FRSEF Affiliated Competitions

Earn your way to these competitions by winning at the FRSEF!

Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

• World’s largest global science competition for high schoolers
  • 1600+ students representing 70+ nations
  • Founded in 1950 as the National Science Fair
  • First international fair was held in Flint in 1958!
  • FRSEF students have won at 10 straight ISEFs!
  • Check out projects from previous ISEFs (including FRSEF students)
• Grades: 9 - 12
• Students qualify through the FRSEF
• See National Geographic’s Science Fair: The Series to learn more about ISEF (includes FRSEF students!)
• Learn More

Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge

• Nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition
  • Top 300 students are named semi-Finalists
  • Top 30 students compete in Washington DC
• Grades: 6 - 8
• Students qualify through the FRSEF
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GENIUS Olympiad

• International high school project competition about environmental issues.
  • Held at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY
• Grades: 9 - 12
• Students can apply to enter on their own in addition to 2 students who qualify through the FRSEF
  • Apply Here
  • Entry Timeline: Winter / Spring
• Learn More

Self-Entered Competitions

Leverage the research you already completed and enter multiple competitions.

National STEM Festival

• Winning students compete at the National STEM Festival in Washington DC
  • FRSEF students have competed previously
• Simple application, use last year's research
• Grades: 7 - 12 (individuals only)
• Entry Timeline: Fall
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Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)

• Oldest pre-collegiate scientific competition.
• Application can be based on previous science research, includes a project report and essays (can also be used for college applications)
• Top 300 students each receive $2,000 with $2,000 also going to their school
• Top 30 students compete in Washington DC – winner receives $250,000, minimum prize is $25,000
  • 2012 winner - FRSEF's Nithin Tumma
• Grade: 12 (individuals only)
• Entry Timeline: Fall
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Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)

• Sponsored by the Department of Defense, free to enter
  • Over $400,000 in scholarships are awarded
• Promotes research and experimentation at the secondary school level and recognizes students for original research achievements.
  • Students present their research in a presentation format (think slides to an audience)
• Use your science fair project and enter it into JSHS!
  • Make a presentation in powerpoint
  • 12 minute presentation to a judging panel
• Mentors available through JSHS
• Students apply directly to the regional competition held at Wayne State University
  • Top projects advance to the national competition.
• Grades: 9 - 12
• Entry Timeline: Winter
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Coolest Projects

• Online and in-person competitions celebrating digital and computing projects of all levels
  • Sponsored by the Raspberry Pi Foundation - projects do not need to be Raspberry Pi based.
• Grades: All age groups are welcome to apply
• Entry Timeline: Winter / Spring
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Congressional App Challenge

• The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is a public effort to encourage kids to learn how to code, through annual district-wide competitions hosted by Members of Congress for their district.
• Grades: 6 - 12 (individuals or teams)
• Entry Timeline: Summer / Fall
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Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP) eCYBERMISSION

• Students work in teams of two to four, led by an adult Team Advisor, to select a problem in their community to investigate with science or solve with engineering.
  • Mini-grants are available from AEOP
  • Includes curriculum that can be used in the classroom
  • Use the same project for eCYBERMISSION and science fair
• Grades: 6 - 9 (team advisors apply for their team)
• Entry Timeline: Fall / Winter
• Learn More