UND again hosts North Dakota’s largest high school STEM fair
For 14th consecutive year, UND empowers state’s students to showcase their high-level STEM skills
By Paige Prekker
Do screens steal your sleep? Which skin moisturizers work best? How proficient are children at differentiating candy from medicine? Where’s my keys?
These were some of the questions — and project titles — of high school students who presented their projects to the public at the North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair (NDSSEF) on April 1 at the UND Memorial Union.
An annual statewide competition showcasing high school juniors and seniors who are vying for state honors, the fair is the pathway to the international competition level for ambitious North Dakota high school students.
At the event, students showcase their multi-year Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) research projects in a competitive venue. Students are judged by local experts — including UND students — in the fields of life science, physical science, environmental studies, psychology and engineering.
The fair continues to be North Dakota’s largest high school STEM fair. This is the 14th year in a row that UND has hosted the statewide event.
From Hankinson, N.D., Karsyn Bladow wanted to determine what caused the increase of bacteria on skin: the make-up or the applicators.
“We’re told to clean our make-up brushes every 7-10 days … whether we do so or not,” explained Bladow. “But where is the bacteria we want to avoid coming from, exactly?”
While many hypothesized that the applicators — the messy sponges and brushes — were the main culprit because they came in direct contact with the user’s skin, Bladow’s experiments led to a different conclusion.
It’s the bacteria on the make-up itself that people should be more concerned about, she suggested.
What’s one thing to take away from her finding?
“Use micellar water (a specialized skin cleanser) to clean your make-up and applicators,” said Bladow. “It’s the best way to cleanse your make-up, your face and everything you put between them.”
While there were more than 100 awards presented (thanks to the many sponsors and partners that contribute gifts to participating students), there was only one Grand Champion. This year, the trophy went to Radheeka Weeraratne from Dickinson (N.D.) High School with his project, “Renewable Energy Storage Innovation of Air Batteries Using Steel Anodes.”
Weeraratne, along with other first place winners, will go on to represent North Dakota at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio, in May. He also received a gold plaque, a UND scholarship and a monetary award from the UND College of Engineering & Mines.
A win for Dickinson High, the Marcus J. Friskop Traveling Trophy, goes to the school. The trophy recognizes the honored history of science fairs in North Dakota and the people who go the extra mile to ensure students excel in them.
“Marcus Friskop was a longtime supporter of the science fair in the State of North Dakota. He was very passionate about it,” explained Peter Sykora, award coordinator for the North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair, during the awards ceremony. “He was a knowledgeable man who would go out of his way to help any students for the science fair.”
During his career as a science teacher at Hankinson (N.D.) High School, Friskop guided a total of 68 students to present at 32 consecutive international competitions, at which his students garnered multiple grand awards. Friskop passed away in 2013, but his legacy lives on through the fair, and his lasting impact is shown in the success of his students.
Statewide support for STEM Excellence
While shaping the futures of hundreds of students throughout North Dakota, NDSSEF’s many supporters and donors empower North Dakota students pursuing a STEM education.
Major sponsors of the fair include: UND John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, UND Office for Research & Economic Development, UND College of Engineering & Mines, UND College of Arts & Sciences, ND IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (ND INBRE), and the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences.
Contributing sponsors include: UND College of Education & Human Development, UND College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines, and Visit Greater Grand Forks.
Many organizations — from the region and beyond — sponsored awards for winning projects, including:
North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair Sponsors & Partners
- American Chemical Society, Red River Valley Section
- American Psychological Association
- American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science – North Dakota
- American Water Works Association
- Association for Women Geoscientists
- Auxiliary to the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association
- Baker Energy Services
- ConocoPhillips
- Farmers Union Insurance–North Dakota
- The Hinsz Weigum Families
- Hot Cakes Café & Lodging
- ISEF Alumni
- ND IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (ND INBRE)
- NPS Metals a Division of Owen Industries
- National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- National Weather Service
- North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians
- North Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- North Dakota Farm Bureau
- North Dakota Pharmacists Association
- North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association
- North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association
- North Dakota Water Environment Association
- Ottertail Power Company
- Regeneron Biomedical Science Award
- Ricoh Corporation
- Society for In Vitro Biology
- Society of Automotive Engineers
- The Title Team
- United States Air Force
- United States Metric Association
- United States Navy
- Water Environment Federation
- Xcel Energy
- Yale Science and Engineering Association
UND Sponsors & Partners
- John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Department of Atmospheric Sciences
- University of North Dakota Office for Research & Economic Development
- College of Arts & Sciences Department of Biology
- College of Arts & Sciences Department of Chemistry
- College of Arts & Sciences Department of Geography
- College of Arts & Sciences Department of Mathematics
- College of Arts & Sciences Department of Physics & Astrophysics
- College of Arts & Sciences Department of Psychology
- College of Arts & Sciences Virgina George Inheritance Fund
- College of Engineering & Mines
- College of Engineering & Mines Department of Biomedical Engineering
- College of Engineering & Mines Department of Chemical Engineering
- College of Engineering & Mines Department of Civil Engineering
- College of Engineering & Mines School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
- College of Engineering & Mines Department of Electrical Engineering
- College of Engineering & Mines Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering
- College of Engineering & Mines Department of Mechanical Engineering
- College of Engineering & Mines Department of Energy & Petroleum Engineering
- School of Medicine & Health Sciences
- School of Medicine & Health Sciences Department of Biomedical Sciences
About the author:
Paige Prekker is a graphic design specialist for the UND College of Engineering & Mines.
