Young Scientists From Around the State Will Compete for Top Honors at the 62nd California State Science Fair

Fair showcasing student innovation hosted by the California Science Center

LOS ANGELES, April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 1,000 of the state's top middle and senior high school students will convene for the final round of competition in the 62^nd annual California State Science Fair, April 15-16, 2013 at the California Science Center in Exposition Park. Winners will take home a combined total of more than $50,000 in cash prizes. The presenting sponsors are Northrop Grumman Corporation and Chevron Corporation, with additional support from THE MUSES of the California Science Center Foundation and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Barbara Radding Morgan, an educator and former NASA astronaut, will serve as the keynote speaker. A California native, Morgan participated in the Teacher-in-Space Program and trained with Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger crew. She completed her first space flight in 2007 as mission specialist for the crew of STS-118. The keynote address will take place Monday, April 15, 2013 from 5:00-6:00 PM.

Ideas for projects often come from today's headlines or even real-life experiences. Here is a sample of the interesting titles submitted to this year's Science Fair:

• Coffee: Hazardous for Consumption?
• The Effects of Video Games on the Brain
• Designing a More Ergonomic QWERTY Keyboard Layout by Analyzing Punctuation Frequency
• Bio-Rusting: The Effect of Bacteria on Corrosion

Students representing 30 affiliated county and multi-county regional science fairs throughout the state have advanced to the California State Science Fair. The projects span 22 categories – from aerodynamics/hydrodynamics to zoology – in two age divisions and will be judged by a volunteer pool of some 350 scientists and engineers from private industry and higher education.

In addition to the winners in each category, top honors will go to Student of the Year (senior division only), and Project of the Year (in both junior and senior divisions). Science teachers, nominated by students, will also compete for both middle school and high school Science Fair Teacher of the Year. Additional special and recognition awards will be made to projects by scientific and engineering organizations.

Besides the recognition and prize money, participating in the fair provides additional benefits for students. The process gives them the opportunity to develop a unique set of abilities, such as using scientific methodology to reach a conclusion, marketing techniques to create eye-catching graphic displays, and communication skills to explain their research to Science Fair judges.

The public is welcome to see this year's slate of innovative projects during the public viewing period on Monday, April 15^th from 3:00-4:30 PM. Students will be present to answer questions. Admission is free.

The fair culminates with two award ceremonies Tuesday, April 16^th in the Science Center's Wallis Annenberg Building: The Junior Division ceremony will take place from 4:00-5:00 PM, followed by the Senior Division ceremony from 5:30-6:30 PM.

The California Science Center is located at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. Parking is $10.00 per car in the visitor lot at Figueroa and 39^th/Exposition Park Drive.

Media Contact:
Paula Wagner | (213) 744-2144
[email protected]
www.californiasciencecenter.org/CSSF

SOURCE California Science Center