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Guide to Science Fair and Research

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Science fair — from first idea to ISEF
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Regeneron ISEF
Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge
By the Numbers

Science fair opens real doors.

1,800+
ISEF finalists per year
60+
countries represented
$9M+
in prizes each year
ISEF 2025 finalists
ISEF 2026 — #1 Overall
Gordon E. Moore Award ISEF 2026
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Curated List

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Free Course

From First Idea to ISEF

A free, self-paced course built from my own competition experience. Everything I learned going from first-time competitor to $50,000 winner.

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ISEF Gordon E. Moore Award Medal
01
How to Get Started
Finding your question, picking a category, building your plan
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02
How to Format Your Findings
How to prepare supplementals, logbooks, and design boards
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03
How to Present
Talking to judges, connecting with judges, owning the room
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Module 01

How to Get Started

Videos
1.1
Intro to Science Fairs
How science fairs are structured, what levels exist from regional to ISEF, and exactly what you need to do to qualify and advance at each stage.
1.2
What Makes a "Good" Project
What judges are actually scoring you on, the qualities that separate a winning project from the rest, and how to make your idea stand out.
1.3
Finding Your Research Idea
A simple strategy to spot a real problem and turn it into a research goal.
1.4
Conducting your Research
The different types of research and experiments you can run, how to access labs as a high schooler, and how to execute each type of study.
📄
OPEN PDF
1.5
Cold Email Template
A plug-and-play cold email template for reaching out to researchers, professors, and labs to get mentorship or lab access.
📄
OPEN PDF
1.6
Guide to Science Fair Forms
A walkthrough of every ISEF form you'll need — what they are, when to submit them, and how to avoid the paperwork mistakes that get projects disqualified.
Resources & Links
ISEF Official Rules & Guidelines
The complete Society for Science rulebook. Read before you start — knowing the rules prevents disqualification.
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Science Buddies — Project Ideas
Thousands of project ideas sorted by topic and difficulty. Best starting point for choosing a subject area.
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Google Scholar — Find Research Gaps
Search your topic, read the latest papers, and spot what hasn't been studied yet. That gap is your project.
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ISEF — Find a Local Fair
Search for an ISEF-affiliated fair near you. This is your entry point — you qualify for ISEF by winning at a local or regional fair first.
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Module 03

How to Present

Videos
3.1
Planning out your Interviews
How to structure your presentation to grab a judge's attention from the first sentence — your opening, board walkthrough, and closing pitch.
3.2
Nailing the Interview
How to handle tough judge questions with confidence, recover when you don't know something, and the pro tips that leave every judge impressed.
Resources & Links
How ISEF Judges Score Projects
Official grand award judging criteria: creative ability, scientific thought, thoroughness, skill, clarity. Know the rubric before you present.
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Interested? Let's connect.

Chanyoung Kim
Chanyoung Kim
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Chanyoung Kim
Chanyoung Kim (김찬영)
Mentor · STEMiq
Record
Regeneron ISEF — Gordon E. Moore Award, $50,000
Regeneron ISEF — 1st Place Grand Award, Biomedical Engineering
TXSEF — Best of State Honorable Mention
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Opportunities

Programs, Competitions & Scholarships

A curated list of the most impactful summer programs, competitions, and scholarships for high school students ranked by prestige and selectivity into Tier 1, 2, and 3 (With Direct Links). Click the category below to explore.

Summer Programs
Research programs, internships, and academic camps ranked Tier 1 → 3 by selectivity.
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Competitions
Science fairs, olympiads, academic bowls, and essay contests ranked Tier 1 → 3.
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Scholarships
From full-ride elite programs to STEM portables and Texas-specific awards.
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Find Your Research Direction

Select your interest and experience level, and our specialized tool generates research ideas for you.

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Experience level
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