Science fair comes to Show Me Center today

The 61st Annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair is today from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center. All the hard work, all the experimentation will culminate in an awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. in which students will be recognized for their talent and creativity.

Area junior high and high school students -- 609 pupils from 37 schools, to be exact -- will participate and represent their schools. That's hundreds of young people who may be compelled to pursue a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) career.

"The Science Fair is an amazing opportunity for students in grades 7-12 to conduct an independent research project and explore the science and mathematics questions of our time," Dr. Chris McGowan, Southeast's dean of the College of Science, Technology and Agriculture and the fair's director, said in a news release. "The fair allows students to professionally present their hard work and be judged. Hopefully, this experience propels them to consider STEM majors and STEM careers in their future."

Tonight's free event is a continuation of the interest in science that has risen over time. Last year, 565 students participated, and 477 participated the year before that. This year's 609 continues the growth trend. How encouraging!

Attendees will see 415 different displays -- 339 in the Junior Division and 76 in the Senior Division. "Participating students have explored scientific questions in the behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, botany, chemistry, earth and space science, engineering, environmental science, math and computer science, medicine and health, microbiology, physics and zoology," according to a release.

McGowan praised the opportunity this science fair provides. Students delve deeply into a project surrounding science, ponder questions, explore, present their findings and have their work judged.

We wish each participant well, and while not everyone will be declared a winner at the end of this evening, every one of them is a winner in our book, so let us be the first to say, "Congratulations for a job well done."