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FCS Secondary Science Fair Information
FCS Secondary Science Fair Information
Welcome Advisors, Mentors, Teachers, Parents, and Students!
Welcome Advisors, Mentors, Teachers, Parents, and Students!
The purpose of this website is to provide information regarding the annual science fair by level: local, district, regional, state, national, and international. Each year the University of Georgia hosts a state fair for students in grades 6-12. This year the Northwest Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NWRSEF) will be held at Georgia Highlands College, Cartersville Campus on February 3, 2026. The Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF) will be March 26-28, 2026 at the Classic Center in downtown Athens, GA near the University of Georgia. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026 will take place in Phoenix, AZ from May 9-15, 2026.
The purpose of this website is to provide information regarding the annual science fair by level: local, district, regional, state, national, and international. Each year the University of Georgia hosts a state fair for students in grades 6-12. This year the Northwest Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NWRSEF) will be held at Georgia Highlands College, Cartersville Campus on February 3, 2026. The Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF) will be March 26-28, 2026 at the Classic Center in downtown Athens, GA near the University of Georgia. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026 will take place in Phoenix, AZ from May 9-15, 2026.
Progression: Students MUST work with an adult mentor AND file the appropriate paperwork with the school-based science fair coordinator by the schools' deadlines in order to participate in the local school-based science fair where students will be evaluated on their ability to discuss the project effectively during the interview, as well as speak to the projects demonstration of originality, creativity, imagination, discovery, and inventiveness. Schools will approve projects to move onto the NWRSEF. Participation in the NWRSEF may result in an invitation to GSEF. The ISEF competition is by invitation only from the GSEF.
Progression: Students MUST work with an adult mentor AND file the appropriate paperwork with the school-based science fair coordinator by the schools' deadlines in order to participate in the local school-based science fair where students will be evaluated on their ability to discuss the project effectively during the interview, as well as speak to the projects demonstration of originality, creativity, imagination, discovery, and inventiveness. Schools will approve projects to move onto the NWRSEF. Participation in the NWRSEF may result in an invitation to GSEF. The ISEF competition is by invitation only from the GSEF.
For your review ... an evaluation rubric from NWRSEF. This should be very similar to the rubric used at GSEF.
The document to the left outlines timelines and to-do items for FCS and beyond. READ carefully!
The document to the left outlines timelines and to-do items for FCS and beyond. READ carefully!
Qualifying Research: To be eligible for competition in a Regional Fair and GSEF, projects must follow the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research (“ISEF Rules & Guidelines”), including completion of all required research forms and approvals.
Qualifying Research: To be eligible for competition in a Regional Fair and GSEF, projects must follow the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research (“ISEF Rules & Guidelines”), including completion of all required research forms and approvals.
Forms 1, 1A, 1B and a Research Plan are required for all projects.
Forms 1, 1A, 1B and a Research Plan are required for all projects.
Forms 1C through 7 may be required depending on the type and setting of the research.
Forms 1C through 7 may be required depending on the type and setting of the research.
Projects involving any of the following must receive official approval from a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) / Institutional Review Board (IRB) before any experimentation/ survey/data collection begins:
Projects involving any of the following must receive official approval from a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) / Institutional Review Board (IRB) before any experimentation/ survey/data collection begins:
- HUMAN PARTICIPANTS (including surveys)
- VERTEBRATE ANIMALS (including pets)
- POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (including samples swabbed from common surfaces)
It is the responsibility of the student and supporting adults to know the ISEF Rules & Guidelines and evaluate the project to determine which forms and approvals it will require.
It is the responsibility of the student and supporting adults to know the ISEF Rules & Guidelines and evaluate the project to determine which forms and approvals it will require.
Students are advised to consult with the science fair coordinator at their school or Regional Fair to ensure compliance with rules and completion of required forms.
Students are advised to consult with the science fair coordinator at their school or Regional Fair to ensure compliance with rules and completion of required forms.
Please note that your project must obtain proper approval at the school level before the research/project is started.
Please note that your project must obtain proper approval at the school level before the research/project is started.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
*GSEF Note Regarding Team Projects: Students may do their research individually or as part of a team with up to three members. A team project may not be entered as an individual project, or vice versa, at any level of competition. All team members must meet GSEF eligibility. Teams may be represented at GSEF by one or more members; however, judges have the freedom not to consider a team if they have not had the opportunity to meet and interview all members.
GSEF Mission Statement
GSEF Mission Statement
The Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF) is dedicated to encouraging all Georgia’s teachers and school districts to incorporate active science and engineering research into their classrooms. This allows students the opportunity to develop a love for STEM research, and learn to attack and solve these problems within the framework of organized, logical thought, careful research, and a detailed analysis of facts. This fair is a celebration and showcase of their achievements.
ISEF UPDATES for SY25-26
Common Rules/Forms Issues in Georgia: Please be aware of and help teachers/students avoid the Common Rules/Forms Issues in Georgia:
SRC/IRB CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: No Adult Sponsor, parent or other relative of the student, the Qualified Scientist, or the Director Supervisor who oversees the project may serve on the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) or Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviewing that project. This includes approval signatures on Form 1B, Form 4, Form 5A, and Form 6A.
PROJECTS REQUIRING PRIOR APPROVAL: Projects involving human participants (INCLUDING SURVEYS), vertebrate animals, and potentially hazardous biological agents must be approved by SRC/IRB before experimentation/data collection begins. Please be very careful when considering exemptions; many projects that are thought to be exempt from prior approval are not.
CULTURING AT HOME: Potentially hazardous biological agents, even BSL-1 organisms, may not be cultured in a home environment. This includes collection and culture of unknown microorganisms from common household surfaces. Specimens may be collected at home as long as they are immediately transported to a laboratory with the BSL containment determined by the SRC.
***GSEF Registration Fee: The 2026 GSEF registration fee will be $49 per student.
GSEF/ISEF 2025 - Results
Congratulations to the 2023 Georgia Science & Engineering Fair winners!
Congratulations to the 2023 Georgia Science & Engineering Fair winners!
Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Results - 2023
REGENERON ISEF AWARD
Madhav Gulati & Vineeth Sendilraj
Micro-Q: A Low-Cost, Portable Fluorescence Quantification Device
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
UPDATE: 4th Place Overall at ISEF - Way to Go!
SPECIAL AWARDS
American Psychological Association Award
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the U.S. APA’s mission is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve lives.
Richard Jiang, Prajwal Saokar & Sahil Sood
Multi-Step EEG Analysis to Diagnose Neurodegenerative Diseases
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
Association for Women Geoscientists Award
The Association for Women Geoscientists is an international organization devoted to enhancing the quality and level of participation of women in geosciences and to introduce girls and young women to geoscience careers. AWG’s diverse interests and expertise cover the entire spectrum of geoscience disciplines and career paths, providing unexcelled networking and mentoring opportunities.
Madison Malone
Local Water Quality Variations
East Forsyth High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
Georgia Intellectual Property Alliance Young Inventors Award, sponsored by Founders Legal
The winner of the GIPA Young Inventors Award will receive free legal assistance toward obtaining a patent for their research. This award is facilitated by the Georgia Intellectual Property Alliance as part of an initiative to increase awareness and educational resources about IP for all of our talented young inventors and researchers across the state. The award is sponsored by Founders Legal, a corporate and intellectual
property law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Akshaya Poonepalle, Srirag Tatavarti & Shivaek Venkateswaran
Point of Care Biosensor for Coronary Artery Disease via RCA
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
National Geographic Society That's Geography! - Cultivating Empathy for the Earth Award
This award goes to a student who is seeking solutions to the Earth's most pressing challenges, in particular, around oceans, land, wildlife, human history and cultures, and human ingenuity
Ankit Chandra, Siddharth Dhanasekar & Sheil Dharan
WoundAI: A Novel Image Segmentation and Neural Network App
Denmark High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
National Youth Science Camp Award
The National Youth Science Camp is an elite residential science education program that honors and challenges two graduating high school science students from each state and others from around the world.
ALTERNATE: Sheil Dharan
Denmark High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
National Youth Science Camp Award
The National Youth Science Camp is an elite residential science education program that honors and challenges two graduating high school science students from each state and others from around the world.
ALTERNATE: Shivaek Venkateswaran
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
Regeneron Biomedical Science Award
This award goes to an exceptional student scientist who not only demonstrates an impressive command of biomedical science and research but also embodies Regeneron’s core values and behaviors: Lead with science, Take on big ideas, Make it happen, Be great together, and Do what's right.
Akshaya Poonepalle, Srirag Tatavarti & Shivaek Venkateswaran
Point of Care Biosensor for Coronary Artery Disease via RCA
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
Ricoh Sustainable Development Award
Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Ricoh has a long-standing environmental mission and commitment to sustainability, bringing corporate, social and environmental responsibilities into balance.
Manasvi Gupta & Sahana Narayanan
PHOnix: Improvement of a Fluorescent Phosphate Biosensor
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
Sigma Xi, CDC Chapter Public Health Science Award
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society is the international honor society of science and engineering. One of the oldest and largest scientific organizations in the world, Sigma Xi has a distinguished history of service to science and society for more than one hundred and twenty five years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Chapter of Sigma Xi promotes education and careers in public health science and related disciplines.
Richard Jiang, Prajwal Saokar & Sahil Sood
Multi-Step EEG Analysis to Diagnose Neurodegenerative Diseases
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
Stockholm Junior Water Prize Regional Award
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is the most prestigious international award for a water-related science project at the high school level. The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) established the SJWP competition in 1997 to mirror the Stockholm WaterPrize, the world’s most prominent award for outstanding achievements in water-related activities. The international competition is an impressive week-long event that occurs during World Water Week each August or September in Stockholm, Sweden; and, the award is presented by a member of the Royal Family. WEF and its Member Associations have been organizing the U.S. competition for two decades, and are
nationally sponsored by Xylem Inc.
Manasvi Gupta & Sahana Narayanan
PHOnix: Improvement of a Fluorescent Phosphate Biosensor
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
GRAND AWARDS - JUNIOR DIVISION
Junior Division Student Choice Awards
“NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT”
Darshika Domma, Daniel Li & Sai Mulluri
Regeneration the Future
Riverwatch Middle School - FORSYTH COUNTY
GRAND AWARDS - SENIOR DIVISION
Senior Division Best in Category
EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Manasvi Gupta & Sahana Narayanan
PHOnix: Improvement of a Fluorescent Phosphate Biosensor
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
Madhav Gulati & Vineeth Sendilraj
Micro-Q: A Low-Cost, Portable Fluorescence Quantification Device
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
GEORGIA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR SENIOR DIVISION - TOP TEN GRAND AWARD RECIPIENTS
Madhav Gulati & Vineeth Sendilraj
Micro-Q: A Low-Cost, Portable Fluorescence Quantification Device
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
Manasvi Gupta & Sahana Narayanan
PHOnix: Improvement of a Fluorescent Phosphate Biosensor
Lambert High School - FORSYTH COUNTY
HONORS RIBBONS - JUNIOR DIVISION
Darshika Domma - Riverwatch Middle School
Allison Elwood - Little Mill Middle School
Marilla Geist - Little Mill Middle School
Daniel Li - Riverwatch Middle School
Ethan Meeker - Hendricks Middle School
Sai Mulluri - Riverwatch Middle School
Wyatt Zimpel - Hendricks Middle School
HONORS RIBBONS - SENIOR DIVISION
FIRST HONORS
Madhav Gulati - Lambert High School
Manasvi Gupta - Lambert High School
Richard Jiang - Lambert High School
Sahana Narayanan - Lambert High School
Prajwal Saokar - Lambert High School
Vineeth Sendilraj - Lambert High School
Sahil Sood - Lambert High School
Akshaya Poonepalle - Lambert High School
Srirag Tatavarti - Lambert High School
Shivaek Venkateswaran - Lambert High School
THIRD HONORS
Ankit Chandra - Denmark High School
Siddharth Dhanasekar - Denmark High School
Sheil Dharan - Denmark High School
Madison Malone - East Forsyth High School
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