Hundreds compete today in science fair

Today the Show Me Center will be packed with students demonstrating the findings to their experiments for the Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair.

Hundreds of students from dozens of area junior high and high schools will compete in the fair, now in its 60th year. Two seniors will be selected to compete at the 67th International Fair, held in May in Phoenix. Many of the experiments are more than your average working replica of a volcano or model of the solar system. Last year's included projects titled "Using Aliivibrio Fischeri to Detect Water Toxins" and "Cleaning the Scene -- Using Forensics to Test for the Presence of Blood."

The students put a lot of thought and effort -- and likely some late nights -- into designing and perfecting their projects. And for good reason.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, careers in STEM fields (that's science, technology, engineering and math) are projected to increase dramatically by 2020 -- by as much as 62 percent for biomedical engineers, 36 percent for medical scientists and 32 percent for systems software developers.

The sooner children can discover an interest in math and the sciences, the better their chances for success as they grow into adults. They are the future scientists who will bring medical and technological advances so we can all live better, longer, more productive lives.

Good luck to all those competing today.