Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair

Who can enter

• Grades: 9-12
• Ages: 14-20
• Citizenship: any

Must qualify through an affiliated regional or state fair first. Direct entry is not possible.

The pathway

Student competes at a local/regional affiliated fair → if selected, advances to state or directly to ISEF. ~1,800 finalists from 49+ countries compete annually.

Key dates

• Note: Set by affiliated regional fairs — typically January–March for regional, with ISEF in May.
• Isef Fair Date: May (annually, location rotates)

Dates shift each cycle — always confirm on the official site.

Required forms

• Form 1A (Student Checklist): Master checklist of all required approvals — must be completed first
• Form 1B (Approval Form): Signed by student, parent, teacher/sponsor — required for all projects
• Form 1C (Research Plan): 500-word research plan submitted BEFORE data collection begins
• Form 4 (Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting): Required if any work was done in a university, hospital, or professional lab
• Form 5A (Human Participants): Required for any study collecting data from human subjects (surveys, experiments, observations)
• Form 5B (Qualified Scientist Form): Required when Form 5A is needed — a qualified scientist must supervise and sign off
• Form 6A (Vertebrate Animals): Required for any study involving vertebrate animals (including fish, birds, reptiles)
• Form 6B (Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents): Required for work with bacteria, mold, viruses, human tissue, recombinant DNA
• Form 7 (Continuation Projects): Required if the project is a continuation of work from a prior year

Format & judging

• Abstract limit: 250 words
• Paper: not required (project board instead)
• Project board required (36 inches wide x 48 inches tall (standard tri-fold))
• Oral defense / interview — Judges interview students at the project board for 7-10 minutes. Students must be able to explain every aspect without looking at the board.
• Max team size: 3
• Judging: 100 points total: Creative Ability (30) + Scientific Thought (30) + Thoroughness (15) + Skill (15) + Clarity (10)

Awards

• Grand Award: $75,000 (Gordon E. Moore Award)
• First Place Per Category: $5,000
• Second Place Per Category: $2,000
• Third Place Per Category: $1,000
• Special Awards: Over $8 million in total prizes from 60+ organizations including NASA, NIH, US Navy

What gets you disqualified

• Data collection began before Form 1A/1B/1C were filed
• BSL-2+ organisms used without institutional biosafety committee approval
• Vertebrate animal work done at home without IACUC-approved adult supervisor
• Human blood, serum, or tissue used without IRB approval
• Project poses safety hazard at the fair (radioactive, explosive, live organisms in open containers)