Colorado Science and Engineering Fair News

The 57th Colorado Science and Engineering Fair

Hosted by the College of Natural Sciences Education & Outreach Center at Colorado State University.

The 57th Colorado Science and Engineering Fair was held April 5 - 7, 2012 at Colorado State University in the Lory Student Center main ballrooms. The results of this year's CSEF can be found in the Press Release.

To participate in the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, a student must first be chosen by their Regional Science Fair. All students must also adhere by the rules and regulations regarding pre-college student research as set by the Society for Science & the Public and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair's Scientific Review Committee.

Check out the interview of CSEF Alumni with 9News!

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Future CSEF Dates:

The Colorado Science and Engineering Fair is scheduled based on the CSU academic calendar and is always the 12th week of the semester, which starts the day after Martin Luther King Day in January. Future CSEF dates should be:

2013: April 11 - 13
2014: April 10 - 12*
2015: April 9 - 11
2016: April 7 - 9
2017: April 6 - 8
2018: April 5 - 7
2019: April 11 - 13
2020: April 9 - 11

*2014 might be the exception due to the construction scheduled for expanding the Lory Student Center, requiring us to find alternative space for that year's CSEF.

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Judging Changes for 2012 CSEF

In an effort to align with the Intel ISEF, the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair will no longer give out separate team awards. Both individual and team projects will compete in each of the 12 categories for 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th and Honorable Mention. Then, each of the 1st place category winners, regardless of whether they are an individual or team project will be eligible for the Best CSEF Project Awards.

Also, CSEF has increased the 1st place award from $125/project to $200/project. 2nd place awards will be $100/project, 3rd place will remain at $50/project and we have now added a 4th place award of $25/project.

The Best CSEF Project Awards will consist of cash awards for the Junior Division (1st, 2nd and 3rd place) and trips to compete at the Intel ISEF for the Senior Division.

For details on the changes, visit the Grand Awards Policy document.

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CSEF Historical Items Needed!!

The Colorado State Science Fair, Inc. Board of Directors is looking to add to the CSEF archives, housed at the Morgan Library at Colorado State University. If anyone has items that might be a great addition to the collection, please contact Elemer Bernath, CSEF Historian.

International Science and Engineering Fair News

Colorado Students Will Attend the
Intel ISEF in Pittsburgh, PA

The following students will attend the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair May 13 - 18, 2012, representing the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair and 10 of the 13 Regional Science Fairs.

Colorado Science and Engineering Fair:
Sara Volz, 11th grade, from Cheyenne Mountain High School with the project entitled Optimizing Algae Biofuels: Artificial Selection & Nitrogen Stress as Methods to Induce Lipid Synthesis.

Lawrence Zhang , 10th grade, from Fairview High School with the project miRNA 205: Suppressing Inpp4b and Wnt5a Expression.

Easton LaChappelle, 10th grade from Mancos High School with the project entitled Fine Motor Skills Using EEG Technology and Biomechanical Prosthesis.

Arkansas Valley:
Devon Enke, 10th grade, from LaVeta J/Sr High School with the project entitled Mycoremediation: Using Pleurotus ostreatus Mycelium to Remove Petroleum Hydrocarbons from Freshwater and Saltwater Environments.

Boulder Valley:
Wyatt Goodin, 11th grade, from Fairview High School with the project entitled Examination of Power Grid Cascading Failure Through Simulation. Wyatt took 2nd place in the Engery & Transportation category at CSEF.

Nicolette Laird, 12th grade, from Monarch High School with the project entitled The Role of the miR-106b-25 miRNAs in Predicting Breast Cancer Outcomes in Differential Subtypes. Nicolette received Honorable Mention in the Medicine & Health category at CSEF.

Denver Metro:
Boyu Wang, 12th grade, Yichen Liu, 12th grade & Stephan Liu, 11th grade, from Lakewood High School with the project entitled Self-Sustained Desalination in Combination with Wastewater Treatment – Hybrid Microbial Desalination. Boyu, Yichen & Stephan received an Honorable Mention in the Environmental Sciences catgory at CSEF.

Longs Peak :
Kelli Lynch, 12th grade, from Rocky Mountain High School with the project entitled Irradiation Extermination Part 3: A Portable System to Eliminate Waterborne Microorganisms. Kelli took 1st Place in the Microbiology category at CSEF.

Morgan/Washington:
Teisha Coffield, 9th grade, from Lone Star School with the project entitled Chemotaxis in Physarum polycephalum: A Model for the Effects of Antioxidants on Cancer Progression.

Jacob Nichols, 10th grade, from Brush High School with the project entitled An Investigation of the Washboard Road Phenomenon. Jacob took 2nd Place in the Physics category at CSEF.

Northeast:
Kayla Sherman, 12th grade, from Sterling High School with the project entitled The Effects of Ganoderma Lucidum and Spirulina Platensis on Rat Adrenal Pheochromocytoma Cells.

Pikes Peak:
Matthew Hileman, 9th grade, & Wesley Hileman, 11th grade from The Classical Academy with the project entitled Ion Propulsion: Electrostatic Thruster Design and Optimization for Space Applications. Matthew & Wesley took 2nd Place in the Engineering category at CSEF.

Sydney Matteson, 9th grade, from Palmer High School with the project entitled How Well Is Your Well: The Effect of Hydrofracking Fluids on a Eukariotic Species.

Maislin Helfer, 9th grade from Palmer High School with the project entitled Lights Out: The Use of Vibrio fischeri to Determine Water Quality.

San Juan Basin:
Nakayla Lestina, 12th grade, from Dove Creek High School with the project entitled Biological Control of Diffuse Knapweed: Analyzing Two-Natural Insect Enemies. Nakayla took 2nd Place in the Animal Sciences category at CSEF.

San Luis Valley:
Johanna Phillips, 12th grade, from Monte Vista High School with the project entitled Water In, Water Out: Using a Water Balance Model To Estimate Net Consumptive Availability. Johanna took 1st Place in the Earth & Space Sciences category at CSEF.

Tayler Rocha, 10th grade, from Monte Vista High School with the project entitled Macroinvertebrate and Nutrient Response to Stream Water Quality After a Wildfire on Medano Creek. Tayler received an Honorable Mention in the Environmental Sciences category at CSEF.

Western:
Nikki Buhrdorf & Vikash Hypio, 12th grade, from Hotchkiss High School with the project entitled Mytilus edulis Protein Strength: Mussels Have Muscles. Nikki & Vikash took 1st Place in the Animal Sciences category at CSEF.

Braeden Horton, 12th grade, Brydie Mitchell, 11th grade, & Elizabeth Wood, 12th grade from Hotchkiss High School with the project entitled The Rubik's Cube of Political Gridlock: Resistance to Change in the American Tax System. Braeden, Brydie & Elizabeth took 3rd Place in the Behavioral & Social Sciences category at CSEF.

Future ISEF Host Cities

Starting in 2011, the following three cities have been chosen to rotate the Intel ISEF for the next nine years: