SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY Future scientists to compete with research projects

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Some 500 scientist hopefuls will bring their experiments to Slippery Rock University on Saturday as part of the Region IX Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition.
The two top winners of the competition receive $12,000 scholarships to SRU and other awards.
This is the seventh consecutive year the academy has elected to hold its event at SRU.
The program is open to seventh- through 12th-graders who present the results of their junior high and high school science research projects.
Pupils from schools in the following counties will participate: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer.
"The program is usually of interest to students eyeing opportunities in math and science," says Dr. William Sigmund, SRU biology professor and co-ordinator of the on-campus portion of the program.
In addition to the four-year scholarships, presented to the top senior and top junior, the program offers $100 to the top senior and $50 to the top junior, presented by Sigma XI, the SRU chapter of the national scientific research society.
Top presenters in each discipline also earn cash or bond awards from Region IX committee or other program sponsors. SRU's mathematics department also presents $100 awards to the top senior and junior involved in mathematics presentations.
Judges for the event include college faculty, high school teachers, business leaders and medical professionals and college students.
Competitors offer 10-minute oral presentations to discuss the results of their independent research projects and may be asked questions; then each judge independently rates the presentation. First-place winners earn the right to compete at the state competition in May.
Student scientists will assemble for an orientation meeting at 12:45 p.m. in the University Union, and presentations will run throughout the afternoon and be followed by a 6 p.m. awards ceremony and a dinner.