Young Scientists Display Research Accomplishments at 2005 Massachusetts Science Fair; Two-day Annual Event to Host Record Number of Participants.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Students throughout the Commonwealth are putting final touches on their research projects and preparing to compete for $300,000 in prizes and scholarships to be awarded at the 56th annual Massachusetts Science Fair (MSF), an event that celebrates innovation and achievement in science and technology.

This year's fair, held May 6 & 7 at MIT's Johnson Athletic Center, will host approximately 340 students (a 5% increase over 2004's fair) from high schools throughout Massachusetts, and for the sixth consecutive year will feature an unprecedented number of team projects.

"Massachusetts Science Fair exhibitors have a reputation for excellence," said Dr. Micheline Mathews-Roth, President of the MSSF, Inc. "Through the years we have been able to offer encouragement and even scholarships to students who might not otherwise have attended college. Not only does the fair give our students the opportunity to delve into specific areas of science and present their own findings, but it also gives them incentive to pursue careers in science and technology. It is truly an experience that lasts a lifetime."

Mike Ruettgers, EMC Chairman, said, "EMC is proud to be an ongoing sponsor of the Massachusetts Science Fair. We continue to invest in programs that promote math and science education and foster technical talent for the Commonwealth's future workforce. By honoring students who meet the challenges of combining innovative intelligence and creativity, the Science Fair is a significant program that will help our young people of Massachusetts prepare for careers in science and technology."

A recent MSF "Search for Alumni" campaign research poll indicated that 100% of the Fair alumni who answered the poll pursued higher education, with 29% seeking doctoral degrees and 23% receiving or working toward master's degrees. Seventy-five percent of those interviewed said that the science fair experience influenced their educational and career choices.

The two-day Massachusetts Science Fair kicks off on Friday, May 6, with participant registration, set-up and judging of exhibits. A banquet will take place on the MIT campus that evening. The fair will conclude on Saturday, May 7, with a public exhibition (noon to 3:30 pm), followed by an Award Recognition Ceremony in Kresge Auditorium.

The MSF program is open to middle and senior high school students from all public, private and home-educated environments in the Commonwealth. Students may enter a project in categories that range from astronomy and biology to computer science and physics. This year, 60 team projects have been entered in the fair--a 30% increase over 2004.

About the Massachusetts Science Fair

The Massachusetts State Science Fair was founded by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Massachusetts Secondary Science Educators in 1949, and has since hosted more than 17,000 students throughout the Commonwealth. The fair has awarded $1.5 million worth of awards over the past 5 years, and is now in its seventh year of allowing students to enter projects in the team division. Principal sponsors of the 2005 fair include EMC Corp., The Cabot Corporation, Biogen Idec, Inc., Genzyme Corp., Novartis, INTEL Massachusetts, Boston Scientific, W. R. Grace & Co., Teradyne Inc., Merck Research Laboratories-Boston, and a number of other Massachusetts companies, professional organizations and individual donors. MSSF, Inc. is incorporated in Massachusetts as a not-for-profit corporation and is a Federal tax-exempt organization under Federal law 501 (c) (3).