Students from 16 New York Metro High Schools Compete in Science Fair

More than 70 juniors and seniors from 16 high schools in the metropolitan area will participate in the New York City regional competition of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, at The Rockefeller University.

Students earning first and second place individual awards and the first place team project award will compete in the 47^th ISEF, May 5 to 11 in Tucson, Ariz. The ISEF is the only international science competition for students in grades 9 to 12. Third and fourth place winners receive paid summer internships at Rockefeller, a graduate institution specializing in biomedical research.

The student projects comprise research in 21 different categories, including behavioral and social sciences, cell biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, genetics, mathematics, microbiology and physics. Judges will present certificates in each category for best, high honors and honors, in addition to the top awards.

“The fair encourages young people to learn more about biomedical and physical sciences and the research process by encouraging them to explore a question or problem by conducting an investigation to seek answers,” says Bonnie Kaiser, Ph.D., director of science education outreach programs at Rockefeller, who directs the regional fair. “The fair allows us to celebrate science and their achievements.”

Rockefeller and the NYNEX Foundation support the regional fair, which has 60 judges, including 30 university faculty and 30 high school science teachers. The nonprofit Science Service Inc. sponsors ISEF, with support from the Andrus Foundation-American Association of Retired Persons, Intel Foundation, Merck Research Institute and the NYNEX Foundation. In addition to ISEF, Science Service, founded in 1921, publishes Science News and administers the Westinghouse Science Talent Search.