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Russ Fisher-Ives describes an odd dilemma at the international science fair he has organizing in the form of a trick question.

"We're short on translators in two areas. Guess what one it is?"

Hint: It's not Albanian, Nigerian or Lebanese, even though the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair has finalists coming to Albuquerque from those countries this weekend.

It's not Thai, Chinese or Estonian, either, although kids also are expected from those countries for the weeklong event.

It's Spanish - probably the last language New Mexicans would think to fall short in, and far more surprising than the other most-needed language, Portuguese, Fisher-Ives said.

But then, projects by the kids - who are in grades nine through 12 or equivalent - cover topics like molecular biology, bioengineering, computer science and physics, which could be scary to some potential helpers, he admitted.

"Highly technical terms create fear," Fisher-Ives said, adding that the fear isn't justified.

Also, there are a lot of kids coming in from Spanish-speaking countries, he said.

Pretty much any bilingual helpers over age 18 would be welcome, whether they're technical or not, said Mavel Moreno, who is organizing translators for the event.

"What I tell people is that it's more of a communication facilitator rather than an interpreter," Moreno said. "A lot of people come with English proficiency, but they don't feel completely competent. It's more if the finalist gets really nervous and gets choked up, then the facilitator can help them."

The fair, in its 57th year, will bring 1,200 student finalists from all over the world to compete for about $4 million in scholarships and prizes.

They're coming from 47 countries and 45 states, and competition can be nerve-racking, Moreno said.

So far, 36 finalists have requested translators, although there will undoubtedly be more requests as the fair gets under way, Moreno said.

"We have 28 interpreters but we need many more," Moreno said, adding that the fair needs interpreters in more than just Spanish and Portuguese. "We should have about two times the number of requests to provide full services for these finalists."

That would bring the tally to 72 translators needed, and even that might not be enough.

Interpreters are needed on Wednesday all day, but they can come in for a block of time if that's all they can manage, she said.

"The best would be five per student," Moreno said, noting it will take several interpreters working smaller shifts to fill the gaps.

"We're critically short," she said. "We're not even meeting the one-to-one criteria."

The shifts she's trying to fill are 8 a.m. to noon, noon-4 p.m., 4-8 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight.

"If one of those blocks isn't adequate, they can just send me an e-mail," she added.

Another part of the recruiting problem could be that translators are needed on a weekday, when most people are at work, but Moreno says she's still a bit surprised that there aren't enough Spanish volunteers.

"You would think in New Mexico it would be easier," she said.