Barnas Monteith is Chairman of the Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair, Inc. - one of the oldest fairs in the country, inspiring students for over 63 years. As a young student, Barnas was one of the most successful science fair participants in MSSEF history, with 13 first prize and specialty awards, including 2 times as first award Grand Prize winner at the International Science & Engineering Fair. His projects focused on the study of dinosaur and bird evolution using fossilized egghsell microstructures and biochemistry. A graduate of Tufts University, Barnas spent nearly a decade doing paleontology expeditions throughout much of the major vertebrate fossil-bearing beds of North… America. Throughout college and beyond, he did work at Harvard University's Museum of Comparatize Zoology researching the Triassic vertebrates of Arizona and their possible nesting behaviors, and was one of the youngest researchers ever to present a Plenary lecture at the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology. Since that time, he has started several successful technology companies - most recently foraying into semiconductor R&D, specializing in the commercialization of synthetic diamond electronic products, as well as the renewable energy and high efficiency lighting markets. Barnas serves on the MA Department of Education's Math & Science Advisory Council, and was appointed to serve as a member of the inaugural MA Governor's STEM Advisory Council, as Co-Chair of its Public Awareness subcommittee. As a STEM activist, he has served on numerous school task forces, legislative working groups and has also filed his own STEM legislation as a citizen. He has co-authored patents, published a number of scientific articles in the areas of paleobiology and materials science and speaks regularly at STEM education and industry events and conferences throughout the world.