FLINT, Michigan— Flint has a history dating to April 1957 for hosting and contributing to the science and engineering community science fairs. Its first regional science fair called the Flint Area Science Fair was held in the Ballenger Field House and was spearheaded by Richard M. Harbeck, a science teacher at Flint Technical High School, who loved science.
Since then, the fair has evolved into The Flint Regional Science & Engineering Fair (FRSEF). The FRSEF started with Flint junior high and high school students, but these days the fair boasts 4th-grade through 12th-grade students from all across Michigan. Their mission is “to stimulate active interest among young people in the several fields of scientific study.”
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The Flint Regional Science & Engineering Fair has been hosting fairs in Flint since its birth in 1957, more than 60 years ago. Now in 2020, more than six decades later, the Flint Regional Science & Engineering Fair continues to recruit and reinvest in the Flint community. For the first time ever, the FRSEF is hosting an annual parent & student workshop from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Flint Public Library in Room B-1.
The workshop is designed to encourage and help families participate in the fair, providing information and assistance on how to apply, experience fun hands-on science-based activities, and get a digital interactive project guide that parents and students can access via their computer or phone.
The ultimate goal is for FRSEF to enhance participation and bring the Regional Science & Engineering Fair back to Flint students, said Senior Fair Director Jordan Krell.
“We definitely want to bring Flint back from a student perspective and we think it can really help out the community,” said Krell. “Students can get empowered, and I say, look around you and find a problem that you can solve in your community. And often they are able to do so.”
Students of varying grade levels can participate and compete in four different divisions: elementary, junior, senior, and group projects. Once a division is selected, students can choose between three major categories of life sciences, earth and environment, and physical sciences to focus and create their science fair project.
This year the fair will begin Friday, March 13 through Sunday, March 15 at Kettering University with free registration to participate. On Saturday, March 14, the venue is open to the public to view science fair entries.
“It’s about the students. It provides a platform for them and really push themselves and get rewarded for it. It’s an amazing opportunity that a lot of people in the city just really don't know about, and that’s what I really want for our Flint students,” said Krell.
Paying homage to school science fairs, the Flint Regional Science & Engineering Fair hopes to bring that spirit back to the Flint community. The FRSEF is looking to continue its streak of providing fun, interactive, engaging science fairs, and award-winning participants with the city that gave it a home.
To register for the workshop send an email with your name, your child’s/children’s school, grade, and how many people are attending to [email protected]. For more information about the Flint Regional Science & Engineering Fair, registration, participation, and general information visit their website, follow them on Facebook @FlintRegionalScienceFair or call 810-797-5290.
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