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W e d n e s d ay, F e b r u a ry 18, 2026
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Outside the box At 70, science fair has seen a lot of changes, and a lot of successes
BY RACHEL MIPRO
Contributing writer
Seventy years of scientific exploration have led New Orleans youths to thousands of dollars in prizes, groundbreaking innovations, trips abroad, and in many cases, to their futures. Just ask Britton Sanderford, who today holds more than 80 patents and started a string of companies. Or Dylan Bracey, now in his fourth year at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, who credits his winning fair project with getting him into the school. Now in its 70th year, the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair is gearing up for another round of STEM presentations. Over 300 middle- and high-school students will congregate at Tulane University’s Lavin-Bernick Center for the fair, with project setup to begin Feb. 23.
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The Krewe of Muses parades on Magazine Street in New Orleans Feb. 12 was a high energy event.
The happy sounds and vivid colors of Carnival are giving way to Lent, a season of deprivation and repentance. It’s a good moment to look back on some of the festivities.
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Britton Sanderford, who has more than 80 patents and has started several companies, said, ‘I maybe would have never had a chance to start a company or to be involved in things that I treasure here’ if not for the science fair.
A little history Annette Oertling, board president of the fair, first got involved with the organization in 2006, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Previous board members had scattered after the storm, and local education leaders needed help in forming the group again. Oertling recalled school academics at the time as oriented on getting books back and power on in schools. “Schools were focusing so much on recovery that it was difficult for them to think about extracurricular activities. ... A lot of schools had been totally flooded,” Oertling said. “The whole city was in a state of recovery. And I think that’s the approach we took with the science fair.”
ä See SCIENCE, page 2G
A desire for the control of oil by Russia, China, Venezuela, and the U.S. is made fun of on a float during the Knights of Chaos parade in New Orleans on Feb. 12.
AP PHOTO BY AMY HARRIS
Marchers in the Krewe of Oshun parade Feb 6 in New Orleans combined lovely costumes with a touch of sass.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER
The Knights of Sparta parade in New STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER Orleans Feb. 7 included mule-drawn carts The Knights of Babylon parade rolls in New Orleans Feb. 12. carrying costumed riders.
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ä See CLAWS, page 2G
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