The 2024 Gwinnett County Regional Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair, scheduled for Friday, February 23, 2024, marks the 46th anniversary of this prestigious event that shines a spotlight on outstanding science students. The event - which will take place at the Gas South District, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, in Duluth —will feature more than 750 projects produced by students from 107 elementary, middle, and high schools, one special entity, and four schools that are not a part of Gwinnett County Public Schools that operate in the county.

These projects, representing the best of student research and engineering in Gwinnett County, showcase the creativity and innovation of over 1,000 students. Middle and High School participants will be judged by professionals and scientists from all around the world who will assess them on scientific quality, accuracy, creativity, engineering precision, and experimental design as part of the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair affiliated competition. This year, students will compete in 22 project categories, including Biomedical Engineering, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Environmental Engineering, and Robotics & Intelligent Machines.

Jessica Holden, GCPS director of Middle and High School Science, is impressed with this year’s submissions. “Student projects this year show that our students are passionate about problem-solving and making the world a better place for others,” Holden shares. “Students are researching and developing solutions for everyday needs and larger problems alike. From identifying new chemotherapy drugs using machine learning to designing a no-cost water filter made from natural resources, students are passionate about making the future better for others in so many ways.”

The event’s youngest scientists and engineers will have the opportunity to showcase their projects in the Elementary fair, which serves to develop student interest and talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics by inspiring students to solve local problems using Design Thinking. Students from 62 GCPS elementary schools will participate and share their solutions to problems such as ending food insecurities to creating technology to detect forest fires and prompt faster responses. Kristin Luthi, director of Science K-5, is excited about the opportunity for the elementary school students in Gwinnett. “We firmly believe that early exposure to STEM subjects is crucial for shaping the innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow. By engaging young minds in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics from an early age, we empower them to explore, question, and create solutions that will drive progress and shape our future."

In addition to participating in in-depth project interviews with judges, students at each level will have the opportunity to take part in STEM workshops that provide activities and ways for students to engage with more than 20 local and global community partners to learn more about STEM careers, skills, and opportunities.

“Engaging in person with experts in their project field makes the Regional Fair an inspirational and transformative opportunity for students”, Holden says. We are so excited for our students to see representations of who they can strive to become and more as they are engaging during the day.”

In total, sponsors will award over $30,000 of scholarships, special awards, and project advancements at this year’s Gwinnett Regional Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair. The top elementary projects for each specified problem will be awarded. Place awards, special awards, scholarships, and advancement to the Georgia Science & Engineering Fair will be given to top middle school and high school projects across the 22 project categories. The Grand Award for the top high school projects will include an expense paid trip to compete alongside students from over 75 countries at the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, CA in May.

The sponsors for this year’s gathering of student STEM excellence include Presenting Sponsor: PCOM Georgia; Award Sponsor: Broadcom Foundation; Innovation in Action Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim; Strategic Sponsors; Amazon; Jackson EMC; Leading Sponsors: Piedmont Healthcare; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; STEAM Truck; Nordson; Upper Ocumulgee River Organization; Vecima; Engaging Sponsors: Delta Community Credit Union; Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful; Chick-Fil-A Corporate; Supporting Sponsors: GCPS Foundation, GCPSTV, Gas South District; OnSite Services; Bubba’s 33 Buford; Technology Association of Georgia; TopGolf, Bubba’s 33, and Atlanta Gladiators; Scholarship Sponsors: City of Peachtree Corners, American Chemical Society; OldCastle Infrastructure; & Woodward & Curran,.

 

The following 107 schools have students and projects competing this year:

Archer Cluster:

Archer HS

Harbins ES

Lovin ES

 

Berkmar Cluster:

Berkmar HS

Berkmar MS

Sweetwater MS

Berkmar MS

Hopkins ES

Corley ES

Bethesda ES

 

Brookwood Cluster:

Brookwood HS

Crews MS

Craig ES

Gwin Oaks ES

 

Central Gwinnett Cluster:

Central Gwinnett HS

Jenkins ES

Simonton ES

Winn Holt ES

 

Collins Hill Cluster:

Collins Hill HS

Creekland MS

McKendree ES

Taylor ES

Walnut Grove ES

Rock Springs ES

Sycamore ES

White Oak ES

 

Dacula Cluster:

Dacula MS

Mulberry ES

Dacula ES

 

Discovery Cluster:

Discovery HS

Alford ES

Baggett ES

Benefield ES

 

Duluth Cluster:

Duluth HS

Coleman MS

Chesney ES

Chattahoochee ES

 

Grayson Cluster:

Couch MS

Bay Creek MS

Pharr ES

Trip ES

Starling ES

Grayson ES

 

Lanier Cluster:

Lanier HS

Lanier MS

Sugar Hill ES

Camp Creek ES

 

Meadowcreek Cluster:

Meadowcreek HS

McClure Health Science HS

Radloff MS

Lilburn ES

Meadowcreek ES

Graves ES

Nesbit ES

Ferguson ES

Rockbridge ES

 

Mill Creek Cluster:

Mill Creek HS

Osborne MS

Duncan Creek ES

Fort Daniel ES

Puckett’s Mill ES

 

Mountain View Cluster:

Twin Rivers MS

Freeman’s Mill ES

Dyer ES

 

Norcross Cluster:

Paul Duke STEM HS

Pinckneyville MS

Summerour MS

Beaver Ridge ES

Baldwin ES

Simpson ES

Stripling ES

Norcross ES

North Metro Academy of Performing Arts

 

North Gwinnett Cluster:

North Gwinnett HS

North Gwinnett MS

Level Creek ES

Roberts ES

Suwanee ES

Riverside ES

 

Parkview Cluster:

Parkview HS

Trickum MS

Arcado ES

Knight ES

 

Peachtree Ridge Cluster:

Peachtree Ridge HS

Hull MS

Northbrook MS

Mason ES

Jackson ES

 

Seckinger Cluster:

Seckinger HS

Jones MS

Ivy Creek ES

Harmony ES

Patrick ES

 

Shiloh Cluster:

Shiloh HS

Shiloh MS

Partee ES

Annistown ES

 

South Gwinnett Cluster:

South Gwinnett HS

Grace Snell MS

Norton ES

Centerville ES

Magill ES

 

GCPS Special Entities:

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology

 

Non-GCPS Schools:

BIA Charter School

City of Knowledge School

Thrive Christian Academy

Wesleyan School

 

For more information about the event or science education in Gwinnett County Public Schools, visit www.gwinnettsciencefair.com or contact Jessica Holden, GCPS Director of Science, at 678-301-7036