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STEM Competitions

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��“Research is creating new knowledge.”��-Neil Armstrong��

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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

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Science Fair (2023)

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International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

  • URL: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/
  • Location: 2027 – Los Angeles, CA
  • Dates: May 8-14, 2027

  • Eligibility: Student must be selected by an ISEF-affiliated fair with a project (12 months of continuous research). Team projects must have no more than three members. Find an Affiliated Fair

  • Prizes:
    • The George D. Yancopoulos Innovator: $75,000 top award
    • Young Scientist Awards*: $50,000 awards to two Best in Category

    • ISEF Grand Awards - in each of the 22 ISEF categories, as follows:
  • 1st Award:  $3,000 cash award 2nd Award: $1,500 cash award
  • 3rd Award:  $1,000 cash award 4th Award:$500 cash award

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2025 Highlights

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Local ISEF Affiliated Fairs

Central Sound Regional Science and Engineering Fair (virtual*)

  • URL: https://centralsoundfair.org/
  • Dates: March 7, 2027
  • Eligibility: Grades 9th – 12th, (King & Snohomish Counties) 

Discovery Regional Science and Engineering Fair (TBD)

  • URL: https://www.plu.edu/scifair/
  • Dates: No longer available. Students should apply to WSSEF
  • Registration: Open (K-5th), (6th-8th), and (9th-12th)*
  • Eligibility: (Pierce, Thurston, Mason & Lewis Counties / NEW! Now includes Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallum and Greys Harbor Counties)

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Local ISEF Affiliated Fairs (cont.)

Central Washington State Science and Engineering Fair

  • URL: https://wssef.org/
  • Dates: April 2-3, 2027  
  • Registration: Opens September 1
  • Eligibility: If you live in a county covered by a Regional Fair you must attend the Regional Fair before entering WSSEF.
  • If you live in a county not covered by a Regional Fair you can enter WSSEF directly.

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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

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Science Talent Search (STS)

  • Location: Finals week in DC (all expenses paid).
  • Dates: Open Now!! Applications due November 5th, 2026 at 8PM ET. Finals Week March 11-17, 2027
  • Eligibility: Seniors ONLY with an independent science research project (no team research is eligible).

  • Prizes: Entrants receive digital badges, t-shirts, laptop stickers, and a free subscription to Science News magazine.
  • Three hundred semifinalists receive $2,000 each and their schools receive $2,000 per semifinalist.
      • 1st Place - $250,000 6th Place - $80,000
    • 2nd Place - $175,000 7th Place - $70,000
    • 3rd Place - $150,000 8th Place - $60,000
    • 4th Place - $100,000. 9th Place - $50,000
    • 5th Place - $90,000 10th Place - $40,000
    • 30 remaining finalists - $25,000

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Science Talent Search

2024 Recap

1st Place Winner (2022) Eastlake High Alumni

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Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)

  • URL: https://jshs.org/
  • Location: Regional, with a National Symposium.
  • Dates: TBD
    • Washington *ISEF Affiliated Fair

  • Eligibility: All students in grades 9-12, enrolled in public, private, or home schools within the area served by the JSHS regional symposium are eligible. Investigations reporting on experimental, field, observational, or applied research are eligible.  

  • Prizes:
    • Students who participate in regional and national symposia receive public recognition and certificates and $500 is awarded to one teacher at each of the 48 regionals, honoring their contribution.
  • For the regional finalists…A collective total of $4,500 in undergraduate scholarships
  • For the national finalists… A collective total of $192,000 in undergraduate scholarships

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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

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NAISEF

  • Location: In-person and Virtual *ISEF Affiliated Fair

  • Dates: Online Registration, November - February. In-person & virtual Fair held in late March/early April

  • Eligibility:
    • American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) students in 5th to 12th grade can participate in one of two divisions:
      • Junior Division: grades 5-8 and Senior Division: grades 9-12
    • MUST be AISES members, project over 12-months

    • Awards:
      • AISES awards cash prizes to the winners of each division. Additionally, the Grand Award winner for the Senior Division receives a chance to participate in the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF).

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Additional Competitions

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STEM Communication

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High School Research Journals

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Thank you

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center