Across the US, science fairs are running into financial difficulties as states trim their budgets and private donations dry up, reports The New York Times. "The donations are down dramatically this year," says Jill Malcom, who runs the Mastodon Art and Science Regional Fair in St. Louis. "We are doing whatever it takes to keep the fair going." That fair has seen its budget fall from $250,000 in 2010 to $118,000 for 2011.