Bemidji Hosts Northern Minnesota Science Fair at BSU Feb. 20

Dr. Heidi Manning spoke as the keynote speaker in Bemidji, where students from across northern Minnesota presented science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects at Bemidji State University on Feb. 20. The original event notice says the fair “brought students and teachers from across the region to BSU’s Beaux Arts Ballroom to present projects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

Bemidji State University’s own news material described the regional competition as the 60th edition and listed a schedule that included an 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. fair day in Memorial Hall 100, exhibits opening to the public at 11:45 a.m. and an awards ceremony beginning at 12:45 p.m. in Hagg-Sauer 100. The BSU release also stated “Approximately 150 students from a 15-county region will compete in the fair,” and listed Dr. Andrew Hafs (218-755-2789, ahafs@bemidjistate.edu) and Diane Morris (218-755-4009, dmorris@bemidjistate.edu) as campus contacts.

Regional press listings and summaries offered different scheduling and location details. Yahoo, the Bemidji Pioneer and the Brainerd Dispatch described the fair as taking place in BSU’s Beaux Arts Ballroom and invited the public to view projects from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Those outlets and the Brainerd Dispatch also listed students in grades 6–12 from 18 named counties as eligible to participate: Aitkin, Beltrami, Benton, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pennington, Red Lake, Roseau and Wadena. The Brainerd Dispatch additionally reported an entry deadline of Feb. 10 for student registration.

Organizers framed the fair as both competition and learning opportunity; a news release called the event “a celebration of scientific exploration and innovation,” allowing participating students to earn awards in their respective categories, and noted that “special prizes will also be awarded for projects demonstrating innovation and potential for real-world impact.” Brainerd Dispatch quoted Dr. Kjerstin Owens, professor of biology and one of the fair’s coordinators: “These resources are designed to support students in every step of their scientific journey, from conceptualization to presentation.”

There is a discrepancy in reporting about which state fair the regional winners advance to. Several local outlets said top projects could qualify for the 87th Annual Minnesota Science and Engineering Fair on March 28 in St. Paul, while BSU’s release said top projects were advancing to the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair April 7–9 in Minneapolis. Reporters and participants seeking confirmation are advised to contact the fair organizers at NorthernMNScienceFair@bemidjistate.edu or the BSU contacts listed above for final details.

BSU highlighted the event’s keynote credentials: “This year’s keynote address will be given by Dr. Heidi Manning, professor of physics at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and a scientist on NASA’s Mars ‘Curiosity’ rover mission. Manning is spending this academic year working with the Mars Science Laboratory Mission working on the rover’s Sample Analysis on Mars (SAM) instrument suite. SAM measures chemical composition of atmosphere, soil and rock samples.” For students and teachers needing help with projects or paperwork, BSU publications point to comprehensive tutorials on the university’s conferences and science-fair web page and list general university numbers: (218) 755-2001 and (800) 475-2001, with TTY (800) 627-3529.