The SciVenture STEM Fair, organized by local high school students, is returning for its second year on March 14 at The Discovery, with more projects and a keynote speaker. The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and provides STEM-engaged students with an opportunity to share their projects with the community.

“Last year’s fair exceeded our expectations, engaging over 150 visitors and earning positive feedback from both students and professionals,” SciVenture cofounder Vera van der Linden said. “That response made it clear there was real momentum to build on, and we were excited to bring the fair back even stronger this year.”

The fair currently has about 50% more projects signed up this year than last year, up to 39, and will also provide monetary prizes in several categories to winning projects including a people’s choice award. Interested students can register for the fair individually or in teams until the deadline on Feb. 16.

The students have also organized an expo during which local companies, higher education programs and nonprofit organizations can connect with engaged K-12 students.

“Participating in SciVenture is overall a wonderful public opportunity for local organizations to show Reno youth and their families what they’re about,” SciVenture cofounder Dana Schrock said.

Exhibitors and student participants will receive a free SciVenture T-shirt.

SciVenture is also welcoming a keynote speaker this year, Taylor Wilson. Wilson, now a nuclear physicist, won awards at the Western Nevada Regional Science and Engineering Fair several times as a student at the Davidson Academy.

The fair will be held throughout exhibit spaces at The Discovery, which hosted the fair last year, and the University of Nevada, Reno’s Aerospace & Defense Academy has sponsored admission to the museum for this year’s fair from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

SciVenture has received additional support from Northern Nevada Health System, the Davidson Institute, Aha Projects and the University’s College of Science. To celebrate the March 14 date, known as Pi Day, Silver State Pie Co. will be stationed outside The Discovery with pies available for purchase.

Schrock and van der Linden lead a team of seven local high school students who take on various responsibilities in organizing the fair.

“While none of the committee members create their own science projects [the students created that rule to avoid bias for awards at the fair], organizing and executing the fair is still a major responsibility,” Schrock said.

“What makes SciVenture especially unique is that it is built for students, by students,” van der Linden said.