For the 25th consecutive year, the Southeastern Michigan Science Fair returns to WCC March 8 and 9. Joining WCC as cosponsor is the University of Michigan. The fair receives support from Toyota and a donation from the University of Michigan Graduate Student Council.
Now in its 55th year, the fair was organized to spark student interest in scientific projects. It will open to the public on Saturday, March 9, from noon to 4 p.m. in the WCC Morris Lawrence building after judges have made their selections. Winners will be posted at that time.
The science fair is open to middle and high school students in Hillsdale, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties. It showcases student exhibits designed to show biological, engineering, chemical, physical, or mathematical principles; a laboratory or logical procedure; an industrial development; or an orderly collection of materials related to the broad concept of any branch of pure or applied science or mathematics.
Competitions are separated into two divisions. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders are eligible for the middle school division. They are encouraged to exhibit experiments, models, and collections. Student teams of up to three members will be judged in a separate category. The purpose of this category is to encourage cooperation and teamwork in approaches to science exploration.
Students in the high school division, grades nine through 12, submit exhibits in botany, biochemistry and microbiology, chemistry, physics and engineering, computer science and math, environmental and earth science, science and society, teams, and zoology.
Exhibits are evaluated on the basis of originality, scientific thought, thoroughness, accuracy, workmanship, and clarity of presentation.
The top 10 award winners are eligible to attend the Michigan Science and Engineering Fair in Detroit in April. First and second place Grand Award winners there are invited to attend the Intel International Science Fair May 12-17 in Phoenix, with all expenses paid.
For more information, email csdavis@umich.edu, call 734-615-4455, or visit the fair’s website.