9:00 am - 3:00 pm Classic Center 300 N. Thomas St. Grand Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: Academic Special Programs, Office of Contact: Christine Burgoyne Director, Georgia Science and Engineering Fairs 706-542-6473 Georgia Science and Engineering Fair State Finals set for March 21-23, 2013 More than 700 middle-school and high-school finalists from throughout the state will compete March 21-23, in the 65th Georgia Science and Engineering Fair at the Classic Center in downtown Athens. Exhibits are open for public viewing on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall at the Athens Classic Center.  From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., student exhibitors will be available to discuss and demonstrate their projects with visitors.Hosted by the Office of Academic Special Programs and The University of Georgia’s Center for Continuing Education, the GSEF is the state’s ultimate venue for displaying the science and engineering research of Georgia’s top middle- and high-school students.An invitation to compete at the Fair culminates a string of achievements that begins for each competitor with a classroom or laboratory research project and experiment. Meritorious projects from school and local fairs can then be invited to exhibit at one of the 20 Regional Fairs held throughout the state in January and February. The best of the regional first- and second-place category winners are considered for advancement to the state fair. Of the Regional Fair winners, fewer than 700 are invited to compete in the GSEF in Athens.Students compete in 17 categories, including animal sciences, behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, earth and planetary science, electrical and mechanical engineering, engineering materials and bioengineering, energy and transportation, environmental management, mathematics, medicine, microbiology, plant sciences, physics and astronomy.Over 200 science professionals from throughout the state will be present to judge the projects on Friday, March 22. Those interested in judging should submit their information via the Judge Volunteer Form available at www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/gsef.Students compete for thousands of dollars in awards, internships, and prizes, including over 100 special awards that honor students for research in particular fields. Top awards are the GSEF Pinnacle Cup for the best project in the fair and four invitations to advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix May 12-17.Among the many special awards sponsored by professional organizations, businesses and universities are several that are new this year, including awards from the Georgia Genomics Facility and the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics.Two graduating high school seniors will be selected to represent Georgia at the month-long 2013 National Youth Science Camp held in June in West Virginia. www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/gsef