On Saturday, February 4, 2017, approximately 800 students will participate in the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science and Engineering Fair and the Thomas A. Edison Festival of Light Regional Inventors Fair. Public, private and home-schooled students from Southwest Florida will be competing at the Florida Gulf Coast University Alico Arena for over thirty scholarships from local universities, colleges and other supporters. Approximately 20,000 students from Lee or Charlotte counties competed earlier in local school fairs with the winners advancing to this regional competition. This is a sanctioned event of the Edison Festival of Light (EFOL), showcasing over 400 extraordinary Science Fair projects and about 400 ingenious Inventions. Winners of the science fair will advance for further competition at the state and international level. Judging begins at 9 AM. The Inventors Fair will be open to the public between 1 PM and 4 PM and the Science Fair from 2 PM to 5 PM.
Media representatives are encouraged to contact Jim Helms, at jimbhelms@hotmail.com to make arrangements for access to the Fairs and for an inside look at this major Southwest Florida educational event and celebration.
The Thomas A. Edison Regional Science and Inventor Fairs (TAERSIF) Steering Committee works year-round to organize the Regional event that hosts more than 800 local students. TAERSIF is a sanctioned event of the Edison Festival of Light. The Regional Fair and underwriting for student expenses for the Fairs is possible because of the support from the Fort Myers Kiwanis Club, Lee County and Charlotte County Public Schools, The Edison Festival of Light, Florida Gulf Coast University, Sony Electronics, The Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Hodges University, Florida Southwestern State College, the James and Eleanor Newton Scholarships, The Imaginarium Science Center , The Edison Innovators Association, the Entrepreneurs Society of Naples, the Scientist Society of Southwest Florida, Lee Memorial Health Systems, the Lee County Medical Society and numerous private donors and volunteers.