March 5, 2008

Some of Alabama's brightest middle and high school students will demonstrate their knowledge of science at the Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CARSEF) this weekend. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for OutReach Development (CORD) is sponsoring the event. The fair will be Saturday, March 8 at the UAB Campus Recreation Center, 1501 University Blvd, from noon-3:30 p.m. Note to Media: For best photos, arrive 11 a.m. - noon. Students will be available at that time to discuss their projects. The awards ceremony begins at 4 p.m.

About 300 middle and high school students from Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, Jefferson, Shelby, Walker and Winston counties will present posters and table top experiments in engineering, computer science, biology, environmental and earth sciences and more. Specific topics will include robotics, computer graphics, aerodynamics, energy conservation and plant ecology.

Students in grades 5-8 will compete in the Junior Division. Students in grades 9-12 will compete in the Senior Division. Judging for each division will begin at 9 a.m. Regional participants of the Junior and Senior divisions will be eligible to compete at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair that will be held April 3-5 at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Four overall winners in the CARSEF Senior Division will be eligible to bypass the state competition to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair May 11-17 in Atlanta. The Senior Division contestants who compete and win at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair can also compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

CORD is a university-wide center dedicated to advancing the outreach efforts of UAB in the Birmingham community by developing academic programs in partnership with area city schools.

Call CORD director Michael Wyss, Ph.D., at 205-934-5171 for more details.