August/September 2026

• Establish your school-based IRB. Every school needs to set up their own using the 2026-2027 Local School Institutional Review Board IRB form. The specialist is tailored to project type (medical, behavioral, veterinary). IRB Submission Link

• August 5th: Science Research Teacher Session at Viera Middle School (Attendance is required for supplement). 

September 2026

• September: Begin Project Submission using the NEW online Google Template based on project type.

October 2026

• October 29:  Electronic Project Registration Form link (Google Forms)  reminder sent to all schools. 

November 2026

• November 19: Electronic Student Registration Form sent to teachers (Google Forms).

• November 19:  Last day for first submission of all Research Plans and Forms due to SRC.   

All ISEF forms and RPs are submitted electronically (in Google Forms) as one complete digital document per student.  

December 2026

• December 8:  Last day to submit chemical approvals to Jeff Higginbotham.

• December 17: First submission of electronic Student Registration Form due by Research Teachers (Google Form).

• December 17: FINAL due date for ALL RE-SUBMITTED Research Plans and Forms to be approved by Fair Directors.

• December 31: Individual school databases will be e-mailed back to teachers for proofreading and corrections.

January 2027

• January 7:  CADRE Meeting via MS Teams (5:30 PM)

• January 21: Link sent to teachers for abstract submissions.

• January 21:  Last day to make any student changes such as title, category, etc.

• January 28:  Last day to upload abstracts in the school Google folder by NOON.  Refer to the link sent on January 21.

• January 28:  Absolute last day to drop students from Fair using the electronic Student Registration Form (link sent November 19). 

February 2027

• February 4-6: Mainland Science and Engineering Fair at Merritt Square Mall

  • February 4: Set up and Student Check in. ALL students must be at their posters until they are released by a member of the Safety Cadre. Need eight (8) copies of each student abstract: one (1) copy for their poster and seven (7) for the Judges Room. Make sure all protocol paperwork, models, abstracts, and posters are set up).

  • February 5: Placement and Special Award Judging. 

  • February 6: Mainland Science and Engineering Fair Awards Presentation (6:00PM @ Merritt Island High School (Tentative) - Students and parents should start arriving at 5:30PM). 

  • February 6:  Projects are to be removed AFTER Awards.

• February 9: SSEF & ISEF paperwork due to Fair Director by noon.  This will be done through Google.  A link we will provide you.

March 2027

• March 9:  Runner-up competition for ISEF, @ ESF Viera (4:30 PM set-up)

• TBD: Lockheed Martin Science Challenge

• March 10:  State and ISEF Bid Recipients Meeting @ ESF School Board Room (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)

• March 30 - April 2: State Science and Engineering Fair, Lakeland, FL      

May 2027

• May 9-14: International Science and Engineering Fair, Los Angeles, CA