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International Science and Engineering Fair

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is an annual science fair in the United States.[1] It is owned and administered by the Society for Science,[2] a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.[3] Each May, more than 1800 students from roughly 75 countries and territories compete in the fair for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prizes, including one $75,000 and two $50,000 college scholarships. All prizes together amount to over $8,000,000.[4] Two major awards ceremonies are the Special Awards Organization Presentation (which now includes the Government Awards Presentations) and the Grand Awards Ceremony. The International Science and Engineering Fair was founded in 1950 by Science Service (now the Society for Science) and was sponsored by Intel from 1997 to 2019.[5][6] Regeneron Pharmaceuticals became the title sponsor for ISEF in 2020,[7] but the event was cancelled that year and replaced with an online version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 ISEF[8] was a fully virtual event while 2022 was held online and in-person in Atlanta, GA,[9] and 2023 was in person in Dallas, TX. The 2024 ISEF was held in person in Los Angeles, CA.[10] The 2025 ISEF will be held in Columbus, OH.[11]

International Science and Engineering Fair

United States

www.societyforscience.org/isef/

(1957): American chemist who won the National Medal of Science in 1983[12]

Richard Zare

(1957): Astronomer and MacArthur Fellow who won the National Medal of Science in 2008[12]

James Gunn

(1959 & 1960): American theoretical and experimental physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2022[13]

John Clauser

(1964): American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015[12]

Paul Modrich

(1972): Atmospheric chemist who won the National Medal of Science in 1999[12]

Susan Solomon

(1975): SUNY Chancellor [14]

Kristina M. Johnson

(1987): Microbiologist[15]

Dianne Newman

(1989): Mitochondrial biologist 2004 MacArthur Fellow

Vamsi Mootha

(2000): CRISPR researcher[16]

Feng Zhang

(2003): Computer Scientist, 2023 MacArthur Fellow[17][18]

Lester Mackey

(2007): United States Congresswoman[19]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

(2013): Inventor[20]

Alex Deans

(2013): Inventor[21]

Eesha Khare

ISEF alumni include:

Animal Sciences

and Social Sciences

Behavioral

Biochemistry

and Health Sciences

Biomedical

Biomedical Engineering

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Chemistry

and Bioinformatics

Computational Biology

and Environmental Sciences

Earth

Embedded Systems

: Sustainable Materials and Design

Energy

: Statics and Dynamics

Engineering Technology

Environmental Engineering

Materials Science

Mathematics

Microbiology

and Astronomy

Physics

Plant Sciences

and Intelligent Machines

Robotics

Systems Software

Enhances the Arts

Technology

Translational

Medical Science

Contestants are selected from regional, district, and state ISEF affiliated fairs. These fairs usually encompass multiple states or entire regions of a country. The regional fair committee is responsible for managing the fair when their city hosts the event.


Individual science projects and team science projects both compete for prizes. Teams are composed of two to as many as four high school students (grades 9–12). In addition to the judging of projects and an open session for the public to view them, there time is set aside for students to experience the host city with tours and activities. A significant component of the program is social, as students interact with each other during mixers and ceremonies. Throughout much of the week, various seminars are also held for students, mentors and teachers.


Projects and judging are divided into 22 subject categories as follows:

Finalist of the Regeneron ISEF

medal award

1950

held United States but an international competition

  blue and   yellow

"Future Forward"

Participate in an affiliated fair and be selected (criteria varies by fair)

ISEF

Gordon E. Moore

George Yancopoulos Innovator Award
Regeneron Young Scientist Award
Regeneron ISEF Best of Category Awards
Regeneron ISEF Grand Awards
Regeneron ISEF Special Awards
Regeneron ISEF Experiential Awards
Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award
Regeneron ISEF Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations
Regeneron ISEF Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation
Regeneron ISEF H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research
Regeneron ISEF Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication

1950

Varies, depending on rank

: $75,000 scholarship, given to the top of the Best of Category Award winners, selected on the basis of innovative research and potential of the project to have an impact in the particular field and the world as a whole.

George Yancopoulos Innovator Award

: $50,000 awards presented by Regeneron and SSP to two Best in Category projects. Previous winners include Henry Lin and Eesha Khare.

Regeneron Young Scientist Awards

The : In recognition of Gordon E. Moore’s continued legacy of honoring the best at the International Science and Engineering Fair, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is providing the $50,000 for the award.

Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations

: all expense trip paid trip to the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar, and attendance to the Nobel Prize ceremonies.

Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award

: A $10,000 award given to the finalist who best demonstrates an innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, recognizing that research and innovation are dependent on the integration of these disciplines, as well as the impact they collectively have on our everyday lives

Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation

: $10,000 is given to the project that represents the best in fundamental research that furthers our understanding of science and/or mathematics and promotes the understanding of natural phenomena without clearly defined applications towards processes or products in mind.

H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research

: A $10,000 award honoring Peggy Scripps who was a science journalist who served as a writer and editor of Science Newsletter for many years. This award is given to the finalist who is best able to communicate their project to the lay public, explaining both the science and its potential impact on society.

Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication

: an all-expense-paid trip enables attendance at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists located in a new city each year.

EU Contest for Young Scientists Award

[25]

When Intel began sponsoring ISEF in 1997, the Grand Awards were replaced with the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards, awarded to the top three projects.[5] In 2010, the top award was renamed for Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore.[24]

The , previously sponsored by Westinghouse and Intel.[49]

Regeneron Science Talent Search

The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, previously known as Broadcom MASTERS ("Math, Applied Science, Technology, & Engineering for Rising Stars").[51]

[50]

The Society for Science also administers two other science competitions:

Official website

ISEF Awards

Society for Science: 100 Years of Impact