2021 Virtual Regional Science and Engineering Fair Competition: Leading Area Students to Careers in Science, Technology and Engineering
Thursday, March 18th, 2021
Science-savvy students experienced an additional challenge during this year’s CSRA Regional Science and Engineering Fair, competing in a virtual environment through resources provided by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS).
Students throughout the CSRA submitted electronic project materials and participated in virtual inter- views in an attempt to impress the judges.
The CSRA Regional Science and Engineering Fair is an affiliate of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a research-based high school competition managed by the Society for Science. These competitions exist in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 75 countries and territories.
Students from counties located within the greater Aiken, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia area, competed for this year’s “Best in Show” title and a
spot at the prestigious ISEF competition.
• First Place, Krish Mathur – Lakeside High School, Evans, Ga.
• Second Place, Grace Neiswender – Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, Augusta, Ga.
• Third Place, Elizabeth Lee and Swetha Ananth – Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, and • Honorable Mention, Siya Brown – Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School.
“I have participated in the CSRA science fair for a few years now, and I truly believe it has made me
a better scientist and a more inquisitive student,” said Krish Mathur of Lakeside High School, Evans, Georgia. “I am very glad the CSRA science fair is continuing to bring this community of young scientists together virtually in the midst of the isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Each year, approximately seven million high school students around the globe develop original research projects and present their work at local science and engineering fair competitions with the hope of mak- ing it to the virtual international competition where finalists will compete for nearly $5 million in awards, prizes and scholarships.
“I view the judging experience as a way to celebrate and recognize the hard work and learning for the students,” said Heather Brant, Savannah River National Laboratory. “Hopefully, participation in the sci- ence fair will inspire more students to pursue a science, technology, engineering or math career field.”
With the support of co-sponsor, the University of South Carolina Aiken (UofSC Aiken), SRNS is coordi- nating the competition to ensure an educational and rewarding experience for each competitor.
This event promotes students’ interest in science and engineering by providing public recognition of out- standing work and by giving students the opportunity to interact with local scientists and engineers.
Volunteers from the Savannah River Site, UofSC Aiken and the community typically participate as of- ficials and judges for this competition.
Projects were judged for scientific reasoning, creative ability, thoroughness, technical skill and clarity.
Projects were judged for scientific reasoning, creative ability, thoroughness, technical skill and clarity.
“The CSRA Regional Science and Engineering Fair gives young people from the area the op- portunity to explore the world of science and technology and develop their scientific investiga- tion skills by planning and developing their own ‘hands-on’ science projects,” said Taylor Rice, Science Fair Coordinator and SRNS employee. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge typically faced by participating students has in- creased significantly.”
This year’s CSRA Regional Science and Engineering Fair winner (High School: Best of Show) Krish Mathur, Lakeside High School, Evans, Ga.
