Society for Science launches fund to support science fairs around the world
The Society for Science is proud to announce the Equitable Access Fund for Affiliated Science Fairs, which distributed $211,500 to local and regional science fairs in the United States and internationally in 2022. “Through this fund, the Society is able to help science fairs around the world adjust to the changing needs brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science and Publisher of Science News. “I am pleased that the Society is able to help these fairs navigate this challenging time, given the critical role they play in supporting young innovators.”
Grants provided by the Equitable Access Fund for Affiliated Science Fairs were used to develop online application systems, implement equitable online judging, conduct socially distanced in-person fairs and increase outreach to engage more students in STEM research. In the face of increasing global concerns with regards to health, safety and financial hardship, the grants assisted fairs as they addressed new and unique operational challenges.
Grantees were selected from members of the Society’s Affiliated Fair Network, which includes approximately 400 science fairs from around the world. Students who do well in these fairs earn the right to compete in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest international science competition for high school students.
The initiative, which was funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, allocated $161,500 to 33 fairs in the United States, and the remaining $50,000 to 10 international fairs. Here is the complete list of grantees:
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FAIRS
Armenian School Science Festival (Yerevan Armenia), $5,000
International Fair of South America – MOSTRATEC (Novo Hamburgo, Brazil), $5,000
Youth Science Canada – Team Canada (Virtual, Canada), $5,000
Finland National Science & Engineering Fair (Helsinki, Finland), $5,000
IRIS (Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM) (New Delhi, India), $5,000
National Science and Engineering Fair Pakistan (Islamabad, Pakistan), $2,500
E(x)plory Science Fair (Gdynia, Poland), $6,000
Exporecerca Jove (Barcelona, Spain), $8,000
Utstallningen Unga Forskare (Stockholm, Sweden), $3,500
Zimbabwe National Science Fair (Harare, Zimbabwe) $5,000
US-BASED SCIENCE FAIRS
Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Birmingham, Alabama), $5,000
Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Little Rock, Arkansas), $5,000
Santa Cruz County Science and Engineering Fair (Santa Cruz, California), $5,000
San Juan Basin Regional Science Fair (Durango, Colorado), $5,000
Pikes Peak Regional Science Fair (Colorado Springs, Colorado) $2,500
Longs Peak Science and Engineering Fair (Greeley, Colorado) $5,000
Denver Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Denver, Colorado) $6,000
Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair (Hamden, Connecticut) $8,000
Cobb/Paulding Regional Science Fair (Marietta, Georgia) $3,500
Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair (Honolulu, Hawaii) $7,500
Eastern Idaho Science & Engineering Fair (Pocatello, Idaho) $5,000
State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa (Ames, Iowa) $10,000
Bossier Parish Community College Louisiana Region I Science and Engineering Fair (Bossier City, Louisiana) $3,000
Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair (New Orleans, Louisiana) $7,000
Maine State Middle School Science and Engineering Fair (Augusta, Maine) $10,000
Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair (Cambridge, Massachusetts) $5,000
Rochester Regional Science & Engineering Fair (Rochester, Minnesota) $4,100
Mississippi Region V Science and Engineering Fair (Starkville, Mississippi) $4,000
Missouri Southern Regional Science Fair (Joplin, Missouri) $2,000
Montana Region II Science and Engineering Fair (Great Falls, Montana) $1,300
Northeastern New Mexico Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Las Vegas, New Mexico) $7,000
North Carolina State Science Fair (Raleigh, North Carolina) $7,000
Northeast North Dakota Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Grand Forks, North Dakota) $5,000
Northern Mariana Islands Science & Engineering Fair (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands), $4,000
Muskogee Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Muskogee, Oklahoma) $5,200
Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair (Stillwater, Oklahoma) $5,000
Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) $5,500
Delaware Valley Science Fairs (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) $2,500
Rio Grande Valley Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Brownsville, Texas) $5,000
Science Engineering Fair of Houston (Houston, Texas) $5,000
Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair (Waco, Texas) $900
South Sound Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Tacoma, Washington) $2,500
West Virginia Eastern Panhandle Regional High School Science Fair (Romney and Ranson, West Virginia) $3,000