Ever wonder “where can I present my science or engineering project?” The list below is a sampling of event possibilities.
Six Washington State Regional Fairs — Click for current fair dates and other info
Washington State Science & Engineering Fair (WSSEF) ~ April 5 & 6, 2024. All students grades 1 – 12 statewide are eligible to participate. There is NO LIMIT to the number of students and projects that can register to present their project. Every student is eligible. You do NOT need to “win” anything to enter register for WSSEF, just attend your regional fair in your area for your grade if one is available. Questions? Registration@wssef.org
National STEM Competition Students grades 6-12 craft a STEM project that tackles a real-world challenge. Choose from one of their 2024 themes listed on the website and use the scientific method or engineering design process. The best projects become Challenge Finalists with the opportunity to advance to the next level by submitting a video in the second round. Up to 200 National Champions will win a trip to the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C., in April 2024.
American Academy of Sciences (AJAS) is a National Honor Society for students who have completed exemplar scientific research projects while attending high school. Each state’s Academy of Science nominates high school students as AJAS delegates. The chosen delegates are then invited to attend the AJAS annual conference, which is held in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting.
BPA Regional Science Bowl The BPA Regional Science Bowl is a fast-paced academic competition that tests student knowledge in all aspects of science: math, geology, chemistry, energy, physics, environmental science and more. The competition is round-robin, double elimination style and lasts all day on the campus of the University of Portland. Middle and high school students from counties in western and central Oregon and Washington State west of the Cascades, southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula are eligible to participate in the BPA Science Bowl. Registration is free. All competitors receive commemorative prizes, and the winners are invited to participate in an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the national competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Regeneron STS is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students. Started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, Regeneron STS recognizes and empowers our nation’s most promising young scientists who are developing ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges. Each year, nearly 2,000 students enter the Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study. Unique among high school competitions, the Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation’s most promising future leaders in STEM.
The U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) was founded in 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to complement the Stockholm Water Prize. The SJWP is the world’s most prestigious award presented to a high school student for a water-research project. The competition is open to all high school students in grades 9-12 who have reached the age of 15 by August 1 of the competition year and have conducted a water-science research project. Students having a water-science project must submit their research paper by April 15, 2024, to be considered for Washington’s SJWP competition. Information on paper submission to the U.S. Stockholm Junior Prize (SJWP) at www.wef.org
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is an annual science competition for middle school students in grades 5 – 8 in the United States. 3M and Discovery Education organizers invite all grade 5 – 8 students to submit a one-to-two-minute video communicating a solution to an everyday problem in their community or the world and the science behind their solution. The entries are evaluated based on creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication effectiveness by a diverse group of judges, including 3M scientists and leaders in education from across the country. The top 10 finalists and four honorable mention recipients are selected from the entries. The top 10 finalists and four honorable mention recipients are selected from the entries1. The grand prize winner receives $25,000, a unique destination trip, and the title of America’s Top Young Scientist.
RISE for the World RISE is a program that finds promising young people and provides them with opportunities that allow them to work together to serve others over their lifetimes. The program starts at ages 15–17 and offers benefits including scholarships, mentorship, access to career development opportunities, funding, and more as Global Winners work toward solving humanity’s most pressing problems.