AS-DOE announces winners of 42nd Annual Island-Wide Science Fair

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Department of Education’s Science/Health Division has announced the winners of the 42nd Annual American Samoa Island-Wide Science Fair, held from March 24-28 at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium. Open to all K-12 of public and private school students, the event continues to serve as a platform for fostering the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.

More than 450 students from public and nonpublic schools participated in the week-long STEAM-focused exhibition, presenting their independent research across various scientific disciplines.

SCIENCE EXPLORERS DAY

A highlight of the event was Science Explorers Day, dedicated to the territory’s youngest scientists from Grades K5, 1, and 2. This year marked a historic milestone, as this day was opened exclusively to the public for the first time in over four decades, with no judging for these young scientists. With a focus on discovery rather than competition, these budding innovators showcased projects in 14 different science fair categories, sharing:

• •        Exciting discoveries
• •        Scientific methods and problem-solving
• •        Challenges, failures, and breakthroughs
• •        Hopes for the future and how the community can support them

This initiative offered parents and the broader community a firsthand look at advancements in science education and the critical role of STEAM learning in preparing future-ready students.

Judging was conducted exclusively for students in grades 3-12. The top ten students from Grades 6, 7, and 8 have been selected as nominees for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovative Challenge (JIC), a competition that encourages young innovators to develop creative solutions to real-world problems through research and experimentation.

The top five winners in the high school division will represent American Samoa at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the world’s largest pre-college science competition, set to take place in Columbus, Ohio, from May 10-16, 2025.

For further inquiries about this initiative, please contact Dr. Joserose Jyothibhavan, Program Director, ASDOE-Division of Curriculum & Instruction, at (684) 699-6516.

BACKGROUND

The program of the Society for Science, Regeneron ISEF brings together approximately 1,800 top STEM students from over 100 countries, regions, and territories to present groundbreaking research and compete for nearly $6 million in prizes. This year marks the 75th anniversary of this prestigious competition

This special initiative was coordinated by the Science/Health Division of ASDOE’s Division of Curriculum and Instruction (DCI) and sponsored by the Department of Education and through the generous support of community and govt sponsors.

(Source: ASG media release)