Minnesota Academy of Science March Newsletter

2021 MN State Science Fair Student Observer and Project Showcase Opportunities | Winchell Registration Opens | Wayzata Central Wins Middle School Science Bowl | Dr. Jayshree Seth to Deliver Science Fair Keynote Address | Over 80 Students to Compete in North Central JSHS | Summer STEM Programs for Students | MN STEM Spotlight: Explore STEM Careers

Your Chance to View 2021 Science Fair Projects!

The public is invited to a showcase of our students' amazing Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair projects. This is a unique opportunity to learn and be inspired by top statewide student research. Visit mnmas.org from from March 15-29 for more details. 

Winchell Registration Opens

Attention Minnesota STEM undergrads! Registration is open for the virtual Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 24. Our annual Winchell Symposium is a great chance to gain experience presenting your STEM research. You'll also have opportunities to hear from top researchers, engage with STEM professionals, learn from your peers, and more! All undergraduate students in Minnesota and bordering states are eligible to apply. Early bird registration closes March 31 and abstracts are due April 10. 

Summer STEM Programs for Students

Our STEM programs for students page features updated details about 2021 opportunities as well as information about other STEM programs such as competitions and internships. Although this summer's STEM programs are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still many great opportunities for high school and middle school students in Minnesota!

MAS 2021 Annual Meeting 

Minnesota Academy of Science members are invited to our virtual Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 24 from 12-12:45 pm. The annual meeting will feature a talk on "STEM in K-12 Education" from Minnesota Department of Education science specialists and MAS updates from executive director Lara Maupin. Additionally, members are invited to attend the concurrent virtual Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium featuring a keynote address by Professor Jim Maher of the Mayo Clinic. Members may attend these events free of charge (tickets will be available for $50 to the general public). If you haven't joined yet, become a member today!

Over 80 Students to Compete in North Central JSHS

High school students from across Minnesota and North Dakota will present virtually at the upcoming North Central Regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS) research paper competition. “We are seeing both new student participants and projects that are in their second or third year of research,” says JSHS Program Director Sara Gomez. “We commend students for their impressive dedication to research. Their degree of focus is clearly reflected in the remarkable quality of their work.”

Dr. Jayshree Seth to Deliver Keynote Address

Science Fair and JSHS participants will hear a keynote lecture from Dr. Jayshree Seth during the events' award ceremony on March 30. Dr. Seth leads the Applied Technology Development projects for Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division at 3M. In 2018, Dr. Seth was appointed as 3M’s first ever Chief Science Advocate and is using her scientific knowledge, technical expertise and professional experience to advance science and communicate the importance of science in everyday life.

MAS Seeks Scientific Judges

We are recruiting volunteer judges for the Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium. Judging is a great way to support Minnesota's student STEM community. Plus, you'll be impressed by the fantastic work of our student researchers!

Students Invited to Participate in Science Fair as Observers

On March 26-30, we are welcoming students from across Minnesota to engage in STEM learning, games, and contests during the State Science and Engineering Fair. Observer tickets are $25, scholarships are available. Register here!

Over 15 gift certificate prizes will be awarded to workshop and contest participants! Observers will gain access to:

• 10+ interesting workshops

• STEM movies

• A poetry contest

• The Science Fair award ceremony and keynote address

• And much more!

Middle School Science Bowl Coloring Contest

Congrats to Vedant, a sixth-grader from Wayzata and the winner of our middle school Science Bowl coloring contest! We loved seeing the creative designs of all our coloring contest participants. To find a PDF to color yourself, click the button below. But don't stop there - we've compiled quite a collection of STEM coloring pages, many designed right here in Minnesota! 

Wayzata Central Wins Middle School Science Bowl

Wayzata Central Middle School won the 2021 Minnesota Regional Middle School Science Bowl on Saturday, February 13. Wayzata Central’s two additional teams came in second and third place in the virtual competition. "Our school is extremely proud of these bright, hard-working students,” said Wayzata Central Middle School coach Polly Laugen. Wayzata Central’s winning team will compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Middle School Science Bowl this spring. 

MN STEM Spotlight: Explore STEM Careers

Explore STEM Careers is a collection of videos from the Engineering Alliance of Minnesota highlighting the ways in which engineers, scientists, and other STEM professionals are making the world a better place during the COVID-19 pandemic. These videos are a great way for educators, parents, or members of the public to learn from a variety of STEM professionals about their pathways, inspirations, and motivations. You will come away with a greater understanding of how engineers and scientists are meeting the challenges posed by the pandemic. 

Upcoming STEM Events

Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair Project Showcase, Minnesota Academy of Science, March 15-29

Climate Solutions from Continuous Living Cover Agriculture, Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, March 16

iNaturaist and the CGLL BioBlitz, Center for Great Lakes Literacy, March 16

The Lower Mississippi River Flood Protection System, Center for Global Environmental Education, March 16

The Challenge of Creating Equity in STEM Education, STEM Teacher Leadership Network, March 18

Indigenous Star Knowledge Symposia: Spring Equinox, Native Skywatch, March 20

Bluebird Citizen Science Training, Bluebird Recovery Program of Minnesota, March 20

Monarchs, Milkweed and Grassland Disturbance, Monarch Joint Venture, March 23

The Talk Climate Institute, Climate Generation, March 23-24

Conversations about Science & Society: Interrogating Rules of Science, MN Society for the Philosophy of Science, March 24

Youth Eco Solutions! Project Overview, Teach Outdoors Minnesota, March 24

The Message Box: Communicating Your Science Effectively, Lake Superior Reserve, March 24 & 25

Science Thursday: Dudley Edmondson, The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, March 25

Inclusive Mentoring, Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & Diverse STEM Faculty, March 26

Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair and North Central Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Award Ceremony and Keynote Lecture, Minnesota Academy of Science, March 30

Sharing Climate Science: Lessons Learned from a Climate Change Communicator, Lake Superior Reserve, April 6

Vernal Pond Exploration Nighttime Hike, Ney Nature Center, April 6

Climate fiction story deadline, Grist, April 12 

Virtual Educator Forum, STEM Forward, April 14

Spring Conference, Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics, April 16-17

Minnesota Woodland Owner Workshop, DNR, April 20

Virtual Learning Conference, Dodge Nature Center, April 23

Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium and MAS Annual Meeting, Minnesota Academy of Science, April 24

Minnesota STEM News

Ecology: As Minnesota's lakes warm, DNR works to protect habitat of cisco fish, a key food source for game fish.

Astrophysics: Team including UMN-Twin Cities professor studies role of comets in delivering carbon to rocky planets.

Invasive Species: Researchers at the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center work to track tar spot, a fungal disease of corn leaves.

Wildlife Biology: UMN-Twin Cities researcher on team that discovered five new species of shrub frog in the Western Ghats.

Climate Change: Youth Environmental Activists write Minnesota law focusing on climate justice education.

Chemical Engineering: UMN-Twin Cities researchers describe cooperative activation of cellulose with natural calcium.

Wildlife Biology: Study of Minnesota white-tailed deer enabled by community scientists indicates widespread neonicotinoid exposure.

Plant Pathology: UMN-Twin Cities team studies fungi associated with galleries of the emerald ash borer.

Environmental Science: Tribal-UMN partnership aims to conserve Manoomin (wild rice) while centering tribal knowledge.