Young scientists, engineers to compete at ECU Feb. 26

GREENVILLE   —   Budding young science and engineering talent will be at East Carolina University Feb. 26 showcasing projects and competing to advance to the state and national level.

Organizers expect as many as 1,000 students representing 15 counties on campus for the Northeast Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Students in grades 3 through 12 will compete during the day for top awards in the annual event. The winners will go on to the state event next month.

In addition, students will get a chance to hear from a keynote speaker who won top honors at the 2004 International Intel Science & Engineering Fair. Jenna Dionisio, 23, is a fourth-year biomedical sciences student at the University of South Florida who has participated in nationally recognized research and published in medical journals. She attributes her success to a passion for science, her involvement in science fairs and her science mentors throughout school.

Funding from ECU N.C. Space Grant Collaborative will help pay for the regional science fair and Dionisio’s visit.

Students will set up projects Feb. 25. Awards will be presented Feb. 26 and the fair will conclude with a public viewing of projects from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Science and Technology Building.

A Youth Art Expressions Project will take place at the same time as the science and engineering competition.

Students are expected from Hertford, Gates, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Currituck, Camden, Bertie, Pitt, Gates, Beaufort, Hyde, Washington, Dare, Tyrrell and Chowan counties.