August/September 2025

• Early August: Establish your school-based IRB. Every school needs to set up their own using the 2025-2026 Local School Institutional Review Board IRB form. The specialist is tailored to project type (medical, behavioral, veterinary). IRB Submission Link

• Science Research Teacher Session (Attendance is required for supplement). 

September 2025

• September: Begin Project Submittal. Begin Project Submission: All ISEF forms and RPs as one complete scan per student submitted electronically, including SRC checklist form.

• Naming convention:  year_lastname_firstname_schoolname_document  (example:  2026_Austin_Debbie_SHS_ResearchPlan).

October 2025

• October 27:  Electronic Project Registration Form link (Google Forms)  reminder sent to all schools. 

November 2025

• November 20: Electronic Student Registration Form sent to teachers (Google Forms).

December 2025

• December 8: Last day for first submission of Research Plans and Forms due to SRC.   

**ALL human, vertebrate, PHBA, or any project that requires special forms MUST be submitted by this date.** 

All ISEF forms and RPs are submitted electronically (in Google Forms) as one complete scan per student.  Scan is in the order of forms 1, 1A,  Research Plan, 1B followed by forms 2-7 as needed.  Naming convention: year_lastname_firstname_schoolname_document  (example:  2026_Austin_Debbie_SHS_ResearchPlan).

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

• December 11: First submission of electronic Student Registration Form due to Research Teachers (Google Form).

• December 18: FINAL due date for ALL RE-SUBMITTED Research Plans and Forms to be approved by Fair Directors.

• December 30: Individual school databases will be e-mailed back to teachers for proofreading and corrections.

January 2026

• January 29: Link sent to teachers for abstract submissions.

• January 28:  CADRE Meeting via MS Teams (6:00 PM)

February 2026

• February 5:  Last day to make any student changes such as title, category, etc.

• February 12:  Last day to upload abstracts in the school Google folder by NOON.  Refer to the link sent on January 15.

• February 12:  Absolute last day to drop students from the program book.  Written notification required.

• February 19-21: Mainland Science and Engineering Fair at Melbourne Square Mall

  • February 19: 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 seven (7) copies of each student abstract and an electronic copy saved in the digital portfolio prior to check-in.  Students will need an additional copy for their poster.  Make sure all protocol paperwork, models, abstracts, and posters are set up).

  • February 20: Placement and Special Award Judging. 

  • February 21: Mainland Science and Engineering Fair Awards Presentation (6:00PM @ TBD - Students and parents should start arriving at 5:30PM).  Projects are to be removed AFTER Awards.

• February 24: SSEF & ISEF paperwork due to Fair Director by noon.  This will be done through Google.  A link we will provide you.

March 2026

• March 5:  Runner-up Run-off competition for ISEF, @ ESF Viera (4:30 PM set-up)

• TBD: Lockheed Martin Science Challenge

• March 11:  State and ISEF Bid Recipients Meeting @ ESF School Board Room (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)

• March 31 - April 3 : State Science and Engineering Fair, Lakeland, FL      

May 2026

• May 10-15: International Science and Engineering Fair, Phoenix, AZ