Christine Lambrakis, lambrakis@asu.edu
(480) 727-1173
February 25, 2005

Science fair recognizes American Indian students’ talents

For the last six months, students in American Indian communities from across the state have been preparing for the third annual Arizona American Indian Science and Engineering Fair (AISEF) March 4, from 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., at the San Marcos Resort in Chandler. The exhibits are open to the public from 5 – 8 p.m. during the award ceremony, which will be emceed by KPNX/Channel 12 news reporter Mary Kim Titla.

More than 150 students in grades 5-12 from Arizona and neighboring states will participate in the science fair, hosted by ASU’s American Indian Programs and sponsored by Intel and other corporate partners.

Before 2000, a student living in an American Indian community in Arizona most likely never had an opportunity to participate in a regional science fair. That started to change when Phillip Huebner, director of the American Indian Programs at the East campus and director of the science fair, began to work closely with teachers throughout Arizona’s Indian communities to help them learn how to prepare students for a science fair, coordinate local science fairs and compete at a regional level.

Huebner believes that the science projects not only are excellent for students, but benefit teachers by providing a format in which to teach science. At the AISEF event, training is also available for teachers along with curriculum materials for grades K-12 and numerous resources. Huebner adds that four three-day science fair workshops also are provided free annually to teachers at locations throughout the state.

All the students and teachers are recognized at AISEF and some will be invited to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair that will be held in Phoenix , May 8-13, where more than 1,300 students from more than 30 countries compete.

For more information about the event, to volunteer or for sponsorship information, contact Huebner at (480) 727-1306 or by e-mail at (phillip.huebner@asu.edu).

Lambrakis, with the Office of Public Affairs at the East campus, can be reached at (480) 727-1173 or (lambrakis@asu.edu).