The Northwestern Indiana Science and Engineering Fair is embarking on its 59th year.  Valparaiso University is proud to be host for the seventh consecutive year.  Students from Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Jasper, Newton, and Pulaski counties compete in the fair as individuals or in teams. The Regional Fair takes place in late March and is a one-day event complete with lunch for all participants and an awards ceremony.  The top senior division (high school) winners, the senior division team project winner, and the top junior division (middle school) winners will receive trips to the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair taking place on March 31, 2012 at IUPUI in Indianapolis sponsored by the Science Education Foundation of Indiana (SEFI).

In addition, the senior division finalists and their faculty sponsors qualify for all-expenses-paid trips to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).  Sponsored by Intel, the ISEF will be held in Pittsburgh, PA this year from May 13-18, 2012.

What is the Intel ISEF?

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world's largest pre-college science competition. Now in its 63rd year, the Intel ISEF is the world's only science project competition for high school students grades 9-12. Held annually in May, the Intel ISEF offers competition for over $3 million in scholarships, tuition grants, scientific equipment, and scientific trips. The grand prize is a $50,000 college scholarship, and three of these are awarded every year!

The 2012 Intel ISEF is to be held from May 13-18, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This competition will assemble more than 1,500 top science and technology finalists representing 46 U.S. states and 40 global countries, territories, and regions. The event will also attract 1,200 expert judges, Nobel Laureates, leading scientists and researchers, and potential employers, building an attendance of nearly 5,000 enthusiasts to celebrate the recent discoveries of tomorrows youthful leaders.

Who sponsors the Intel ISEF?

Society for Science and the Public, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, has administered the ISEF since its inception in 1950. The corporate world has long been a friend of the ISEF because it recognizes the urgency of promoting achievement in science to students worldwide. In 1998, Intel became the title sponsor of the ISEF and since that time they have heightened the visibility of the fair, and have made the Intel ISEF a world-renowned program with true international flavor and participation. Intel’s sponsorship of the Intel ISEF is part of the Intel® Innovation in Education initiative, in collaboration with educators and government leaders worldwide to help prepare students to succeed in a knowledge-based economy. Other sponsors include Ricoh, Merck Research Laboratories, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company and Science News.

Who participates?

Students who compete in Intel ISEF emerge from a worldwide field of several million science fair participants during the academic year. They move on to compete with more than 65,000 students at more than 500 regional Intel ISEF affiliated science fairs around the world to win the right to attend the Intel ISEF. The affiliated science fair competitions exist in 46 states and the District of Columbia, and over 40 countries, territories, and regions. All Intel ISEF-affiliated science fairs register with Society for Science and the Public and must consist of five participating high schools or 50 students in grades 9-12.

What are the rewards?

More than 600 individual/team awards will be presented at the 63rd Intel ISEF. Each entry is judged at least four times with category awards given in first, second, third and fourth place. Awards are $3,000, $1,500, $1,000 and $500 respectively in each of the 15 project categories. Additional awards worth over $1.5 million include scholarships, summer internships, scientific field trips, and laboratory equipment provided by Intel, Society for Science and the Public, and nearly 70 other corporate, professional, and government sponsors. The top winners of the Intel ISEF receive a $50,000 scholarship.