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NEWS RELEASE

02-18-03

Contacts:
Andrea Spencer, Science Fair Director, (712) 359-2437
Howard Shapiro, Provost Office, (515) 294-6365
Bridget Bailey, News Service, (515) 294-6881

STATE SCIENCE FAIR OF IOWA ENTRY FORMS AVAILABLE

AMES, Iowa -- Some of the top agricultural researchers in the country are seeking out the advice of an Iowa high school student. Chris Nelson's high school science fair project is the first known research on the potential feed efficiency of soybeans as silage. As a result, the Stuart-Menlo High School student won a $5,000 scholarship for his research at last year's State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa.

The 2003 science fair will be held March 28-29 in Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University. Fair organizers are requesting entries for this year's fair.

Andrea Spencer, science fair director, said entries must be received by March 10 to be eligible for the fair. It is the only statewide science fair for middle and high school (sixth-12th grade) students in Iowa.

Projects are divided into physical and biological science categories and must adhere to the guidelines of the science fair committee, Spencer said. High school winners receive scholarships, while junior high school students receive various prizes and awards from the state science fair.

Spencer said $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to the top sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade projects. State, federal, university and industrial groups also provide prizes for winning projects.

Last year, approximately 100 high school and 250 junior high school students participated in the science fair.

"Getting students involved in science and having them do these interesting projects help entice them into careers in science and technology," said Howard Shapiro, chair of the science fair board of directors and vice provost for undergraduate programs at Iowa State.

For more information about the fair and to receive an entry booklet, contact Andrea Spencer, SSTFI, 61375 270th Ave., Palmer, IA 50571; (712) 359-2437; spencer2@evertek.net; or visit the SSTFI website at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~isstf.

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