Regeneron ISEF Awards

Scholarship Sponsored by Society for Science

Here’s a clearer, teacher-friendly version you can share with students. I organized it into a short overview, then the specific eligibility rules and a few practical reminders.

Overview
- To reach the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), students in grades 9–12 (or their international equivalent) must first compete in an ISEF‑affiliated science fair and be selected to advance. Affiliated fairs are allocated a specific number of project slots for ISEF based on participation and high‑school population.
- Every year, tens of millions of students enter science fairs worldwide; roughly 1,800 students earn the chance to compete at ISEF each May for nearly $5 million in prizes across 21 categories.

Eligibility & rules you need to know
1. Slot allocation
- Each ISEF‑affiliated fair may send only the number of projects assigned to it under its affiliation agreement.

2. Who may compete
- Students must be selected by an ISEF‑affiliated fair and meet both:
a. Be in grades 9–12 (or equivalent).
b. Be under 20 years old on May 1 preceding ISEF (i.e., not have reached age 20 on or before that date).

3. Language
- English is the official language of ISEF. Project abstracts and display boards must be in English.

4. One project per student
- A student may enter only one project at ISEF.

5. Research timeframe
- A project may include up to 12 months of continuous research and must not include work performed before January 2021.

6. Team projects
- Teams may have no more than three members. If a team advances to ISEF, it must consist of the same original members who competed at the affiliated fair, and every member must meet ISEF eligibility.

7. Fair participation limits
- Students should compete in only one ISEF‑affiliated fair, except when advancing from an affiliated regional fair to the affiliated state or national fair.

8. Project type expectations
- Projects that are purely demonstrations, literature/library reports, informational displays, or explanatory models are generally not appropriate for ISEF. Original research is expected.

9. Scope of research
- Your project can be part of a larger professional study, but the portion you present must be your own work and clearly distinguished as such.

Subject areas and next steps
- ISEF accepts projects in all science and engineering disciplines; projects compete in one of 21 categories (with subcategories and definitions available from ISEF). Review the category list carefully so you enter the appropriate one.

A few practical teacher tips
- Start early and document everything — dates, procedures, and your role in any larger project.
- Make sure your abstract and board are in clear, correct English.
- If you’re on a team, confirm eligibility and commitment from every member before you compete at the affiliated fair.

If you want, I can turn this into a student handout or checklist for project planning.