Colin Sullivan, a student at Polo Park Middle School, participated in the State Science and Engineering Fair along with his classmate Henry Honeycutt. Both eighth-grade students were selected to compete in the fair, which was held from April 2 to April 4.
Sullivan’s experiment, titled “Explosive Sweets,” earned him the fourth-place award in the chemistry category. The experiment was designed to test the explosive potential of sugar particles under specific conditions, demonstrating how small particles can become explosive.
The State Science and Engineering Fair is organized by the Florida Foundation for Future Scientists, a statewide nonprofit organization that encourages students to pursue STEM careers. The fair provides a platform for students to showcase their experiments and compete at a higher level.
To qualify for the fair, students must design and conduct experiments according to specific protocols, document their results, and present their findings to judges at their school. Winners at the school level then move on to compete at the Palm Beach Regional Science and Engineering Fair, with regional winners representing their schools and county at the statewide event.
Reflecting on his experience at the fair, Sullivan mentioned that the event was well-organized and that participants were supportive and friendly. He enjoyed discussing projects with other students and encouraged future students to participate in such events, as they can lead to positive opportunities.