Young Scientists Display Research Projects at 2006 Massachusetts State Science Fair; Two-day Event Hosts Record Number of Participants and First Science Fair Expo.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Students throughout the Commonwealth are putting final touches on their research projects and preparing to compete for $350,000 in prizes and scholarships to be awarded at the 57th annual Massachusetts State Science Fair (MSSF), an event that celebrates hands-on learning, innovation and achievement in science and technology.

This year's fair, held May 5 & 6 at MIT's Johnson Athletics Center, will host more than 360 students--a 6% increase over 2005's fair and a new participant record-- from high schools throughout Massachusetts, and for the seventh consecutive year will feature an unprecedented number of team projects.

"Massachusetts Science Fair exhibitors have a reputation for excellence," said Nancy Degon, President of MSSF, Inc. "Through the years we have been able to offer encouragement, prizes 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 their specific areas of science interest, but it also provides them with an added incentive to pursue careers in science and technology. It is truly an experience that lasts a lifetime."

Chris Lawson, MSSF Chairman, added, "The Science Fair is dedicated to promoting inquiry-based science and technology learning among the Commonwealth's high school and middle school students. We are committed to encouraging science projects as a vital part of science curricula and as a hands-on process that will continue to engage students in the exploration of science, engineering and technology. We applaud these students for demonstrating intelligence, creativity and poise, and will look to them in the near future to help us maintain our position as the world leader in science and technology."

Science Fair Expo Features Local Companies and Institutions

The event will also include the first Science Fair Expo, a showcase of exhibits from local companies and institutions demonstrating how science, technology, engineering and math play key roles in today's business, industry, academic environments and professional sectors. The Expo may be visited on Friday, May 5, 10-5 pm and on Saturday, May 6, noon to 3 pm.

The two-day Massachusetts Science Fair kicks off on Friday, May 5, with participant registration, set-up and judging of exhibits. A banquet, sponsored by Boston Scientific, will take place on the MIT campus that evening. The fair concludes on Saturday, May 6, with a public viewing (noon to 3:30 pm), followed by an Award Recognition Ceremony in Kresge Auditorium.

The MSSF 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 one of 12 science categories either individually or as a team.

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., Fish & Richardson, Genzyme Corp., Novartis, INTEL Massachusetts, Boston Scientific, W. R. Grace & Co., Teradyne Inc., Merck Research Laboratories- Boston, Wheaton College 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).