International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Decoded

Established in 1950 by the Society for Science, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) has become a global event that brings together thousands of young scientists from over 80 countries, regions, and territories each year. Known for its high standards, competitive selection process, and commitment to scientific excellence, students must first qualify through affiliated regional or national fairs before earning a spot at the international level. The fair awards nearly $9 million in prizes, scholarships, and internships and is judged by top experts in science and industry. 

Due to its reputation, scale, and commitment to excellence, many high school students feel overwhelmed by the prospect of entering. There are lots of rules, regulations, and timelines to untangle, but that’s where we come in! By providing you with a step-by-step guide, hopefully, we can help ease some of those anxieties and help you get started on your research journey!

Why ISEF Stands Out for High School Students

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is recognized as the largest pre-college STEM competition in the world. Each year, more than 175,000 high school students compete at local, regional, and national fairs for the chance to become ISEF finalists. These finalists represent nearly 400 affiliated science fairs across more than 80 countries, regions, and territories.

What makes ISEF stand apart is its global reach and public impact. Beyond being a competition, it’s a celebration of science and engineering that helps shape the next generation of innovators. Students present projects that often lead to real-world applications, patents, and even startups, showing how early engagement in STEM can transform both individual futures and society as a whole.

Can I Work With a Mentor?

Working with a research mentor is a great way to challenge yourself while also making sure that your research project is the absolute best that it can be. Not only are research mentors able to help you brainstorm and give you feedback, but they can also help you manage the more logistical side of ISEF. After all, there are a lot of rules, regulations, paperwork, and deadlines to keep track of! 

From coming up with research questions and designing experiments to analyzing data and creating an engaging final presentation, an expert research mentor — such as those affiliated with Polygence — can provide students with the support, guidance, and inspiration that they need to complete a professional research project. If you decide to work with a research mentor during ISEF, just remember to disclose that you’ve been working with a mentor on your application. As long as you do, the fact that you’ve worked with a mentor will have no bearing on your application.

Understanding Rules and Regulations

For many students, understanding the ISEF Rules and Guidelines can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in. Rather than read a 45-page document outlining the rules, we’ll help you get started by breaking everything down in this easy-to-follow step-by-step guide. (If you decide to enter ISEF, though, you’ll want to go through the official rulebook, just to be safe). 

1. Student Eligibility

Eligible students must be in grades 9 – 12 and cannot be older than 20 by May 1st of the competition year. Students must compete in affiliated science fairs at a regional and national level in order to qualify. Students who qualify can submit one project, as an individual or as a part of a team (up to 3 members). If students compete as a team, all members must be listed at the initial registration. Group projects cannot become individual projects, and individual projects cannot become group projects throughout the course of the year. Teams of competing students are permitted to live in different geographic regions but can only enter their project in one affiliated science fair. English is the official language of ISEF, and projects must be completed in English. 

• Must be in grades 9-12.

• Cannot be older than 20 by May 1st of the competition year.

• Can only submit one project.

• May compete as an individual or as a part of a team (up to 3 people).

• Group projects must remain group projects, and individual projects must remain individual projects.

• Must qualify through an affiliated science fair.

• Projects must be completed in English. 

2. Adult Sponsors

All projects require an adult sponsor. Sponsors may be a teacher, parent, professor, and/or a professional scientist who is knowledgeable about the student’s area of research and familiar with ISEF rules and regulations. Adult sponsors should have close contact with the student and be able to help identify and mitigate any risks throughout the course of the project. If you decide to work with a research mentor, they could also serve as your adult sponsor. 

3. Project Requirements

Projects must feature original student work, and research must be conducted within 12 months before the qualifying regional fair. Research cannot be more than 18 months old by ISEF. In some cases, students are allowed to continue past research if the new research can be clearly differentiated from the prior year’s work. Plagiarism is absolutely not tolerated; all work must be original or appropriately credited. Artificial intelligence may be used, but it must be properly cited. All presentation materials must be written in the student’s own words. 

• Projects must feature original student work.

• AI may be used, but must be properly cited.

• Research must be conducted within 12 months of the qualifying science fair.

• Students may submit “continuation projects” where they build on past research, as long as their new research can clearly be differentiated and old research is not included in the final presentation.

4. Prohibited and Restricted Research

Research involving human participants requires IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval in order to ensure informed consent and minimal risk. Research involving vertebrate animals requires SRC (Scientific Review Committee) pre-approval to ensure ethical treatment. Use of hazardous materials must follow safety protocols and may require qualified supervision. Similarly, the use of controlled substances must comply with legal and ethical standards. Projects involving microorganisms and biological agents must comply with biosafety levels (BSL1 or BSL2). Use of pathogens requires special permission. 

• Human Participants: requires IRB approval.

• Vertebrate Animals: requires SRC pre-approval.

• Hazardous Materials: must follow appropriate safety protocols.

• Controlled Substances: must comply with legal and ethical standards.

• Microorganisms and Biological Agents: must comply with biosafety levels. 

• Pathogens: requires special permission.

5. Presentation Display Requirements

Presentation displays must not exceed 30" deep by 48" wide by 108" high. Tables will be provided and will not be taller than 36 inches. Presentations can include the space below the table, but storage under the table is not permitted. Nothing can be attached to the back curtain (or leaning up against), including posters. Electrical power supplied to the project is 120 or 220 Volt, AC, single phase, 60 Hz. Demonstrations must be completed within the finalist’s booth space. Use of biological organisms (living, dead, or preserved), sharp objects, food, chemicals, flames, open liquids, and personal identifications (photos or names of participants) are not permitted. 

• Finalists’ booth spaces are 30” deep by 48" wide by 108" high.

• Tables are provided and will not be taller than 36”.

• Nothing can be attached to the back curtain (or leaning up against), including posters.

• Demonstrations must be completed within the designated booth space. 

• Electrical power supplied to the project is 120 or 220 Volt, AC, single phase, 60 Hz. 

• Personal identifications (photos or names of participants) are not permitted. 

• Use of biological organisms (living, dead, or preserved), sharp objects, food, chemicals, flames, and open liquids are not permitted. 

6. Required Forms and Documentation

• Abstract and Certification Form: Required for all projects.

• Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1): Required for all projects.

• Student Checklist (1A): Required for all projects.

• Research Plan/Project Summary: Required for all projects.

• Approval Form (1B): Required for each participant.

• Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form (1C): Must be completed after experimentation by an adult sponsor.

• Qualified Scientist Form (2): May be required for research involving human participants, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, and hazardous substances and devices.

• Risk Assessment Form (3): Recommended for all projects. May be required for projects involving Human Participants, Hazardous Chemicals, Materials or Devices or Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents.

• Human Participants Form (4): Required for all research involving human participants not at a Regulated Research Institution.

• Human Informed Consent Form: Required for human participants. 

• Vertebrate Animal Form (5A): Required for all research involving vertebrate animals.

• Vertebrate Animal Form (5B): Required for all research involving vertebrate animals.

• Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment Form (6A): Required for research involving microorganisms, rDNA, fresh/frozen tissue, blood, blood products and body fluids.

• Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form (6B): Required for research involving fresh/frozen tissue, blood, blood products and body fluids. 

• Continuation/Research Progression Projects Form (7): Required for projects that are a continuation/progression in the same field of study as a previous project.

Judging Criteria

Each project is evaluated in its own category by a panel of expert judges. According to the official ISEF website, judging criteria are guided by the following rubric:

1. Research Question (10 pts)

2. Design and Methodology (15 pts)

3. Execution:   Data Collection, Analysis and Interpretation (20 pts)

4. Creativity & Potential Impact (20 pts)

5. Presentation (35 pts)

6. Poster  (10 pts)

7. Interview (25 pts)

While every project is evaluated against an official rubric, different categories emphasize different skills. For example:

• Engineering projects often highlight design feasibility and public impact.

• Pure science projects emphasize methodology, originality, and theoretical contribution.

Understanding these nuances helps high school students prepare strategically. By tailoring their approach to align with category-specific judging, students can maximize their chances of standing out among the 1,600+ ISEF finalists competing each year.

Awards and Recognition

Every year 1,600 students compete in the ISEF for nearly $9 million in awards and scholarships. There are 22 ISEF categories, and the awards for each category are as follows:

• 1st Place Award: $6,000 cash award

• 2nd Place Award: $2,400 cash award

• 3rd Place Award: $1,200 cash award

• 4th Place Award: $600 cash award

If students compete as a part of a team, each member will split the award money evenly. 

After each category is judged, the 1st place winners will go on to compete for the following prizes:

• George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award of $100,000

• Regeneron Young Scientist Awards (2) of $75,000 each

• The Gordon E. Moore Award of $50,000

• Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation of $10,000

• Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research of $10,000

• Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication of $10,000

• Mary Sue Coleman Award for Life Science Innovation & Impact of $10,000

• Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award (3) All-expense-paid trip to attend the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar

• EU Contest for Young Scientists Award (2) All-expense-paid trip to attend the European Union Contest for Young Scientists

Conclusion: How Polygence Can Help You Succeed

Competing in a science fair, even if you don’t make it all the way to ISEF, is a great learning opportunity for high schoolers. After all, students learn how to think critically, solve problems, and apply the scientific method in real-world scenarios. Students also gain valuable experience in project planning and time management. Overall, science fair participation looks great on college applications!

Excited to get started, but not quite sure where to start? Polygence’s Research Mentorship Program is a great way to prepare for the ISEF. In fact, several Polygence scholars have competed in the Regeneron Science Talent Search — another prestigious science fair hosted by the same organization. For more information about how Polygence helped these students, check out our article: Spotlight on the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search: Key Takeaways and Advice for Future Polygence Scholars. You may also want to take a look at these ISEF competition tips, prepared by Polygence’s co-founder, Janos Perczel.