This year, we had the joy of organizing the Metro Atlanta Science Fair, held on Thursday, November 13th right here in Stone Mountain. It turned out to be the kind of fall day you hope for when planning an outdoor event — bright skies, cool air, and just enough sunlight shining through the trees to make the whole place feel a little magical.
Projects lined our tree-shaded paths and patio area, creating a walk-through gallery of curiosity and creativity. Students stood proudly beside their boards, ready to present the projects they’d spent weeks researching, testing, revising, and refining. Families from across Metro Atlanta joined us — homeschoolers, microschoolers, Lighthouse students, and STEM-loving kids from several communities — all gathered to celebrate the work of young scientists.
The range of topics this year was incredible. Students explored:
- Phantom limb syndrome
- Emulsification and food chemistry
- Electricity generation through alternative materials
- Animal husbandry and care
- Behavioral science
- Plant growth and soil studies
- Engineering prototypes
- Environmental science
Every project reflected hard work, big thinking, and genuine curiosity.
At the end of the event, judges selected the top two students to advance to Regionals, where they’ll compete for spots at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) — one of the most prestigious youth STEM competitions in the world. We’re so proud of them and excited to support their continued research and improvements as they prepare for the next level.
We also presented several special awards to honor excellence in different areas of scientific inquiry:
- Wangari Maathai Award - for outstanding environmental or life science research
- Benjamin Banneker Award - for exceptional curiosity, observation, and scientific thinking
- Lonnie Johnson Award - for innovation and engineering
- Katherine Johnson Award - for clear data analysis and mathematical reasoning
- Young Scientist Rising Star Award - for a project that shows strong potential, creativity, and emerging scientific skill.
These awards highlight not just the outcomes of the projects, but the spirit behind them — the persistence, creativity, and willingness to ask big questions.
We are deeply grateful to all the families, volunteers, and judges who made this event possible, as well as our community partners who have supported our vision for youth STEM in Atlanta.
And we'll keep you posted on the path to Regionals. Stay tuned.