Rochester Students Showcase STEM Innovations at Local Fair

Annual event allows students to explore their own research interests beyond the classroom curriculum.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Rochester Public Schools hosted its annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fair, giving students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to pursue their own research interests and present innovative projects. The fair featured a wide range of student-led experiments and investigations, from analyzing the effects of color on different age groups to developing natural water filtration systems.

Why it matters

The STEM fair provides a valuable platform for students to apply their classroom learning to real-world problems, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a passion for scientific exploration. By encouraging students to dive into fields they're genuinely interested in, the event aims to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders and problem-solvers.

The details

Students worked individually or in teams to choose a topic or question that piqued their curiosity, then created projects or experiments to share with their peers. Examples included an investigation into the use of artificial intelligence and a natural water filtration system made from common materials like a plastic bottle, cloth, rocks, and sand.

  • The STEM fair was held on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The players

James Kappes

The Youth Enrichment Coordinator for Rochester Public Schools and the director of the STEM fair.

Seth Yeates

A student at Dakota Middle School who teamed up with Tyler Risser on a natural water filtration project.

Tyler Risser

A student at Dakota Middle School who collaborated with Seth Yeates on a natural water filtration project.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Everybody here is motivated by a question that they really want to dive into.”

— James Kappes, Youth Enrichment Coordinator and Fair Director (kttc.com)

“If you were going to make a biofilter in the wild, I'd say just use a plastic bottle, put a cloth on the bottom, just rocks, coarse sand, and then fine sand.”

— Tyler Risser, Student (kttc.com)

“It kind of made me excited [at the idea of a job in STEM].”

— Tyler Risser, Student (kttc.com)

What’s next

The Rochester Public Schools STEM fair is an annual event, and the organizers plan to continue hosting it to provide students with ongoing opportunities to explore their scientific interests.

The takeaway

The STEM fair demonstrates the value of giving students the freedom to pursue their own research questions and apply their classroom learning to real-world challenges. By fostering a love of scientific exploration, the event aims to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.