The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Dani Wright
In 1955, Dr. Millard D. Seeley of the University of Arizona chemistry department sent letters to the principals of 38 high schools in Southern Arizona inviting their students to participate in the first-ever Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair. That April, students and judges gathered at the University’s Bear Down Gym to present and review 120 projects from Tucson, Casa Grande, Yuma, and Bisbee. Two winners moved on to the National Science Fair the following month.
Seventy years later, the SARSEF Fair has grown to showcase the work of nearly 6,000 PreK-12th grade students from six counties in Arizona, awarding over $100,000 in awards and scholarships, and sending students to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Science fairs emerged throughout the United States in the 1950s to address a growing need for technical jobs related to science and engineering. From the beginning, these events have intended to engage students in authentic science and engineering, encouraging them to pursue a related major in college.
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For decades, science fairs have sparked lifelong passions for STEM careers. Many leading scientists, engineers, and innovators trace their career beginnings to a science fair project that captured their imagination. Science fairs provide a unique platform for students to discover their potential and envision themselves as future scientists and innovators. Students meet peers who share their interests, connect with mentors in their fields of interest, and recognize their scientific pursuits as a viable and exciting career path.
But in 2025, when artificial intelligence, instant information access, and pressing global challenges arise, do science fairs still matter? The answer is a resounding yes — perhaps now more than ever.
Just as our world has continually evolved, so has science fair. Today’s projects tackle pressing issues like renewable energy, environmental conservation, public health, and the impact of emerging technologies. Students are using sophisticated tools and methodologies that weren’t available even a decade ago, from 3D printing to genetic sequencing and writing their own advanced code. Virtual and hybrid formats for project presentations, judging, and interviewing are making these opportunities more accessible to students worldwide, including those underrepresented in STEM. New categories emerge as technology advances, and judging criteria evolve to emphasize skills needed for the modern workplace.
The need to fill STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs hasn’t declined. From 2011-21, 5.9 million (20% of all jobs created) were in STEM-related fields. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates a 10.4% increase in STEM-related jobs by 2033. Many of the jobs our current elementary students will have in the future likely do not exist yet. This makes it even more important that students are learning how to think through inquiry-based learning experiences like science fairs.
Science Fairs and other inquiry-based authentic research experiences give students further enrichment and personal connection to the core skills and topics within STEM fields where traditional learning models typically end. An emphasis on inquiry provides an irreplaceable hands-on experience with science and engineering practices. Practical experience helps students adopt rigorous thinking patterns, persevere through frustration, improve communication skills, collect data, analyze results, and draw conclusions based on evidence. We see this when over 97% of students who participated in the 2024 SARSEF Regional Science and Engineering Fair report that they know they can make the world a better place through science and engineering.
In the end, science fairs give hope. In contrast to doomscrolling, hundreds of thousands of youth worldwide are courageously asking difficult questions and brainstorming solutions to complex problems. They represent the next generation of innovators and leaders. All young minds deserve the opportunity to hone their skills and have a platform where their ideas can be valued and encouraged. You can support your regional science fair by donating time, money, and expertise, ensuring the future is as bright as can be.
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Dani Wright is the Director of Events and Volunteers at SARSEF, a STEM education nonprofit, whose mission is to create Arizona’s future critical thinkers and problem solvers through science and engineering. She has served as the SARSEF Fair Director for the last 5 years.
