Sponge Bean Fair Pants

By Amy Mikel in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 26, 2008 8:15PM

Our lame science fair projects always consisted of withered lima bean plants gasping for water, so that’s probably why we were never chosen to exhibit at the city's Chicago Public Schools Student Science Fair, currently running now through Sunday at the Museum of Science and Industry. Elementary and High School students will be competing in sixteen specialized categories such as Botany, Chemistry, Electronics, Environmental Science, Mathematics, and Physics.

Entries – which can be a project, essay, or symposium paper – have already advanced through several levels of competition; winners from a school advance to a Chicago Public Schools Area Fair, and winners from the area fair then make it to the city fair. It should certainly be worth it for some kids, as the fair awards prizes like Space Camp participation, internships, and cold hard cash to over 200 students each year.

The City Science Fair uses volunteers to help with the judging, which is taking place throughout the day on Friday. Among a variety of other events, exhibitions will be available for public viewing during regular museum hours on Saturday, and until 12 p.m. on Sunday.

image via ChicagoStudentScienceFair website