NE North Dakota News

The North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair (NDSSEF), a significant annual event, took place on April 1 at the University of North Dakota (UND) Memorial Union. High school juniors and seniors from across the state showcased their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research projects.

This event is North Dakota's largest high school STEM fair, marking the 14th year that UND has hosted it. It provides a venue where students' projects are evaluated by local experts, including UND students, in various fields such as life science, physical science, environmental studies, psychology, and engineering.

A highlighted project by Karsyn Bladow from Hankinson, North Dakota, investigated whether make-up or its applicators contributed more to the increase of bacteria on skin. Her findings suggested that the bacteria on the make-up itself is of greater concern.

The fair concluded with Radheeka Weeraratne from Dickinson High School winning the Grand Champion title with the project "Renewable Energy Storage Innovation of Air Batteries Using Steel Anodes." Weeraratne and other first-place winners will advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio.

An important feature of the event was the awarding of the Marcus J. Friskop Traveling Trophy to Dickinson High School. Peter Sykora, award coordinator for the fair, explained, “Marcus Friskop was a longtime supporter of the science fair in the State of North Dakota. He was very passionate about it.”

The event is supported by major sponsors, including various UND colleges and institutions such as the UND John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and the ND IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (ND INBRE). Contributing sponsors and numerous affiliated organizations also help empower the participating students with their support.