Repulse Bay (Mar 26/03) - The brightest scientific minds from across the region will be converging on Repulse Bay next week.

Tusarvik school is hosting the annual Kivalliq Regional Science Fair from March 31 to April 3.

This marks the first time since 1999 that Repulse has hosted the event.

Local organizers are expecting 34 students from across Kivalliq to attend.

The National Science Fair will be held in Calgary from May 10-18.

The Kivalliq region will be sending two projects to the national fair.

Tusarvik teacher Brent Urie says the fair was pushed back a week to accommodate the schedule of special presenter Scott Bell, and to make up for numerous snow days to befall the school.

"We lost quite a few days for the kids to work on their projects, so we wanted to make sure we gave them time to finish their research and put together the best projects they could," says Urie.

Bell runs a program on educating young people and their communities about astronomy and the solar system.

Urie says Bell employs a number of powerful telescopes in his presentations, as well as an inflatable star dome in which he projects the night sky.

"The idea in bringing this presenter to Repulse is to give the science fair a theme.

"It's also an opportunity for people in the community to come and see things that, maybe, they've never seen before."

Urie says participation by local students has been strong this year.

Tusarvik held its local science fair on March 17, with more than 20 projects being entered by students in Grade 7 to 12.

"I was pleased by the level of participation for our small school, as well as the number of people from the community who came out to support the students.

"It's important for the community to see what the students are up to."

Urie says the excitement is building in Repulse over the science fair.

"The whole idea of something big going on in town always generates a sense of excitement.

"Because we're such a small community, everyone needs to be involved with an undertaking such as this.

"We can't operate in isolation from the hamlet or other community groups.

"The whole community pulls together to make an event such as this a success."