International Science and Engineering Fair

About the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is an annual science event owned and managed by the Society for Science, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. Every May, over 1,800 students from about 75 countries and regions gather to compete for various prizes including scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips, with awards featuring one $75,000 and two $50,000 college scholarships. The total prize pool exceeds $8,000,000. The culmination of the fair includes two major award ceremonies: the Special Awards Ceremony (now including Government Awards) and the Grand Awards Ceremony.

Medals and Participants

Participants are selected through local, state, and international ISEF-affiliated fairs, which often cover broad regions across multiple states or entire countries. Local fair committees are responsible for organizing these events in their respective cities.

The competition features both individual and team scientific projects, with teams consisting of 2 to 4 high school students (grades 9 to 12). Besides project evaluation and public exhibitions, students have opportunities to partake in tours and various activities to experience the host city’s culture. Social interaction is a key component of the program, with students networking during mixers and ceremonies. Workshops are also provided throughout the event for students, mentors, and teachers.

Projects and Judging are categorized into the following 22 scientific disciplines:

  • Animal Sciences
  • Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • Biochemistry
  • Biomedical and Health Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
  • Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Embedded Systems
  • Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design
  • Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Material Science
  • Mathematics
  • Microbiology
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Plant Sciences
  • Robotics and Intelligent Machines
  • System Software
  • Science Enabled by Technology
  • Translational Medical Science

Medals and Honors

  • George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award: This $75,000 scholarship is awarded to the best category winners for innovative research that has the potential to impact a specific field and the world at large.

  • Regeneron Young Scientist Award: Regeneron and SSP award $50,000 to two top-category projects. Past winners include Henry Lin and Eesha Khare.

  • Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Contributions to Future Generations: In honor of Gordon E. Moore’s tradition of recognizing outstanding talent at the International Science and Engineering Fair, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation provides a $50,000 prize for this award.

  • Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award: Covers all expenses for attending the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar and the Nobel Prize ceremonies, funded by a travel agency.

  • Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation: Grants $10,000 to a finalist who best demonstrates innovation in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, highlighting the integration of these disciplines and their collective impact on everyday life.

  • H. Robert Horvitz Basic Research Award: Awarded to the project that best represents the achievements in basic research, furthering our understanding of science and/or mathematics and promoting the comprehension of natural phenomena, with no immediate application to processes or products defined.

  • Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication: A $10,000 award recognizing Peggy Scripps, a science journalist who served as a writer and editor at Science News for many years. This award is given to the finalist who best communicates their project to the public, explaining the science and its potential societal impact.

  • European Union Contest for Young Scientists Award: An annual all-expenses-paid trip allowing participants to attend the EU Contest for Young Scientists held in a new city.

  • ISEF once hosted a “People’s Choice Award” that allowed the public to vote for their favorite projects.

  • Since 2001, MIT Lincoln Laboratory has named asteroids after ISEF winners as part of the Ceres Connection project.

  • Several organizations sponsor “Special Awards” based on their unique criteria, including the National Security Agency, the Computing Society, the IEEE Foundation, and the Association for Patent Trademark Office.

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