Calling all future scientists, engineers, and mathematicians!

The annual Monterey County Science & Engineering Fair showcases Middle School and High School students in Monterey County who will become future scientists, technology experts, engineers, and mathematicians. This competition celebrates achievement by students in grades 6 - 12, who are supported by their parents, teachers, and schools to develop scientific practices.

Science Fair Judge Registration

Through the annual Fair competition, hundreds of the county's students are challenged to go beyond their classroom studies to do independent project-based research. They work independently or in teams to address questions in the fields of Computer Science, Environmental Science, Medicine & Health, Chemistry, Biology, and a half dozen other categories.

The 2022-23 Monterey County Science & Engineering Fair will be hybrid this year.  Projects will be judged virtually, as was the 2021-22 Fair, which was highly successful. Students will be uploading their electronic science notebooks, images, video presentation, etc. for asynchronous judging. Top projects in each category will be invited to the showcase and final judging March 25th. Eligible projects will have the opportunity to compete at the the State Science and Engineering Fair and International Science and Engineering.

The Monterey County Science & Engineering Fair is a collaborative effort that is sponsored by the Monterey County Office of Education, the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation, California State University Monterey Bay, and many community partners. It is affiliated with the Society for Science & the Public and selects projects which go on to compete and win in other state and national competitions, including the prestigious International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Every student is celebrated and encouraged by the hundreds of other attending students, parents, teachers, mentors, sponsors, judges, and members of the public.

The fair is open to projects in junior (6th - 8th grade) and senior (9th - 12th grade) divisions in multiple areas of study. Fair participants may include public, private, parochial and home-schools in Monterey County.  As of 2023, all sites must hold a judging process to select the top 12 projects for the Monterey County Science & Engineering Fair. Each school site is limited to 12 projects. Teachers will provide a list of eligible projects and students to the county office by February 17th. Selected students may register here: ZFair Registration

Participants will be asked to complete the following:

Create an online folder for judges where you will place your portfolio: 1. notebook, 2. poster (or tri-fold board), and 3. video (e.g., GoogleDrive). This link provides instructions on how to set up the folder and details about the three items you will place in it.

Convert a physical lab notebook into a digital file with this step-by-step guide.

Access the complete Student Guide 

Once you have been selected to represent your school, you may register here: ZFair Registration