The Science Fair Mentoring Project (SFMP) and Austin Public Library have been awarded the Library Services and Technology Act grant for $43,063.90.

This grant will allow the SFMP, Austin Public Library and Riverland Community College to partner and offer science fair support to more Austin elementary school students than previously possible. Events associated with this program will be announced soon.

This grant will also allow for the SFMP to hire a Project Expansion Coordinator to assist with completing these efforts and growing the project for future years. Along with the hiring, 40 Wi-Fi hotspots and 20 Chromebooks have been purchased for the Austin Public Library to benefit science fair participants.

The grant will also fund a Mad Science Minnesota demonstration. Mad Science is a leading science enrichment program that delivers “unique, hands-on science experiences for children that are as entertaining as they are educational,” according to www.mn.madscience.org.

The grant process sparked in Austin when Library Director Ann Hokanson noticed an increase in students requesting help with their science fair projects at the Austin Public Library, and she approached the SFMP to partner on the grant.

According to Riverland Community College chemistry professor and SFMP Project Coordinator Catherine Haslag, this is a step in the right direction for the program.

“The whole idea behind this is to reach more students,” Haslag said.

“Together, we felt that this is the best step to move forward,” she added. “We wish that we could help students in all schools, but for now this is what we feel is best.”

The mentoring project started in 2014 in an effort to address the educational and socioeconomic barriers that prevent students from participating in the STEAM Expo. Since that time, the program has assisted 118 students in participating in the STEAM Expo, and 19 of those students have participated for two years.

Amber Sikora, whose daughter previously participated in the SFMP and whose son is going to participate in it this coming year, called the program is very beneficial.

“I feel for my daughter this was more than just a science fair,” she said. “It gave her confidence. She was excited to learn and tell everyone about the project! She was able to clearly explain the project and details on why it went the way it went. I have a son in third grade at Neveln Elementary. He can’t wait to do the science fair in fourth grade. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity they offer through this program.”

This project was made possible in part by funding from the Minnesota Department of Education through a Library Services and Technology Act [LS-00-16-0024-16] grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.