Tri-State Science and Engineering Fair seeking sponsorships

Opportunities are open for businesses, industry, and individuals to provide sponsorships for the Tri State Science and Engineering Fair, open to students in area middle schools and high schools within a 75-mile radius of Evansville. The fair will be held on March 14-15, 2013 at the University of Southern Indiana.

Dr. Scott Gordon, dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education at USI, said, “The Tri State Science and Engineering Fair will be the largest celebration of science in the Tri-State and will offer an exciting opportunity for students to display their research projects and receive recognition for their work.”

This event is the 64th year for the science and engineering fair that was held at the University of Evansville in recent years. The University of Evansville discontinued its longtime administrative sponsorship of the fair, but will continue to support both the regional and state events through scholarships and assistance in judging.

Sponsorships by businesses, individuals, and industry are available for the 2013 fair. The sponsorships range from $1 to $5,000 in five categories. Blue, white, and red sponsorships are offered at various amounts up to $500. Category sponsorships are available for $1,000 and those sponsors will get their name on the program and on a category sign, introduction at the fair, an award presentation opportunity, and the option to hang a banner at the event. The $5,000 sponsorship, called a Presenting Sponsor, will get the same benefits as the Category sponsors plus a company or business logo on the science and engineering fair t-shirt. Persons interested in a sponsorship at any of the five levels may call the USI Foundation at 812/464-1925 or Scott Gordon in the Pott College at USI. Click on this link for more details.

The fair offers three divisions in the competition. The elementary division is for students in grades K-3 wishing to research and develop an invention. The junior division is for students in grades four to eight; the senior division is for students in grades nine to twelve.

There are 11 categories. The categories are animal sciences, behavior and social sciences; plant sciences; chemistry and biochemistry; mathematical and computer sciences; earth and space sciences; engineering; environmental science; mathematics; medicine and health sciences; and microbiology and molecular biology, and physics.

The event will serve as the qualifier for the state and International Science and Engineering Fair (this year in Phoenix, Arizona). Awards will include six $1,500 renewable USI scholarships in the senior division, Apple Ipads for top winners in the senior category, netbooks for the top winners in the junior category, and Apple Ipod Touches for the top winners in elementary school, cash awards, and trophies for winners.

Rules for the competition are available on the Web site at www.usi.edu/science/fair. The site also offers ideas on how to come up with an idea for a project, key aspects of a successful project, how to prepare a scientific paper, what science fair judges want to see, and more.

The director of the fair Allison Grabert, Director of the SwISTEM Resource Center.

Sponsorship giving levels