• DRSEF website

• DRSEF guidebook

• ISEF science categories

• Judging criteria

• ISEF rules, forms, and resources

• Judging tips

The Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair (DRSEF) is a non-profit organization that holds an annual science fair for 6th - 12th grade students at public, charter, private and home schools in Texas Education Agency Region 10. DRSEF is affiliated with the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Students begin by entering the fair at their local school, then the top projects at each school advance to district fairs and then the regional fair. Winning projects from DRSEF can then advance to state and international competitions. Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair (DRSEF) covers Texas Education Agency Region 10 and includes all of Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman and Rockwall counties and part of Henderson and Van Zandt counties. Entry fees of $15 per student (not per project) are due by February 17, 2024. Payment is accepted by check or online. A formal invoice may be requested from DRSEF@smu.edu. 

You can sign up for your science fair account on: https://friscotx.stemwizard.com/. If you haven’t registered for an account, click on “Student registration” and complete the information. If you already have an account, you can login. If you have any questions, ask your science fair sponsor. 

Beal Bank awards cash prizes for 1st – 3rd place in each category judged, with 4th place awarded for larger categories. Junior Division prizes of up to $175 are awarded along with Senior Division prizes up to $300. Honorable Mentions are also awarded during Category judging. 1st and 2nd place winners in Senior Division and 1st place and 2nd place winners in Junior Division from Category judging advance to the Texas Science and Engineering Fair. The top ten percent of Junior Division are invited to enter Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, an international science fair for Middle School students. Invitations are issued after the fair. Winners and runners-up from the Grand Prize round in the Senior Division advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, with attendance sponsored by Beal Bank. Students may also be eligible to enter competitions such as Regeneron Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors affiliated with ISEF.  

Projects within DRSEF are separated into 21 categories as defined by the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.  DRSEF combines some of the smaller categories for judging as needed.  Judges are grouped in teams of 2-4 and evaluate projects in their field.  Category judges award 1st through 3rd place in smaller categories, and 1st through 4th in larger categories.  Honorable Mentions are also awarded.  Beal Bank awards cash prizes for 1st – 3rd place in each category judged, with 4th place awarded for larger categories. Junior Division prizes of up to $175 are awarded along with Senior Division prizes up to $300. Honorable Mentions are also awarded during Category judging. DRSEF uses all of the 21 ISEF categories. Smaller categories are combined as needed.  Grand Prize judges evaluate the winning projects from each Category and award Grand Prizes for Life Science and Physical Science. Special Awards judges visit projects within their specialty and award prizes such as cash, vouchers and merchandise.  1st through 4th place winners from Category judging and winners of Special Awards are invited to the Junior or Senior Awards Banquet at Southern Methodist University. 

1st and 2nd place winners in Senior Division and 1st place and 2nd place winners in Junior Division from Category judging advance to the 2023 Texas Science and Engineering Fair. Winners and runners-up from the Grand Prize round in the Senior Division advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, with attendance sponsored by Beal Bank. Students may also be eligible to enter competitions such as Regeneron Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors affiliated with ISEF.

No objects other than boards, binders, laptops/tablets and ISEF paperwork requirements are allowed in the exhibit hall. This means demonstration items are not allowed. The fair will be in person at the Automobile Building at Fair Park. Students will need a physical display board. However, a virtual display board will still be required for judges to preview the projects. Students should use the project board template for their virtual display boards. Learn more on ISEF display and safety regulations