Um, The distrust is so high here in the US, that for the past few years, you cannot bring your actual project hardware to the regional science fair. Despite my offering to have a team of engineers doing inspections outside the door. No way was it going to happen. I'm a judge for the regionals, so after they make it thru the school and county levels, they face me. 2 out of 10 times I want to see the actual hardware. I'm making a decision on whether to send them onto a scholarship possibility, offer them a college level mentorship, or get them interested to INTEL ISEF or GOOGLE Science Fair.. I want to see the whole project, period. Most of my fellow judges agree with me.
I got told by the fellow who runs the statewide program, that his security advisor told him to assume that practicing Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics Professors, as well as University Senior Technicians, did not have the proper skills to recognize "devices". Man, I'd love to have said "Advisor" to see what we research, and the kids would love the campus sniffer dog... Still a no go...
I'd be happy to see Achmed go to DC on government expense, preferably on budget of his home town government. ... Even if all he did was solder on a larger display, or re-box a clock. Science Education needs the PR boost!
FACE PALM....
Does New Zealand have easy immigration?
Steve