 on March 21-22){kind=link}
Flint, Michigan – The University of Michigan-Flint is gearing up to host the 68th annual Flint Regional Science and Engineering Fair (FRSEF) on March 21-22 at the Riverfront Conference Center. This event marks a continued tradition that began in 1957, highlighting the region’s commitment to fostering scientific and engineering acumen among its youth.
The creative ideas of middle and high school students from the larger Flint area will be highlighted at this year’s fair. The public is invited to attend and view these projects on March 22, from 2 to 6 p.m., offering a unique glimpse into the potential future of science and technology.
“It is with great pleasure that we continue our support of FRSEF. To be part of this longstanding tradition is truly an honor for our institution,” said Steven Foster, UM-Flint director of financial aid. “We are proud of the work this organization does, and of the students from the greater Flint community who invest themselves in the fair. It is our pleasure to offer scholarships to the top competitors from the high school division.”
UM-Flint will give top performers significant scholarships to help participants even more. The student ranking fourth will get a one-time grant of $5,000; winners in the top three will get four-year scholarships, each valued at roughly $52,000.
President of the FRSEF board of directors Mike Mosher discussed some of the projects meant to promote community participation in the fair. By paying local school systems’ transportation expenses, FRSEF has encouraged higher participation over recent years, therefore giving more children the chance to attend and participate.
“We’ve been able to raise money internally so we can go to school districts and their teachers and offer to pay for the transportation for the event,” said Mosher. “It’s so nice for those teachers to say to their principals, ‘Look at this opportunity I’ve got, we’re going to take our kids out to this event, they’re going to do a science fair, and it’s free.'” Mosher said within the past three years, attendance for their elementary school fair has jumped from eight students to more than 200.
UM-Flint’s participation goes beyond financing and venue hosting. With academics and senior students typically serving as judges, the institution actively participates in the fair’s instructional elements. For young participants, this engagement offers insightful comments and an opportunity to share their initiatives with seasoned experts.
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The “Science Fair in a Box” initiative is still another major outreach project. Targeting increased accessibility to scientific fairs, the initiative provides classes with all required supplies for their own fairs.
“These schools often have other priorities, and just don’t see the value of a science fair,” said Mosher. “By providing science fair kits to every student in a classroom, much of the funding and planning requirements are taken away from the teachers, allowing them to implement these kinds of exciting projects in their classrooms. The success of the Science Fair in a Box program has gone on to encourage other organizations to provide similar programs for local students.”
UM-Flint is also improving its infrastructure to enable STEM teaching going forward. Construction of the 14,000 square-foot Innovation & Technology Complex at UM-Flint started in June 2024 in order to support multidisciplinary research and cooperation in domains including artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing.
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UM-Flint is poised to honor the accomplishments of young scientists and engineers who reflect the bright future of the community as FRSEF approaches. For those interested in volunteering or seeking more information about the fair, details are available on the FRSEF website.