Regional science and engineering fair set for Feb. 26-27 at UT Arlington’s new College Park Center
ARLINGTON – Hundreds of North Texas’ most talented middle and high school students will gather Feb. 26 and 27 at UT Arlington’s new College Park Center for the 61st Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair.
Entries are being accepted now with deadlines for some categories set for Dec. 17.
The Fort Worth Regional Fair is the longest running science and engineering fair in Texas. It draws students from 10 counties, including Tarrant, Parker, Wise and Johnson counties. Students in grades 6 through 12 compete for cash prizes and the chance to advance to national competitions.
“We are delighted to have North Texas’ brightest young people coming to UT Arlington for this event,” said Liping Tang, director of the 2012 fair and a UT Arlington bioengineering professor. “Each year, the projects presented during this event remind us of the outstanding work North Texas high schools are doing to engage and excite their students about careers in science, math, technology and engineering.”
Competitors also will have the opportunity to tour the UT Arlington campus, explore its diverse math, science and engineering opportunities and experience College Park Center, the University’s new 7,000-seat special events venue that opens Feb. 1, 2012.
Educators, business leaders and other community volunteers organize the regional fair. Students from public, private and home-based schools may enter the competition through qualifying events or by following specific guidelines. The registration deadline is Jan. 27. But some projects requiring approval by a local and regional scientific review committee must be approved by Dec. 17. Visit www.fwrsef.org for details, rules and deadline information.
Sponsors and volunteers also are needed. To volunteer or contribute financially, please email fair organizers at director@fwsref.org.
For questions about forming a scientific review committee, contact Michael Roner, a UT Arlington associate professor of biology, at roner@uta.edu.
Last year’s regional fair drew 80 teachers and 360 students. Among them was Shree Bose, a student from Fort Worth Country Day who went on to win the first-ever Google Science Fair. Bose earned $50,000 in scholarships and other prizes based on her ovarian cancer research.
Another past fair winner was Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science student Wen Chyan, who went on to win first place at the national Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in 2008 for his work with polymers.
As an affiliated event, the Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair may select up to four high school projects for participation in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair scheduled for May 13-18 in Pittsburgh.
Middle school winners at this year’s fair may be selected to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS, a national competition created by the Broadcom Foundation and the Society for Science and the Public.
For more information about the Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair, including registration guidelines and presentation rules, visit www.fwrsef.org.
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution of 33,439 students in the heart of North Texas. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more.
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