LAKELAND, FL -
Hundreds of middle and high school students put their science, technology, engineering and math skills to the test today for the Polk County Regional Science Fair at St. Paul Lutheran School in Lakeland.
Organizers say about 300 students participated, and their work was judged by more than three dozen local science professionals.
If you think this is your father's science fair, guess again. Today's projects included one on the micro-biology of plants done by a middle schooler. Another involved bacteria fighting nano-technology in bandages for military personnel.
Karen Rex is the co-director of the science fair and says one student has even applied for a patent for his project.
"We have one student that... has built a solar panel, but he's attached it to NOAA software that tracks the satellites tracking the sun, so basically the panels track with the sun and they turn, and if there's inclement weather the solar panel actually inverts, flips upside down," Rex said.
The winners of the Polk County Regional Science Fair will go on to compete at the state level.
