Ohio State hosts 57th Annual State Science Day

COLUMBUS, Ohio, — On Saturday, May 7, 2005, 1,125 seventh–12th-grade students representing 290 schools from 69 counties across Ohio converge on The Ohio State University’s French Field House, 460 Woody Hayes Drive, and St. John Arena, 410 Woody Hayes Drive, in Columbus to exhibit their science research projects at the 57th annual State Science Day. The students vie for nearly 100 scholarships and awards valued at more than $1.5 million.

“State Science Day is the pinnacle event for Ohio student-originated, inquiry-based science education,” says Lynn Elfner, chief executive officer of The Ohio Academy of Science.

The event is the academic equivalent of a state athletic championship and one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Judges evaluate the scientific research and communication skills of student awardees that advanced to the state-level competition from more than 16 district science days. Since the first State Science Day held in 1949, more than 45,000 students have participated in the event.

Among the many awards at State Science Day are Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Student Research in agriculture and food science, biotechnology, environmental science, information science and technology, manufacturing sciences, materials science, recycling and litter prevention, and water resources research.

State Science Day sponsors include: The Ohio Academy of Science, American Electric Power, The Ohio Environmental Education Fund, and Roxane Laboratories, Inc. The Ohio State University Office of Continuing Education’s Grace Moran and Robin Dever are the event’s site coordinators.

For more information about State Science Day, visit www.statescienceday.osu.edu
or call (614) 488-2228.

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Editor’s Note: The event is open to the public from 12:30-2 p.m. at the French Field House, 460 Woody Hayes Drive, and admission is free.

Interviews regarding State Science Day are available by contacting Latina A. D. Rockhold, Continuing Education public relations/communications coordinator, at (614) 688-3310 or rockhold.14@osu.edu