- Nearly 800 Utah students compete at the U. Science & Engineering Fair this week.
- The event, held at the U.'s L.S. Skaggs Building, features over 600 projects.
SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly 800 students from across Utah are showcasing their research this week at the University of Utah's Science and Engineering Fair, hoping their projects could help them reach the international stage.
The three-day competition brings together elementary, middle and high school finalists from several districts, including Canyons, Granite, Murray, Park City, Salt Lake, Uintah and Tooele, as well as private and charter schools.
This year's fair is being held inside the university's new L.S. Skaggs Applied Science Building in the Crocker Science Complex, where more than 600 projects are on display.
Students present their research and experiments to professional judges working in science, technology, engineering and math fields.
Among the competitors is Kalan Martinez, a high school senior who told KSL he hopes the experience could lead to an even bigger opportunity.
"Trying to see if we can get into ISEF, the International Science and Engineering Fair," Martinez said. "Hundreds compete at Utah science engineering fair and just hoping for the best."
Senior division students competed Tuesday, explaining their projects and answering questions from judges about their research and findings.
Martinez said seeing other students succeed in advanced science competitions is motivating.
"It's really hard to get into these sophisticated science fairs, but it's really powerful to see — look, these guys are doing it," Martinez said. "I should be able to do it. I can do it too."
The event continues through Thursday, with students from multiple grade divisions presenting their work.
Winners in the senior division will earn the chance to compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, scheduled to take place in Phoenix in May.
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Tyrese Boone
