If you're a passionate and talented STEM-focused student who thrives on project-oriented learning, science fairs are a great way for you to build competence in your area of interest. It helps you gain exposure to the scientific research process, connect with experienced scientists, and learn to apply your theoretical and technical knowledge in actual experimental methods.

Competing in prestigious science fairs is particularly strategic for both skill development and college admissions preparation. At these elite competitions, you’ll meet other top high school researchers from around the world and engage with highly experienced researchers passionate about supporting young scientists. Of course, another major benefit of these competitions is the chance to earn large-scale recognition for your skills — from the prestige of international accolades to the substantial monetary prizes and scholarships awarded. 

Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is one of the most prestigious science fairs with nearly 2,000 participants from around the world each year competing for over $8 million in awards. Qualifying for, and winning at, Regeneron ISEF is intensely competitive, requiring truly impressive research skills. The process  can take over a year of preparation, experimentation, and ultimately participation in competitions. 

In this guide, we’ll review the requirements for eligibility and qualification, the technical details of how to prepare and present your project, and what to expect as an ISEF competitor.

What is ISEF?

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), organized by the Society for Science, is not just your ordinary science competition. It's the grand stage where innovation, creativity, and passion collide. Taking place every May, ISEF stands as the world's largest pre-college science competition, attracting top student researchers from across the globe.

Every year, a large number of students participate in science fairs worldwide, but only approximately 1,800 of the best and brightest earn the honor of competing. With contestants representing as many as 80 countries, regions, and territories, participants’ research projects span an impressive spectrum of 21 fields within science, engineering, and mathematics. 

ISEF is all about collaboration and innovation, and the competition welcomes both individual and team science projects. Teams are composed of two to four high school students. 

Who is eligible for ISEF?

Before getting into the complex details of qualifying, here’s a quick rundown of the basic eligibility criteria:

- Any student in grades 9 through 12 or its equivalent is eligible, provided they have not reached the age of 20 on or before May 1 preceding ISEF.

- Research projects should encompass no more than 12 months of continuous research and must not include research performed more than 18 months in advance of the Regeneron ISEF competition.

- English is the official language of ISEF, so all student project boards and abstracts must be presented in English for evaluation.

- If you choose not to compete individually, be aware that team projects are limited to a maximum of three students. So, if you wish to collaborate, make sure that all team members can be included.

- You must be chosen to attend by the judges of an ISEF-affiliated fair, allowing only the most outstanding projects to advance further in the competition. You can use the Society for Science site to find an affiliated fair near you, where you can sort through the over 400 competitions by your U.S state or country of residence.  

Is ISEF prestigious?

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is a highly prestigious science competition. Regeneron ISEF finalists have completed some of the most impressive research possible for high school students, and projects advancing to this stage typically have professional quality research design and experimentation. 

Earning a spot among the top 100 competitors can really make you stand out and give your college application a massive boost. Winning at ISEF can greatly improve your chances of getting into a top university. Past winners have gotten great admission results and have gone to Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more.

Phases of the fair

As you step into the world of ISEF, it's crucial to understand that this competition comes with its own set of rules and guidelines, and they're not to be taken lightly. While we'll touch on some key aspects here, it's an absolute must to dive into the technicalities of these rules on your own, which you can find here. It's not just about ticking off boxes for procedural compliance; it's also about gaining a profound grasp of the competition and what it specifically entails for you, your project, and your school.

Let’s break down the timeline you’ll follow and the key details to know:

1. Pre-Experimentation Approval

Before you even start your research, you’ll have initial paperwork requirements that must be completed in advance for competition eligibility. This is a multi-step process with many technicalities to keep in mind, so don’t put off these key administrative tasks. 

a. Complete a Research Plan/Project Summary that details the rationale, research question(s), methodology, and risk assessment. You’ll very likely have compiled this essential information if you’ve already designed your project; you’ll just need to convert it to ISEF’s required formatting.

b. Get the green light from an adult sponsor who will fill out a checklist confirming the eligibility, ethics, and safety of your project. However, depending on the nature of your research, your rulebook may look a bit different. 

All competitors will need to complete Approval Form (1B). The first part of this needs to be filled out with your parents, and the second by the affiliated fair you attend. However, if you're working with potentially hazardous biological agents in a Biosafety Lab-2 (BSL-2), you'll need a Qualified Scientist in your corner to provide context confirming the safety of your research: their relevant qualifications and experience, the hazardous materials involved, approval from an ethical review, and confirmation that your work will be supervised. It is important to note that you will  have to be extra careful with administrative tasks. The rulebook isn't one-size-fits-all; it can change based on the level of competition you're entering. Your ISEF-affiliated regional fair might have its own unique rules, thanks to variations in international, federal and state laws. Be sure to delve into the rulebook, especially the regulations specific to your affiliated fairs. If you’re worried that you might not meet the criteria, consider looking over typical reasons for project rejection.

2. Completing Your Research

Remember that your research must take place over no more than a year of continuous experimentation, and is only eligible to submit for up to 1.5 years after it’s been completed. This means that you’ll need to plan well in advance to ensure that you’re fully ready to compete — though there is no need for your research to actually span the course of a year, short-term or rushed projects are unlikely to qualify.

3. Project Preparation

Once your project is complete, confirm your registration in the affiliated fair you’ll be attending. Make sure to check that there are no school requirements regulating fair participation, as occasionally schools hold separate competitions that then selects a subset of students to move on to the local or regional level. Remember, if you’re an international student, you will likely need to qualify from a national-level science fair in your country, so the process may be longer and more rigorous.

Once your attendance is confirmed, review the requirements specific to the affiliated fair, as they may differ from what ISEF expects. Usually, the primary task you’ll complete will be creating a project presentation board detailing the structure of your project design, hypothesis and methods, and a description and discussion of your results.  

4. Getting ready for ISEF

As you might expect after reading the pre-experimentation requirements, there is a similarly detailed set of standards for how projects can be entered and presented. 

The general requirements consist of an Official Abstract, a Quad Chart providing a one-page project summary, and a 2-minute video summarizing your research for a layman audience. Of course, you’ll also be assigned some additional paperwork.

Project presentation requirements slightly vary depending on project type — Science, Engineering, and Math or Computer Science — but overall content requirements can generally be categorized into Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, and References/Acknowledgments. You’ll also need to design a Project Presentation submitted as an online board (take note that ISEF has highly-detailed formatting guidelines) to serve as a visual aid as you present.

For a detailed description of all Project Material Guidelines, you can review ISEF’s comprehensive guide here. 

Program Structure 

For the competition itself, you’ll participate in an intensive Judging Day, lasting four rounds. You can expect to give a 15 minute presentation and answer questions from 20-30 different judges. The following day, the fair will be open to the public — you’ll typically remain at your booth during public hours, but you can use some of your time to check out other projects and connect with fellow competitors. There are two separate award ceremonies: on Day 6 the Special Awards are presented, with the Grand Awards Ceremony falling on the final day of the competition. 

Beyond project judging and public viewings, ISEF offers a unique opportunity for students to explore the host city through tours and activities. It's not all presentations and awards; there are social components that enrich the experience - from student mixers to activities such as hackathons. Throughout the week-long event, various seminars and symposiums cater to the passion of these motivated students and mentors, fostering learning and collaboration rather than solely competition. 

If you’d love to participate but are worried about the cost, there’s no need to worry. A standout feature of ISEF is that qualifying researchers receive an all-expenses-paid trip to this incredible event.  

What are the categories?

ISEF projects are entered into one of 21 categories. The categories are pretty diverse and cover a lot of STEM subjects.

There are multiple subject areas related to computer science, engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics. Here are some interesting categories and subcategories for you to take a look at! 

1. Robotics and Intelligent Machines: This is another multidisciplinary field that draws from multiple branches of engineering and can be applied across many sectors (including, but certainly not limited to healthcare). You can cover everything from the design, construction, operation, to the application of robots. 

Note: The sub-categories are biomechanics, cognitive systems, control theory, machine learning, robot kinematics.

Recent Winning Projects: 

- Developing a Precision Rocket Landing Algorithm Using Convolutional Neural Networks and Model Predictive Control Algorithms.

- Transmission-Line Assessment and Review System (TARS): An AI and Robotics Enabled Drone for the Inspection and Maintenance of High Voltage Transmission Lines.

2. Systems Software: This is core computer science and looks at the development of software and information processes. It deals with methodologies to create and analyze system solutions. Most projects in this category largely make use of algorithms, softwares, and large databases. 

Note: The sub-categories are algorithms, cybersecurity, databases, human/machine interface, languages and operating systems, mobile apps, online learning.

Recent Winning Projects:

- Analyzing the Effect of Mid-Circuit Measurement (MCM) on Spectator Qubits.

- CompaCT: Fractal-Based Heuristic Pixel Segmentation for Enhanced Lossless Compression of High-Color DICOM Medical Images.

3. Computational Biology and Bioinformatics: This is another interdisciplinary area but leaning more closely on computer science, mathematics and statistics. You’ll understand and apply techniques of computer science and mathematics as they relate to biological systems. This includes the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavior, and social systems. A lot of the sub-categories will require using computer simulations to understand various biological phenomena. 

Note: The sub-categories are computational biomodeling, computational epidemiology, computational evolutionary biology, computational neuroscience, computational pharmacology, genomics.

Recent Winning Projects:

- Micro-Changing Short Tandem Repeats: Investigating a Novel Genomic Factor of Polymorphism in 10 Human Cancers

- BIO-PLEX: An Innovative Biocomputational Approach to Decode the Secrets of the 2022 Mpox Resurgence

4. Biomedical Engineering: If you have an interdisciplinary inclination across STEM subjects, then you might enjoy biomedical engineering. It combines principles and knowledge from engineering, biology, medicine, and other related disciplines to develop innovative solutions for healthcare and medical challenges. If you don’t want to be a doctor but are interested in healthcare and medicine then you can apply engineering principles and techniques to develop solutions that improve the quality of healthcare, diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.  

Note: Some of the sub-categories are biomechanics, biomedical devices, biomedical sensors and imaging.

Recent Winning Projects:

- Screening for Multiple Gastrointestinal Cancers With CanDELA: Low-Cost, Automated Gastrointestinal Cancer Detection Utilizing Magnetic Bead miRNA Extraction, Peristaltic Pump-Based Liquid Handling, miRNA Amplification and Fluorescence Spectroscopy With Support Vector Networks.

- Novel Approach to Creating Hyper-Customizable Egg Models for Embryonic Analysis.

5. Engineering Technology - Statics & Dynamics: This is a great fit for you if you are inclined towards various engineering fields. It involves a lot of designing, and the use of computer science and math to solve complex problems. 

Note: Some of the sub-categories are computational mechanics, and aerospace and  aeronautical engineering. 

Recent Winning Projects:

- Design, Construction, and Testing of a Passenger-Capable eVTOL Hexacopter.

- Exploring Stick-Climbing and Grabber-Wheel Hybridization: The Development of an Inchworm Robot with Integrated Skateboard Mechanism.

A full list of winners from ISEF 2023 can be found here.

What can I win at Regeneron ISEF?

Due to the extremely high standards set for participants, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair recognizes and rewards excellence with an array of awards and opportunities. Awards are decided after a rigorous four (or more!) rounds of judging. Here are some essential facts to know about what you could win:

- Multiple avenues for recognition: More than 600 individual and team awards are given each year.

- Category-specific honors: Awards are presented for first, second, third, and fourth place in each of the 21 categories. Cash awards of  $5,000, $1,500, $1,000, and $500 are given for the respective placements.

- Substantial monetary prizes: The highest achiever at Regeneron ISEF claims the prestigious top prize of $75,000, while the next two top winners receive $50,000 each. Other named awards include prizes from $10,000 to $50,000 or funded attendance to international scientific conferences. 

- Special awards: Beyond category awards, additional honors worth approximately $4 million are offered through the Regeneron ISEF Special Awards program, sponsored by government organizations (US Air Force Research Laboratory, the National Security Agency, and the Central Intelligence Agency) and tech organizations (Wolfram Research and Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association). 

- Diverse opportunities: These special awards include a wide range of opportunities, including tuition scholarships and summer internships.

Tips to Help You Qualify: your pathway to success

Participating in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair isn't a direct journey; it's a series of milestones and achievements. Here's how to ensure you can qualify for it:

1. Keep track of timing: In the US, affiliated fairs are typically held between January and March each year. International students should take note that their initial competitions may take place on a different timeline. 

2. Plan well in advance: As slots for ISEF-qualifying projects are very limited, judging standards will be very intensive. You’ll be evaluated by researchers with a Ph.D. or comparable advanced experience in your subject area, so they’ll be expecting an extremely high level of competence.

3. Perform well at preliminary fairs: To enter ISEF, you must advance from an affiliated science fair. These fairs have limited slots -  typically 3-4 each - for students that advance to ISEF, so only the highest-scoring students secure their spot in further stages of the competition. 

4. Check for additional requirements: Some students may have extra steps to qualify, requiring higher performance standards. Though students typically compete in just one affiliated fair, in highly competitive regions, you might need to navigate through multiple stages of competition. If you’re from outside the US, the process often is far more difficult — international students typically need to win a top award at their country's national science fair, rather than a regional competition.

Our Review

Overall, Regeneron ISEF is an unparalleled opportunity to gain massive recognition and awards for your research accomplishments, network with professional researchers, and refine your experimentation skills. As one of the most elite competitions available for high school students, if you’re truly passionate about conducting high-level research in your future, working towards winning at ISEF is a goal worth pursuing. It is critical to keep in mind that even qualifying for ISEF is wildly competitive, which necessarily means that many incredible projects will not make it to this round. If you’re committed to seeking this opportunity, plan and conduct your research well in advance of initial competition rounds, making sure that your research has a significant impact on the field, and works towards meaningful conclusions. 

If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!

Image Source: ISEF Logo