PROCTORVILLE — It is a chance for high school students to get a head start on learning the kind of scientific research and presentation they’ll be facing in college.

That is one of the major benefits for the upcoming science fair Friday at Fairland High School, as science teacher Ron King sees it. King and colleague, Tim Hayes, are co-sponsors of the local fair.

There will be between 80 to 90 students from grades 9-12 participating in one of 12 categories ranging from engineering to physics to microbiology.

“We started in September,” King said. “We are really doing the scientific method. This seems to be a very good aid to the students.”

At 12:15 Friday the students will meet with the judges for their interview. This year professors from Marshall University and Huntington area professionals such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer personnel will judge the projects. There will be two judges per student. Judging lasts until 3 p.m. Then at 6 p.m. the fair will be opened to the public and awards will be given out.

Those who are the best in their categories will go on to the district science fair at Shawnee State University at March 21. Those winning there will go onto the state competition at Ohio State University on May 9.

King is finding that this year’s participants are taking a multi-disciplinary approach to their projects.

“I think the student are incorporating a lot of other classes into this,” he said. “They are also using their creative ability, their art ability. They are using their skills in researching as they do in English class.”