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Science and technology
fair brings out best and
brightest in Hawaii’s youth

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Star-Bulletin staff

About 100 Hawaii industries, organizations and individuals are investing in Hawaii's future in science and technology.

They're donating thousands of dollars for winning projects at the 44th Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair April 2-4 at Blaisdell Center.

Their goal: To reward and encourage young people to pursue science and technology careers.

Competing for the awards will be 370 students from 60 schools.

Michelle Tsang Mui Chung, Waiakea Intermediate School student who participated in last year's Science Fair, said it gave her an "opportunity to explore a field of science that I would not have been able to in a classroom."

"I learned many lessons that could never be taught, but only experienced," she said.

"I am deeply grateful for everything that I have gained through this event, which wouldn't have been possible without the help of many companies, organizations and individuals who contributed their time and donations."

McInerny Foundation is providing a total of $20,000 for awards this year, including six $1,000 scholarships to high-school seniors with outstanding projects in math, physics, computer science and engineering.

It also is giving six matching $1,000 awards to the winners' teachers to purchase classroom supplies or teaching aids.

Chevron is providing a total of $10,000 in awards. It is taking over sponsorship of the the Science Teacher of the Year from the Hawaii Academy of Science. The teacher will receive an expense-paid trip to the 2001 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May in San Jose, Calif.

The company also will sponsor one of two student trips to the fair, as well as a number of special Energy Awards and the Chevron Poster Contest. The Hawaiian Electric Co. is sponsoring the other student trip.

The ninth- to 12th-grade student with the best Senior Research Project in information technology will win the Sprint Hawaii Information Technology Medal and a trip for two (student and a teacher or adult chaperon) to Las Vegas for the Comdex Tradeshow in November.

The trip will include airfare and two nights in a hotel, as well as the chance to see the newest products from thousands of the world's leading high-tech companies.

Sprint Hawaii is sponsoring the award to encourage development of technical expertise for Hawaii's high-tech industries.

Cash awards totaling $1,000 will be presented by the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology for the best projects in the earth, meteorological and environmental science categories.

SOEST hopes to encourage more students to choose careers in the study of geological, atmospheric and oceanic processes involving Earth and effects of humans on the system.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association will present a $500 cash award to an outstanding Senior Research project in the medicine and health category.

The Aina Haina Community Association and American Meteorological Association will give a $50 award and certificate to the best project in meteorology in honor of the late renowned meteorologist, Saul Price. He was a former president of the Hawaii Academy of Science and a founding member of the Science Fair program.

The Hawaii Academy of Science, with Tesoro Hawaii, will continue to sponsor Grand Awards for the best projects in each division.

Judging is scheduled April 3 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The public is invited to the fair from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 4. Admission is free.

The Hawaii Academy of Science, which sponsors the fair, is the oldest and largest education program in Hawaii.

More than 6,000 Hawaii students create a science fair project annually, which they display at school-, district- and state-level science fairs.

Fifteen to 20 of the top science students go to the mainland each year to compete in Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

"Over the years, they have won many prestigious awards and earned a reputation for excellence," the academy said.