History of the Alaska Science & Engineering Fair

The Alaska Science and Engineering Fair has hosted 69 Alaska Statewide science fairs as of June 2024.

 

**2024 Don’t Need Gravity to Explore** Event

The 69th Alaska Science & Engineering Fair (ASEF), “Don’t Need Gravity to Explore” was held as a combined in-person and virtual fair in April of 2024. The event was a resounding success, showcasing the remarkable talent and innovation of young scientists and engineers from across the state! The judges were thoroughly impressed by the creativity, critical thinking, and scientific learning demonstrated by the participants from all over Alaska.

**2021–2023** Events

The 66th–68th Alaska Science & Engineering Fairs events were combined in-person and virtual fairs held in 2021, 2022, and 2023 in Anchorage, Alaska.

**2020 Breaking the Code** Event

The 65th Alaska Science & Engineering Fair (ASEF), “Breaking the Code” was held as a virtual fair in May of 2020. While the COVID-19 pandemic re-defined our everyday life in 2020 and made hosting a large event like the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair nearly impossible, we were able to host our first ever virtual science fair. Despite the challenges, over 80 projects were submitted, over 75 prizes were awarded, and 67 of those awards were judged and sponsored by Alaskan organizations, companies, and individuals.

We want to give a huge thank you to all the teachers, judges, and volunteers that were able to participate despite the unusual circumstances. This event would not have happened without each and every one of you, and we can not thank you enough for all that you do for us!

**2019 React to Science** Event

The 64th Alaska Science & Engineering Fair (ASEF), “React to Science”, was held March 29-31, 2019 at the Northway Mall in Anchorage, Alaska. ASEF would like to thank all the students, teachers, parents, mentors, donors, volunteers, and the Northway Mall for making the event possible. Last year’s senior high grand prize winners came back for a repeat of their exceptional performance, now sharing a tie for First Place: Savio Le, with “Implementation of a Novel Phosphate Absorbing Device for the Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)” and Will Deering, with “Developing a Natural-Based Synthetic Honey Salve to Counter Water-Borne Surface-Wound Infections in Rural or Occupational Environments”. A student observer was also selected: Catherine Chen, with “What Kind of Bacteria Contribute to the Taste and Flavor in Fermented Tofu?” These students were invited to attend the International Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona, in May 2019.

 

**2018 Explore Your Universe** Event

The 63rd Alaska Science & Engineering Fair (ASEF), “Explore Your Universe”, was held March 23-25, 2018 at the Northway Mall in Anchorage, Alaska. ASEF would like to thank all the students, teachers, parents, mentors, donors, volunteers, and the Northway Mall for making the event possible. The senior high grand prize winners were first place, Savio Le, with “Evaluating Phosphorus Absorbing Materials for the Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms” and second place, Will Deering, with “”Investigating the Effect of Floral Source on the Antimicrobial Action of Synthetic Honey”. They were invited to show their projects at the International Science & Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May 2018.

BP continued as the headline sponsor for ASEF. The Municipality of Anchorage supported the ASEF though the award of a 2018 Mayor’s Community Grant. 

**2017 Science: An Ocean of Possibilities** Event

The 62nd Alaska Science & Engineering Fair, “Science: An Ocean of Possibilities”, was held March 24-26, 2017 at the Northway Mall in Anchorage, Alaska. The Alaska Science & Engineering Fair would like to thank all the students, teachers, parents, mentors, donors, volunteers, and the Northway Mall for making the event possible.

The following Senior High grand prize winners and two student observers represented Alaska at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, CA, in May 2017:

1st Place: Dawson Verely with “Do Wages Affect Scientific Learning?: Evidence from the Programme for International Student Assessment”

2nd Place: Jedediah Dean with “A Longitudinal Study of Fluctuating Radiation Levels in Prince William Sound, Alaska: A Conclusion to a Four Year Study.”

**2016 Trek with Science** Event

The 61st Alaska Science & Engineering Fair, “Trek with Science”, was held April 1-3, 2016 at East High School in Anchorage, Alaska. The following Senior High grand prize winners will represent Alaska at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2016:

1st Place: David Chen of West Valley High School in Fairbanks with “East Meets West: An Analysis of Avian Influenze in Alaska Interior”

2nd Place: Jedediah Dean with “Radiation Monitoring in Prince William Sound, Alaska: Year III of a IV Year Study”

3rd Place Student Observer, Alexander O’Neill with “My Pair of Genes”

**2015 Engineer Your Trajectory** Event

“Engineer Your Trajectory” was the 60th statewide Alaska Science & Engineering Fair held March 20-22, 2015 at East High School in Anchorage, Alaska. ASEF was again pleased to present the Ocean Science Fair within the event. Students from all over Alaska showed their fantastic projects covering a wide variety of science and engineering subjects. Senior High grand prize winners will represent Alaska at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:

1st Place: Alta Dean of Colony High School in Palmer with “Conclusions from a four year research study: Ocean Acidification in Prince William Sound, AK”

2nd Place: David Chen of West Valley High School in Fairbanks with “Genetic Mechanism Underlying Bacterial Drug Resistance”

3rd Place: Gary Hoppenworth of West Anchorage High School in Anchorage with “Determining the Relative Affinities of Alkaloids in Reed Canarygrass for Tannic Acid”

**2014 Science With Friends** Event

The 59th Alaska Science and Engineering Fair and COSEE Ocean Science Fair were held at East High School in Anchorage, Alaska, March 21-23, 2014.Over 380 projects from almost 70 schools throughout Alaksa were represented. Senior High grand prize winners were Taylor Seitz with “Novel Lateral Flow Test Design to Detect the Presence of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning” and Alisa Aist with “Ichthyophonus vs Proteins: Should we be Eating These Fish?”

2014 Gala Dinner and Silent Auction on March 18, 2014 was a great success and provided funding for ASEF expenses and travel for the grand prize winners to attend the international fair. Thanks go to the attendees who bid so generously and our fabulous event donors:

Alaska Aviation Museum, Alaska Botanical Gardens, Alaska Mining and Diving, Alaska Mint, Alaska Museum of Science and Nature, Alaska Railroad, Alaska Sea Life Center, Alaska Volcano Observatory, Alaska Wholesale Flower Market, Allen and Petersen, Alyeska Resort, Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, Artina Cunning, Bell’s Nursery and Gifts, CIRI Tourism – Kenai Fjords Tours, Center Bowl, Classic Toys, Clay Owen Studios, Construction Machinery, Flying Dutchman, Freedom of Movement, Gallo’s Mexican Restaurant (Arctic Blvd.), Gayla Bryn, Hilton Anchorage, Indian Valley Meats, Intuitions Day Spa, Jana Lage, John Oswald, Kaladi Brothers, Lucky Calliope, Major Marine Tours, Moose’s Tooth/Bear’s Tooth, NC Machinery, Nature’s Jewels, Oil and Vinegar, Over the Rainbow, Puffin Fishing Charters, Quantum Spatial, Samantha McGee, Scared Scriptless, Sheraton Anchorage/Jade Steak and Seafood, Sleepy Dog Coffee Co., Snow City Cafe, Steel Fab, Suite 100, Summit Spice and Tea, Tastee Freez, Tikigaq Corporation, UMIAQ, LLC, Varina Zinno

**2013 Sink Your Teeth Into Science** Event

The 58th Alaska Science and Engineering Fair and COSEE Ocean Science Fair were held at East High School in Anchorage, Alaska, March 22-24, 2013. This fair brought together 386 students from 32 Alaskan communities to show their projects. Thanks go to all of the parents, teachers, mentors, sponsors, and over 100 volunteers who made the Alaska Science & Engineering Fair a success. Most of all, we thank the students who shared their hard work, ideas, and brilliance.

Sunday’s awards ceremony opened with a keynote by the Alaska Sea Life Center’s Laurie Morrow. Laurie showed the students how adult scientists conduct scaled-up versions of science projects, such as the studies being carried out now on walrus that have recently begun hauling out on shore. She closed her talk with a crowd-pleasing video of a baby octopus swimming in a tank at the Sea Life Center in Seward.

The following 2013 senior high finalists will compete in the Intel International Science Fair in Phoenix, Arizona in May:

• First place, Stephen Kranich, with “Assessing the Magnocellular Theory of the Flash-Lag Effect and Dyslexia”
• Second place, the team project of Taylor Seitz and Chelsea Parrocha, with “Potential Lateral Flow Test Design for the Detection of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning”

**2012 Science Star** Event Brought Out Alaska’s Student Superstars

The 57th Alaska Science and Engineering Fair and COSEE Ocean Science Fair were held at East High School in Anchorage, Alaska, March 23-25, 2012

The 2012 Alaska Science and Engineering Fair brought well over 400 individual and team projects from schools throughout Alaska. Many of these projects were co-entered in the COSEE Ocean Science Fair.

The Awards Ceremony opened with Greg Durscher of the USGS and the Chugach Gem and Mineral Society speaking about the importance of studying, communication, and finding something you’re passionately interested in and learning more about it. He wanted the students to know that you can take your interest and turn it into your life’s work, your life’s recreation, or both.

Senior High Grand Award winners for 2012 were:

• First place, Stephen Kranich with “Quantifying Human Compensation for Visual Processing Lag”
• Second place, the team project of Taylor Seitz and Alisa Aist with “Intertidal Invertebrates and Their Nutritional Values”
• Student Observer, Remy Libbrecht with “Comparing the Consistency of Ultrasonic and Infrared Sensors”

These students were invited to the international ISEF competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May 2012. Many thanks go to our 2012 sponsors for making the event and the winners’ travel possible.

**2011 Science Rocks** Event a Record Breaker!

The 56th Alaska Science and Engineering Fair and the COSEE Ocean Science Fair were held at Begich Middle School in Anchorage, Alaska, March 18-20, 2011.

A record-breaking 513 individual and team projects entered the “Science Rocks” 2011 Alaska Science and Engineering Fair. Over 600 students participated, representing over 70 schools throughout Alaska. Approximately 40 projects co-entered in the COSEE Ocean Science Fair.

The Awards Ceremony opened with Senator Mark Begich giving words of encouragement, followed by keynote speaker Dr. Travis Rector of UAA’s Department of Physics and Astronomy speaking of the search for supernovae.

Senior High Grand Award winners were:

• First place, Sophia Meyers with “Possible Applications of Superorder Selachimorpha (shark) Characteristics in the Marine Industry”
• Second place, Noah Betzen with “The Effects of Calcium Carbonate on Ocean Acidification”
• Third place, the team project of Nicole Emanuel and Marie Gotti with “Analyzing Protein Content in Common Vegetarian Meat Substitutes”.

These students went on to the international ISEF competition in Los Angeles, California. Many thanks go to our 2011 sponsors for making the event and the winners’ travel possible.