The Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is scheduled for Saturday through Thursday (Feb. 13-18) at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center’s Moanahoku Hall.
The Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is scheduled for Saturday through Thursday (Feb. 13-18) at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center’s Moanahoku Hall.
The judging of more than 100 varied projects completed by local students in grades 6-12 is scheduled for Saturday. About 40 or more local scientists and engineers will spend the day reviewing the projects and interviewing the students. Judging will culminate Saturday with an awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Campus Center dining room.
The fair is then open for public viewing 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 a.m.-noon Thursday. There is no charge.
Students from 19 middle, intermediate and high schools and home-schoolers throughout the Big Island are competing for selection to the state fair, while others hope to secure the prestigious UH-Hilo’s Chancellor’s Award, valued at more than $5,000. At least 30 projects will be chosen for the state fair and two students will earn trips to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix.
All the participants will get to interact with each other, exchange ideas and revel in the excitement of scientific research, said Dr. Marlene Hapai, assistant biology professor at the UH-Hilo and one of the fair’s organizers.
The fair is coordinated by UH-Hilo Sigma Xi Chapter, public, private and charter school teachers. Hapai emphasizes that the event would not be possible without major sponsors Alice and Robert Fujimoto Foundation, UH-Hilo, the Carolyn H. Shipman Foundation and W.H. Shipman, Hapai Enterprises and Science FUNdamentals, ‘Imiloa and Hawaii Electric Light Co. Many other business, science and individual sponsors contribute toward awards and students’ travel, she said.
For more information about the fair or becoming a sponsor, contact Hapai at 966-9894 or email mhapai@aol.com.