Oklahoma State University to host the 2019 Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Oklahoma State University will welcome more than 150 junior high and high school science, technology, engineering and mathematics students at the annual Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair this spring, March 28-30, 2019.

“Oklahoma State University is honored to host the state’s science and engineering fair,” said Burns Hargis, president of Oklahoma State University. “There has never been a greater need for STEM students in our world, and we welcome this opportunity. We applaud East Central University for its long and successful run as host.”

This is the first year OSU will host the fair, which is moving from ECU in Ada.

“For more than 40 years, East Central University has hosted the Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair (OSSEF), and we have witnessed thousands of success STEM stories,” said ECU President Katricia G. Pierson. “We were pleasantly pleased this summer when (OSU’s) Dr. Julie Angle approached ECU and asked if OSU could host the fair. We saw this as another great opportunity to partner with another university in the state to continue working together to provide for more STEM opportunities for Oklahoma junior high and high school students.”

Joy Hofmeister, state superintendent of public instruction, offered her take on the change: “Our gratitude is twofold: to ECU for its long support of the state science and engineering fair, and to OSU for taking the reins of this important event. Thanks to the involvement of both universities, the fair will continue its tradition of showcasing STEM excellence among our students.” 

Students who conduct STEM research can present their findings at one of seven regional fairs across the state, competing in categories such as: biochemistry; medicine and health science; physical sciences; earth and space sciences; behavioral and social sciences; engineering; mathematics and computer science; environmental science; zoology; botany; and microbiology. Students placing first, second or third in one of the seven regional fairs are invited to attend the state-level science and engineering fair. At least one student project from each regional fair and two projects from the state fair will advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix in May.

“These students are Oklahoma’s best and brightest,” said Angle, an associate professor at OSU and coordinator of OSSEF. “We want and need to recognize the incredible work they are doing. The Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair program is not only good for our students but also for the state of Oklahoma.”

To ensure the sustainability of the Oklahoma State Science and Engineering Fair program, donations can be made to the OSSEF Program Foundation Fund: 25-00780. Checks can be mailed to the OSU Foundation at 400 S. Monroe, Stillwater, OK 74074. Online donations can be made at osugiving.com. For more information about donating to the OSSEF Program Foundation fund, contact Denise Melot at 405-338-8008.

For more information contact Angle at julie.angle@okstate.edu.