Science fairs for kids have come a long way from showcasing vinegar and baking soda volcanoes. In keeping pace with evolving trends in STEM, technology, and science innovation, kids joining science fairs today can be challenged to work on projects in robotics, software development, AI, and engineering. And that’s not to cast any shade on vinegar volcanoes!
Kids, parents, and educators who attend science fairs, whether at the State, National, or International levels can be challenged to use their ingenuity to build cool projects, flex their problem solving skills, and boost their creative and critical thinking. A lifetime’s inspiration for scientific thinking can begin with a single spark, and events like science fairs for kids are designed by top educators to light the candle of knowledge for the kids of today who will be the scientists of their generation.
What’s more is that in today’s virtual environment, many science fairs for kids take place virtually, offer digital events, or provide educational opportunities for kids alongside in-person science fairs.
Enroll your child in award-winning live online science camps this summer to get ready for upcoming fairs, including NASA STEM Club, Cosmic Explorers, The Path to Space Careers, and more. Your child might also enjoy free coding classes, designed by Stanford and MIT experts, that build creativity and problem solving skills.
Discover Science Fairs and Contests For Kids To Enter
This list should help you find an event for your classroom if you’re an educator, or an extra challenge for the intrepid scientist kids of any parents who might be interested. We have broken them down for you by age, though keep in mind that some serve a wide range of ages, and some are localized in certain states or countries.
Science Fairs For Elementary School Kids
1. USA Science and Engineering Festival
The festival’s mission is to inspire and promote science, technology, engineering, and math to the nation’s youth by sponsoring events throughout the year in nearly every state. They promote science using material that has a high entertainment value while remaining scientifically sound, and they are driven by the goal to provide these services free of charge or of minimal cost to lower systemic barriers to academic achievement. Events include conferences and interactive exhibits for kids to enjoy.
Dates: Several events throughout the year
Prize: None
2. NY Elementary Science Fair Competition
This in-person Science Fair competition is for students in Suffolk County who have already won their school science fair competition. Students K-5 can compete both as representatives of their school as well as homeschooled students. Homeschool students are eligible if they have won a science fair competition run by an official homeschool organization with more than 10 projects included. Student projects are judged on originality of design, scientific rigor, and creativity.
Dates: All registrations and projects must be submitted after your school science fair, but before the deadline of May 4, 2025. The Science Fair takes place virtually in early November.
Prize: All students win prizes ranging from ribbons to medals. No cash prizes.
3. Fluor Challenge
A hands-on engineering contest that challenges students to complete a fun task (such as shooting an aluminum foil ball as far as possible) using limited resources (such as pencils, paper, paper clips, plastic cups and rubber bands). The contest is open to students K–12; both individuals or teams up to 4 students are welcome.
Dates: The 2025 Engineering Challenge will be announced in January 2025. But all of their past challenges are still available to try for fun!
Prize: Ten teams are drawn at random for $1,000 prizes for their schools.
Science Contests and Fairs For Middle School Kids
Middle school science buffs should check out these science fairs. Some are specific to certain places, but others are open to students anywhere in the world.
4. Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge
Presented by the Society for Science, this is the largest national science competition for middle school students in the United States. To qualify for this competition, students must first present their work at one of many regional science fairs affiliated with the tournament. For finding a regional fair in your area, they have this helpful tool as well as a variety of resources to educate and inspire kids.
Dates: All entries must be received by June 12, 2024 for the competition at the end of October.
Prize: Finalists of a local science fair who are nominated for the competition win $500 and a free trip for themselves and one parent or guardian to Washington D.C. to compete at nationals where there are hundreds of prizes ranging from gift cards to a $25,000 top prize.
5. The California Science & Engineering Fair
This is the final science fair for students throughout the State of California in grades 6 - 12, serving California's future scientists and engineers since 1952. The fair is hosted by the California Science Center. This year there were 857 participants from 344 schools throughout the State who presented 704 projects in competition for awards totaling over $40,000.
Dates: The yearly fair is held in April
Prizes: A total pool of $40,000 divided among top teams.
6. National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair
NAISEF is an annual event for 5th to 12th grade students. The NAISEF is an affiliated fair with the Society for Science and the Public (SSP) affiliated science fair and is part of the larger SSP fair network. The NAISEF offers both in person and virtual support for participants and aims to promote educational standards and academic opportunities for students from an indigenous background.
Dates: Proposals are due by March for the competition in May
Prizes: AISES awards prizes to senior and junior division winners. As well as, awards travel and registration stipends for the Senior Division Grand Award winners and their sponsors to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair.
7. The National Science Bee
This is a great competition to help boost students up to grade 8 to boost their science knowledge! Whereas attendance at most national competitions requires success at a pre-qualifying regional event, anyone can register and participate in the National Science Bee, where students compete against their peers in a series of quizzes.
Dates: Registration is open in November.
Prize: Past awards have included $1,500 worth of total prizes.
8. Canada-Wide Science Fair
For students 7-12 in Canada, the weeklong Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is held yearly and it brings together the country’s top young scientists from middle school to college. It’s been held every year since 1962, except 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.
In addition to scientific, social, and cultural activities, finalists compete for medals, cash prizes, and academic scholarships.The 2022 competition will take place virtually, and budding scientists are welcomed to attend online from anywhere in the world.
Dates: In 2025, the CWSF will be in Ottawa in May.
Prize: Different prizes ranging from medals to scholarships. In 2024, a total of $1.3 million in awards, prizes and scholarships was presented to 230 students from coast to coast to coast.
9. eCYBERMISSION
This is a free virtual STEM competition for 6-9th graders. Students compete in small teams to tackle a science or engineering community problem. If your team has a problem you want to solve, the engineering category is best. If your team is trying to answer a community question, then scientific inquiry is best.
Dates: Applications close February 26, 2025.
Prize: U.S. Series EE Savings Bond worth $500 on the purchase date and $1,000 at maturity per student.
Science Fairs For High School Students
These represent some of the most competitive science fairs for youth in the world, as well as some major prizes.
10. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair by the Society for Science is a yearly competition held in the USA, and is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students. Sponsored by major industry leaders in STEM, Regeneron ISEF welcomes teams of top-tier twelfth graders from around the world to compete for nearly $9 million in cash and scholarship prizes.
Dates: The application deadline is in November and the fair is held from May 12 - 18, 2025.
Prize: High school scientists from around the world won nearly $9M in awards, scholarships at Regeneron ISEF 2024, including the top award of $75,000.
11. The Modeling the Future Challenge
While more of a competition than a fair, the Modeling the Future Challenge is a real-world chance for high school students to utilize math-modeling, data-analysis, and risk-management in an exciting challenge! To compete, students design and complete a research project modeling real-world data to analyze risks and provide solutions to companies, governments, or NGOs. This challenge pushes high schoolers to use critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and analytical skills to shape future decisions using their own risk analysis.
Dates: Registration is open from September to November for the following year.
Prize: A variety of prizes totaling $60,000
12. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
The nation’s oldest and most prestigious science competition. Entrants to this competition must conduct an original research project and supplement their applications with recommendation letters and transcripts. 13 alumni have won the Nobel Prize. It is open to any student who is enrolled in or attending their senior year of high school. 40 finalists are selected and receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for in-depth judging.
Dates: Applications for the 2025 competition are open now through November.
Prizes: Over $2 million in awards are given; first-place prize is $250,000.
13. Science Olympiad
The Science Olympiad is a nationwide competition where students participate in a series of individual and team events spanning various scientific disciplines. Events cover topics like biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and earth science, offering students opportunities to engage in hands-on activities and experiments. Teams compete at regional, state, and national levels, fostering teamwork and critical thinking skills.
Dates: The 2025 Rules will be available September 3, 2024.
Prizes: Five outstanding student participants will each get a one-time, non-renewable $10,000 college scholarship to the college of their choice.
Enjoy Science Fairs and Contests For Kids
As you can see, there is a huge array of opportunities out there, whether for elementary students looking for their first experience in STEM or for elite high school students who want to gain international recognition and a chance to win a massive cash prize. We hope that this gives you some food for thought, but remember there's a lot of science fairs for kids out there, and you should check some of the opportunities locally in your region, which often have connections or qualifying competitions for larger, international and national competitions.
Enroll your child in live online science camps this summer to get inspiration, expert guidance, build skills, and prepare for upcoming fairs. Explore even more cool STEM competitions to enter.
Written by Bryan Gordon, a Create & Learn instructor. After ten years of working as an English teacher, Bryan began studying Math and Computer Science over the past few years. Aside from writing and teaching, he likes cooking, gardening, playing guitar, and hanging out with his cats, Baguette and Wally.
