The best of the best among middle and high school students on the Tennessee Tech campus Saturday to participate in the university’s 68th Annual Cumberland Plateau Regional Science & Engineering Fair.
Event Co-Chair Christina Hatley said the fair allows regional students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills. While some people may think of clay volcanoes and potato batteries as typical projects, Hatley said the science fair is not the same as it was 20-30 years ago.
“There is a much stronger emphasis on the research and the inquiry,” Hatley said. “Students are really diving into questions, they are collecting the data, they are analyzing results, and it’s become more about understanding and discovery rather than just showing how something works.”
Hatley said this shift has led students to look at real-world problems and come up with solutions. Hatley said in recent years she has seen students present projects surrounding trending topics such as AI, Coding, and Robotics.
“We’re seeing more and more students explore AI, robotics, coding, things like that,” Hatley said. “But at the same time, there’s still a strong focus on environmental sustainability and community-based issues. We’ll see a student think about a problem they’re having in their small rural community and try to come up with a solution for that problem. So it’s a great mix of cutting-edge technology and real-world applications.”
Hatley said organizers are continuing to rebuild participation following a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic and are encouraging students across the region to get involved. Hatley said the experience not only enhances classroom learning but also helps students explore potential career paths.
“They’re going to build critical thinking, problem solving, and perseverance,” Hatley said. “It really can shape their future career path.”
In addition to recognition, Hatley said top-performing students will have the opportunity to earn scholarships from Tennessee Tech.
“We’ll be offering multiple Tennessee Tech scholarships to our top winners,” Hatley said. “So it’s a great opportunity for the students to showcase their work and to be recognized.”