It's been a while...

Well,
After flying the balloon I took the completed project to the regional Science and Engineering Fair here in Albuquerque. After competing there and at state competing, I qualified to go to the International Science and engineering Fair (ISEF) in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is a big event. I mean HUGE. There are almost 1500 projects from 40 different countries. I think the total prize count came to about $3 million. Besides the prizes, the budget is around $4 million. Here is a picture of the hall before the projects were all set-up. The picture shows half of one row, which was only a fraction of the 1500 projects.

This is my project once it was set-up. For the duration of the fair you are locked into a small 5 by 5 foot cell with your project to be questioned, criticized and harassed.


If you think you have seen a lot of people in on place before, imagine 900 judges, 1500 fair participants with a sponsor or tow each and a flood of press members all crammed through the one entry area into the project area.


After the nine hour ordeal that is judging at ISEF, you are rewarded with the largest spectale in awards ceremony known to modern man. I managed to receive a fourth place award in engineering, which, for an international fair, isn't bad.