The College of Science and Technology and Department of Chemistry hosted the 26th annual Blue Ridge Highlands Regional Science Fair March 3-4 in Peters Hall on the Radford University campus.

This was the seventh consecutive year the regional fair has been held at Radford University.

Chemistry Department Chair Dr. Christine Hermann and Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Kimberly Lane were co-directors for this year’s event, which was open to students from 16 counties and three cities across the region. Chemistry Instructor Mr. Chris Bibeau serves as Scientific Review Committee chair for all projects.

The goal of the fair was to stimulate an active interest in science and engineering in young students, provide an unparalleled experience in research and presentations and expose the public to the hard work the students are doing.

Through posters and oral presentations, participants presented the results of their research in the fields of animal science, behavioral and social science, biochemistry and chemistry, cell and molecular biology, computer science, earth and planetary science, environmental management and science, engineering, mathematics, medicine and health, microbiology, physics and astronomy, and plant science.

Students in grades six through eight competed in the junior division, and students in grades nine through 12 competed in the senior division.

The science fair was open to students in the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe and the cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton and Radford.

The grand award winners were Kaelum Hasler from Blacksburg High School with his project “Post Consumer PET as Stock for Additive Manufacturing” along with Morgan Fisher and Carly Porter from Southwest Virginia Governor’s School with their project “ACTN3, ACN, PPARD, and Outside Factors Influencing High School Male Athlete’s Choice to Pursue a Sport.”

These students will compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May.

Students selected as Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair delegates will be competing at the state fair at the end of March on the campus of Virginia Military Institute.