[wdrw]

If it's for 95% if students who aren't interested in being scientists, then it shouldn't be an extracurricular science fair, but a part (maybe a big part) of the regular curriculum in science class. Science fairs are for the science enthusiasts, I think.

[alistairSH]

Yep, this should be mandatory. The "science nerds" can still nerd out on more complex topics, but the "normies" should be required to prove a basic level of scientific literacy.