
splish splash drop

The sad tears of clouds
having a bad day
pouring all the water out of their eyes
pouring down from the sky
splish splash drop
- Madison, North Mankato

Patch of grass
Over there, over there
how I would spare
anything to be over there
the grass is always greener
over there, over there

Over there they look so glad
over there and over here
we are sad
all it does is rain over here
but over there it seems
so sunny all the time
we just trudge through life
up flights and flights of stairs
but over there I see
that it looks like they
get to take the elevator in life
effortlessly and it's always a smooth ride

Over there, over there
how I would spare
anything to be
over there the
grass is greener
over there, over there
- Madison, North Mankato

You can't learn
without answering Questions.
Sometimes the hardest thing
is finding the right question
to ask.
Asking Questions is a Talent.
- Elizabeth, Rochester

Science is
asking questions
finding answers
about learning.
Science is
Fun
- Elizabeth, Rochester

Science
changes what we think
explains what happens around us
challenges how we act
helps us learn
Science is fun.
- Elizabeth, Rochester

You learn more in trial
Seeds have to be buried to sprout
Well done on Science Fair!
Susannah, Rochester

I studied hair.
It was only for a school assignment
I did more work than needed
I would never have guessed my project would have made it this far
Thanks to my parents, my siblings too
I hope I do well!
Thanks to you too!
- Susannah, Rochester

Science Fair
Science Fair
I Studied hair,
It was lots of work
In some regards fun
I enjoy the results,
But not all the work
It was a good learning experience
And now I can say
I advanced to State!
I did My Best
Science Fair
Science Fair
What an adventure
- Susannah, Rochester

A question? A question? Lets answer the question! The question the question! I wrote it down and looked it up! I researched and he searched!
- Chelsey, Embarrass

Unprecedented Times
I feel as if my life has never moved forwards,
But
I can’t help but look back--
At the clear surgical mask blue sky
And the somber barren streets
While breathing in the disinfectant
Free air.

The grass may be greener these days,
But the people
Aren’t.

After all of this is done,
And unprecedented times aren’t
Unprecedented,
Our cars will wheeze with glee
As their engines gulp down oil,
And beaches will thrash with
Drowning fish and plastic bags.

Life will move forwards as
Humanity moves backwards
Again.
Until
Life becomes so rough
That it strikes the earth,
Lights up like a match,
And
Sets our world ablaze.
- Ava, Eden Prairie

So Basically

Tell me about your project.
Sure, of course!
I analyzed the effects of
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus,
A probiotic,
On Caenorhabditis elegans.

What did you discover?
I’ll get to that! Let me continue.
I wanted to see if
Probiotics could model antidepressants
By increasing serotonin expression
Through various assays.

What did you discover?
Hold on, I’m getting there.
L. Rhamnosus increased lifespan
On all C. elegan strains tested
Including ones lacking serotonin receptors
Indicating improvements in the gut microbiome

So basically it makes you happier.
Wait no. I didn’t say that.
I said L. Rhamnosus may extend lifespan
I haven’t measured serotonin expression
Yet.

So basically it makes you live longer.
Well, I can’t say for sure.
I used C. elegans
Not human beings.

So basically it makes--
I don’t know.
Sample size was small.
So basically it--
There were other variables.
So basically--
Different conditions.
So--
Stop making generalizations.
Stop making simplifications.
Stop.
It’s complicated.

So basically you didn’t discover anything.
No.
I did.
Although my study didn’t
Discover the cure to depression,
I made observations. Correlations.

It wouldn’t matter if my study
Was a failure,
Had no real discoveries.
I discovered myself.
So basically who I am.

Isn’t that enough?
- Ava, Eden Prairie

Science is Awesome
It is always around us
Don't you just love it?
- Quinn, Rochester

You don't have to be great
You don't have to know everything
You don't have to have fancy equipment
You may even like it
SCIENCE IS FOR EVERYONE!!!
- Quinn, Rochester

"Hey look over there"
"What is it"
"Just look"
"I don't see anything?!?"
"Well, it's there"
"What is it?"
"Science"
- Quinn, Rochester

I watched the beaker go round and round,
Listening to the tick tick tick of the clock,
As seconds, minutes, hours pass by
The solution fails to thicken.

I sigh.
Frustrated
Disappointed

Failure.

But what is failure
Except an opportunity for growth?

Carefully,
Cautiously,
I measure, weigh, and pour
I stir, remeasure, and wait

I watch as the clear solution
Turns to a brilliant orange
It begins to thicken.

A breath of relief.
Elated,
Excited,
One step forward,

Yet the journey has just begun.
- Rebekah, Victoria

Ode to the Ologies
Bacteriology
Cetology
Conchology
Apiology
Myology
Paleontology
Somnology
Thermology
Vaccinology
Disciplines of study
Specified, designed
Thanks to the ologies
For leading us to the present
Preparing us for the future
And teaching us about the past
- Emelyn, Duluth

Science
Biology shows us the
broad,
natural,
World

Chemistry, matter and energy surrounds us all
Never truly going away.

Physics, clinging to logic,
The way the world works.

Engineering, the fundamentals of our industrialism
simplified.

Psychology,
We think all the time but do we really?
Stella, Duluth

Butterflies
Thought a beautiful creature,
Emerging from their own goop to bloom into a bright blossom.
Swooping, flitting, flying
colors spiraling in the wind.

Upon further inspection their elegance fades.
Drinking tears from the eyes of the crying
Drinking blood from the injured.
And decaying flesh from the bodies of the deceased.
Stella, Duluth

Science Fair
A world of interest.
A time for discovery.
Enter and you’ll see.
Stella, Duluth

Wisdom is a good woman
Who shouts at her fool husband
Wisdom shouts in the streets
She cries in places
But fools are ignorant
They have ears, but don’t listen
They have eyes, but don’t see

If you’re ignorant to wisdom
Disasters will strike you like a storm
Problems will pound you like a strong wind
Troubles will weigh you down
Your misery will make you as heavy as a whale shark

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
The power of knowledge gives you the power to judge
The power of knowledge will make you look like you have so much age
When you get the knowledge, you’ll feel the homage
You’ll be above average

Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord
Don’t think you’re so old
When you respect the Lord
Respecting the lord
Will be your sword
Against fool olds
If you hear the fools roared
And got lots of hoard(hoard means money)
And are abhorred(regard with disgust and hatred)
Because you got respect for the lord
Don’t get scared
‘cause you got armies of angels prepared
- Selamawit, St. Paul