The Rochester Regional STEM Fair follows the rules of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). You can review their complete set of rules here: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/international-rules/rules-and-guidelines/.
Scientific Reveiw Committee (SRC) approval is often necessary for projects that will involve human participants, the use of vertebrate animals, or hazardous materials. Complete the ISEF Rules wizard if you are not sure if your project must undergo an SRC Review before you begin your project: https://ruleswizard.societyforscience.org/.
High School participants must follow all ISEF paperwork guidelines, including submitting a research plan and abstract form. ISEF Forms are available here: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/forms/. In order to be selected to participate in ISEF, high school participants must submit ISEF paperwork on time and, if required, complete SRC review on time.
Middle School participants only need to submit ISEF forms 1, 1A (and research plan), 1B, and abstract form to participate in the Fair. Check with your school building coordinator if your project involves human participants, vertebrate animals, or hazardous materials and processes, to see if you should attend an SRC meeting.
The STEM Fair is an event where students can showcase science and engineering projects. Prior to the event, students find a question or problem that interests them. They build prototypes or conduct experiments, sharing what they learned with their peers. Students may win awards based on quality of their projects and presentations. Top student research can advance to the Minnesota Academy of Science State Science and Engineering (MSEF) and the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
Animal Sciences
Study of animals and animal life, including their structure, function, life history, interactions, classification, and evolution. This category includes all aspects of animals and animal life, animal life cycles, and animal interactions with one another or with their environment.
Behavioral and Social Sciences
The science or study of the thought processes and behavior of humans and other animals in their interactions with the environment studied through observational and experimental methods.
Biology: Cellular, Molecular, Micro
The study of the structure, function, and formation of cells. The study of cellular processes at the molecular level. The study of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and pathogens.
Biomedical and Health Science
The science of diagnosing, treating, or preventing disease and other damage to the body or mind.
Biomedical Engineering and Translational Medical Science
Projects that involve the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes including diagnosis, monitoring and therapy. Projects that aim to improve human health and longevity by translating novel discoveries in the biomedical sciences into effective activities and tools for clinical and public health use.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
The science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter. The study of chemical substances, interactions, and processes relevant to living organisms.
Earth and Environmental Science
Studies of the environment and its effect on organisms/systems, including investigations of biological processes such as growth and life span, as well as studies of Earth systems and their evolution.
Embedded Systems
Studies involving electrical systems in which information is conveyed via signals and waveforms for purposes of enhancing communications, control and/or sensing (i.e. Circuits; Internet of Things; Microcontrollers; Networking and Data Communications; Optics; Sensors; Signal Processing).
Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design
Studies/processes involving the production and/or storage of energy (i.e. Biological Process and Design; Solar Process, Materials, and Design; Energy Storage; Wind and Water Movement; Power Generation; Hydrogen Generation and Storage;
Thermal Generation and Design; Triboelectricity and Electrolysis).
EGSD: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/categories-and-subcategories/energy/
Engineering: Mechanics and Environmental
The application of scientific and mathematical principles to practical ends such as the design, manufacture, and operation of efficient and economical machines and systems. Studies that engineer or develop processes and infrastructure to solve environmental problems in the supply of water, the disposal of waste, or the control of pollution.
Materials Science
The study of the integration of various materials forms in systems, devices, and components that rely on their unique and specific properties. It involves their synthesis and processing in the form of nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanolayered structures, to coatings and laminates, to bulk monolithic, single-/poly-crystalline, glassy, soft/hard solid, composite, and cellular structures. It also involves measurements of various properties and characterization of the structure across length scales, in addition to multi-scale modeling and computations for process-structure and structure-property correlations.
Physics and Astronomy
Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth.
Plant Sciences
Studies of plants and how they live, including structure, physiology, development, and classification. Includes plant cultivation, development, ecology, genetics and plant breeding, pathology, physiology, systematics and evolution.
Robotics and Intelligent Machines
Studies in which the use of machine intelligence is paramount to reducing the reliance on human intervention.
Systems Software, Mathematics, and Bioinformatics
The study or development of software, information processes or methodologies to demonstrate, analyze, or control a process/solution. The study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. The study of techniques of computer science and mathematics as they relate to biological systems.
Technology Enhances the Arts
The use of technology to ignite new concepts, visualization tools and/or media to enhance our enjoyment of the arts.