Judges & Volunteers:

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Teachers and mentors play a vital role in the science fair process.  By registering as a teacher/advisor/mentor with TCRSF, we will be able to provide you timely information regarding the registration and SRC processing of your students.  You will be able to access reports regarding the status of your students, as well as receive optional email notifications when your students register or when their SRC status changes.

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All donations go directly to putting on TCRSF & for awards for the students. We are a nonprofit (501c3) and 100% volunteer organization. 

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Upcoming Student Events

TCRSF is February 24-25,  2012, at the Field House, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus

JSHS Tri-State North Central Regional March 17 - 18, 2012, at the Doubletree Hilton Bloomington (formerly Sheraton) (research paper competition, grades 9-12)

Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair (Sun.-Tues.) March 18 - 20, 2012, at the Doubletree Hilton Bloomington (formerly Sheraton)
7800 Normandale Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55439 (Same location as 2011, different management: (Tall white hotel off of 494/100) FREE PARKING for everyone (State competition is for project exhibits in grades 7-12 and for research papers for grades 7-8.)

I-SWEEEP 2011 - May 2-7, 2012: Online registration is open October 17, 2011 - March 2, 2012. Those who attended ISWEEEP in 2009, 2010 & 2011 from TCRSF gave it rave reviews! I-SWEEEP will be open to students attending the grades in 9th thorough 12.  Middle school students can participate in 3E Sustainable Future Challenge Contest that is newly launched by Cosmos Foundation . For more information, students can visit www.isweeep.org/3econtest   TCRSF will send a few grade 9-12 students to ISWEEEP, but students may apply directly to ISWEEEP for a chance to compete. 440 highly qualified projects from 70 different countries were displayed at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, during May 4 - 9, 2011. Nearly 1100 young scientists and project supervisors went to Houston for ISWEEEP 2011.

Our LINKS page contains links for additional competitions, links to sites for science fair ideas, science methodology (how to do...), and links to some science magazines. These can spark good ideas for your next science project!

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TCRSF is February 24-25, 2012 at the University of Minnesota Field House.

Registration deadline for project and research papers is 

February 3, 2012. 

Read the page & please try to get your paperwork in early.   Read the page before submitting your research paper.

MIDDLE SCHOOL RULE CHANGE: As a pilot (one year trial), grade 6 will be able to advance to state science fair with projects and/or research papers! The best of all grades are now eligible for advancement to state. 

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The Twin Cities Regional Science Fair family has lost a longtime friend, judge, and TCRSF volunteer, Bill Bredesen.  Our condolences to Bill’s family and friends.

William "Bill" Bredesen   

(Sep 3, 1963 - Aug 10, 2011)

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It is with deep sorrow that we grieve the loss of fair director, scientist, volunteer, and most importantly, friend, Penny Lohman. For those of you who know Penny or want to know more, please read her story on her Caring Bridge site.

(photo is hot linked to funeral home obituary)

Without Penny & Mike, the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair would not be what it is today. It is through their tireless volunteering and Penny's management that the fair is such a successful opportunity for the students in the Twin Cities.

Penny - THANK YOU - for sharing your time & energies, making this a better world!

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2011 TCRSF Program

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February 24-25,  2012

Location: Field House, 

Minneapolis campus

University of Minnesota

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The TCRSF website is in the process of being updated. Notice the 2nd line from the top right corner of each page which will now give the date the page was modified/updated.  Any pages that do not say "Updated on ..." have not yet been changed since August 15, 2010.  Remember, if you have articles or tips to share, please submit them to webmaster@tcrsf.org.

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2012 forms & rules are posted on the Forms page.

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Middle school students (grades 6-8) will be nominated to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS (see Broadcam Masters) at SSP-affiliated science fairs held in the 2011-2012 school year.  Nominees will enter the competition by completing an online application where they will be asked to explain their science project and have an opportunity to demonstrate their use of STEM principles - science, technology, engineering and math - in the development and presentation of their project. From national entrants, 300 Semifinalists will be selected, including 30 Finalists who win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will compete for awards and prizes, including the top education award of $25,000.

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If you have photos from TCRSF or advanced competitions that you would like to share, please email webmaster@tcrsf.org for instructions. Thank you for sharing your photos!  

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 Science Fair (TCRSF) Thanks Our Sponsors

Without our sponsors and volunteers, we could not have a science fair!  Our financial sponsors at the Platinum Level are the Medtronic, 3M Foundation, and Ecolab. Thank you,  Medtronic, 3M,  and Ecolab for your continuing support of science education! 

Our financial sponsor at the Gold Level is Dow Water & Process Solutions Thank you, for your support in encouraging students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Our financial sponsors at the Silver Level are Alliant Techsystems and Midway Party Rental, Inc.

And, our financial sponsors at the Bronze Level  are   University of Minnesota, Twin City Catering, Office Max Impress, City of St. Paul Youth Fund, the Slattery Sales Group and Ed's Trophies Inc. in St. Paul Park, MN  (email: edstrophies@comcast.net, call Donna) 

Special thanks to our NEW SPONSOR for all your printing and office needs:  Office Max Impress

If you are interested in becoming a financial sponsor of the science fair, please contact Mike Lohman at 763-421-3338. 

If you are interested in providing an award for the next science fair, please send an email to awards@tcrsf.org.

National Finalist in the Broadcom MASTERS competition

Carolyn Jons of Eden Prairie is one of 30 finalists in the first ever Broadcom MASTERS™ competition. Carolyn won an all-expense paid trip to compete in Washington, D.C., and from there, Carolyn was chosen to win one of two Rising Star awards in the nation to have an all expense paid trip as a student to ISEF 2012 in Pittsburg, PA! That means she gets to participate in ISEF as a middle school student in all but the project judging itself! The Twin Cities is proud of her! (Next year, ALL you regional winners of Broadcom MASTERS™ need to apply!)

From Society for Science & the Public's website:

"The Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) announced the selection of 30 middle school students as finalists in its first ever Broadcom MASTERS™ competition. The Broadcom MASTERS finalists were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists and engineers from among 1,476 applicants located in 45 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. The finalists will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, in October to showcase their science fair projects and compete in a four-day STEM competition for awards and prizes, including the top education award of $25,000 presented by the Samueli Foundation, a gift of Susan and Henry Samueli, a founder of Broadcom."

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Congratulations to Caleb Kumar!

Twin Cities' 2011 competitor,  Caleb Kumar from Blaine, with his paper/project, Designing a Java Program to Diagnose Bladder Cancer, has won a $25,000 2011 Davidson Fellowship Scholarship! CONGRATULATIONS, Caleb!

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Congratulations to Gavin Ovsak!

Thank you for voting for our local students!  Gavin Ovsak from Eden Prairie made the top 15 in the world (top 5 in his age category) in the first Google Science Fair contest and will visit Google headquarters in Mountain View, California. To read about Gavin Ovsak's project in the age 15-16 category (The Efficiency and Testing of a Fully Submersible Geared Water Turbine ).

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Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs - Benefits of Doing Both a Science Project and a Research Paper

Is science fair just for geeks or nerds? NO WAY!  Doing a good science fair project teaches real life skills that apply to EVERYONE!

First of all, what is a science project?  A science project is the process of running a controlled experiment, proposing a new theory based on library or experimental research, or developing a new concept, invention, program, or design (engineering).  A science project is not a report about an area of science. A science project is not building a model that demonstrates something, unless the point of the project is a new engineering design. Models of volcanoes, or of the solar system, or of the heart are not a science project. Use of a model to demonstrate a new theory or finding is, however, acceptable.  At the school and regional levels of competition in a science fair, the science project is more about the process of science and project work than it is about the specific findings.

The purpose of doing a science project is to teach the student several skills. The first skill to be learned is the planning, execution, and evaluation of a project. Every project, including remodeling or decorating a room in your house or apartment or building a deck, requires the same basic process.

Doing a science project teaches the student extremely valuable skills integrating  reading, writing, spelling, grammar, critical thinking, scientific methodology, graphic arts, math, statistics, ethics, logic, computer science,  self-learning of one or more technical or specialty fields, and  public speaking and defense in front of expert judges. When a student completes a science fair project, year after year, through junior and senior high school, the science fair process yields mature, self-confident, skilled, and competitive young leaders who have career goals and the preparation, discipline, and drive to attain them.

Did you know that doing an excellent science project in high school is likely the highest paying job your high school student can get?  A top project and paper can net a quarter of a million dollars just in winnings, and that doesn't count what it does for a student's resume, college application, and self-confidence! Many students earn $5000 or more!  Some of these projects take as few as 6 weeks to complete.  Now that pays more than a summer job!

Major Sponsors:

Please click here for the Sponsors' page.

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