Science, technology, engineering and math – commonly referred to as STEM fields – will be in the spotlight when Ӱҵ University hosts the 3rd Annual Northeast Ohio STEM Project Fair on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ӱҵscience fair, spotlighting the work of students in grades four through 12, will be held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom on the Kent Campus. It is free and open to the public. Ӱҵproject display area is open to the public for viewing from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ӱҵarea is closed during the morning judging session.
Student displays will feature poster boards, notebooks detailing their research methods and some lab demonstrations. There are 300 students registered for the event, with 220 projects to be featured – some of which are group efforts. As a result of last year’s fair, 35 projects were promoted from local to regional to state competition in Columbus, Ohio.
Ӱҵevent is sponsored by Ӱҵ and hosted by two of its professors - Robin Selinger, Ph.D., and Edgar Kooijman, Ph.D. - and two student groups - Ӱҵ’s Scientista Chapter and the Ӱҵ SSTEM Scholars. Selinger is a professor of chemical physics at Ӱҵ’s Liquid Crystal Institute and a member of the executive board of the Northeast Ohio STEM Alliance. Kooijman is an assistant professor of biological sciences. ӰҵNortheast Ohio STEM Alliance is an advocacy group of parents and community members dedicated to promoting interest and participation in STEM activities.
“Hands-on experience with a research project is a great way for students to prepare for careers in science and engineering,” Selinger said. “We hope these students will be inspired to take advanced science and math courses in high school and go on to STEM majors in college. Many of our most advanced local high school students enroll in college-level STEM courses through Ӱҵ’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program. Students can also undertake hands-on research internships at the Liquid Crystal Institute and in other STEM departments across the campus.”
For more information on Ӱҵ’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program, visit www.kent.edu/dualenrollment.
For more information on the Northeast Ohio STEM Project Fair hosted by Ӱҵ, visit .
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Media Contacts:
Jim Maxwell, jmaxwel2@kent.edu, 330-672-8028
Sheila King, sheilaking2@gmail.com, 330-926-6288
Bob Burford, rburford@kent.edu, 330-672-8516