FARGO — High school and college students from across the country showed off their skills in science at North Dakota State University on Friday, Aug. 1.

Students focused on topics like artificial intelligence, biomedical subjects and coding in a summer research program.

They started work for the projects months ago and revealed their work to hundreds of family members and faculty.

It’s an opportunity to get hands-on experience alongside faculty and graduate students.

“All those professional trainings, in addition to the research they have done here, create environments for them to do their critical thinking, problem solving, and those experiences can follow them up for their college study or their high school study later, and provide pathways for them to go for success in their future study and career,” said Ying Huang, undergraduate research director at NDSU.

Huang said students came from cities like Pittsburgh and New York City to participate.

Ryan McNamara

Ryan McNamara joined WDAY as a reporter in late 2024. He is a native of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2024.

His time as a Husky included copious amounts of time spent at “The Herb” reporting on Husky hockey, or at Halenbeck Hall calling Husky basketball. He also spent two summers with the Northwoods League’s St. Cloud Rox. Along with his duties in news and sports, Ryan dons a headset for occasional play-by-play broadcasts for North Dakota and Minnesota high school sports.

When he’s away from the station, he’s most likely lifting, finding time to golf, or taking in as much college basketball as possible, in order to complete the elusive perfect March Madness bracket.