TOP MINNESOTA STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL STATE SCIENCE FAIR
More than 400 students qualify to present original STEM research and compete for awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[ST. PAUL, MN, March 20, 2020] -- Middle and high school students from across Minnesota who were planning to come together at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School in St. Louis Park, MN, to compete in the 83rd annual Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF) March 26-28, 2020, will now participate virtually. These students were selected from among more than 2,500 students in grades 6 - 12 competing at regional science fairs.
In response to COVID-19 mitigation efforts, the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS) is now asking student participants to upload videos of themselves in front of their presentation boards discussing their research. STEM professionals serving as judges will review student videos and abstracts to provide feedback and determine award winners.
“Students and parents have been really flexible and appreciative of what we’re doing to keep the state fair up and running,” said Program Director Sara Gomez. “We are also seeing teachers support their students even when schools are closed and STEM professionals step up and ask how they can help.”
MAS is exploring ways to provide participating students with additional STEM-related experiences online to replace the workshops and networking opportunities they would have had at the state fair.
This year, 37 companies and organizations, including Seagate, Ecolab, and 3M, will award $15,000 in cash prizes as well as other awards valued at more than $10,000. MAS expects to announce award winners at mnmas.org by March 30. The most valuable prize remains the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) Award, recognizing up to five of the top high school projects.
ISEF winners typically receive an expense-paid trip to the world’s largest pre-college science competition, where about 1,800 students from over 70 countries qualify to showcase their research. This year, ISEF is scheduled to be held in Anaheim, CA, May 10-15, 2020. ISEF planners have yet to determine if the event will be held as planned.
# # #
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
The Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair is a program of the Minnesota Academy of Science sponsored by Seagate Technology, the Minnesota Department of Education, Ecolab, 3M, and General Mills. Visit mnmas.org to learn more about our STEM programming for Minnesota students.
Sara Gomez, JSHS Program Director
Lara Maupin, MAS Interim Exec. Director
Emily Shepard, MAS Communications
