CROOKSTON, Minn. – Students will have the opportunity to showcase their science projects and compete at the 63rd Annual Western Minnesota Regional Science Fair to be hosted at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The science fair slated for February 11, 2012, in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center is for students in the Western Minnesota Region which includes the counties of Big Stone, Becker, Clay, Grant, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Traverse and Wilkins.
Entries and required forms for projects must be postmarked by Monday, January 30, 2012. Papers must be postmarked absolutely no later than Friday, January 27, 2012. Mail forms/papers to Western MN Regional Science Fair, c/o Katy Smith, University of Minnesota, Crookston, 2900 University Ave., Crookston, Minn., 56716. All forms, fee information, and additional details about the science fair are available at www.umcrookston.edu/sciencefair.
Registration and project set-up begin at 8 a.m. the day of the competition with judging at 10 a.m. The public is invited to view the projects from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The event culminates with an awards ceremony at 2 p.m.
The regional science fairs are a learning opportunity for students in middle school or high school interested in science, technology, engineering and math. They also provide selected students the chance to compete for prizes at the State Science & Engineering Fair in March. Besides competing, the science fairs are a chance for participants to present and to engage in dialogue about their research. Evaluation is based on four criteria: the process of science; effectiveness of communication; context of the project and their scope of understanding (www.fair.mnmas.org).
