Important Dates (details)
September 30, 2024 – Application Open for 2025 Synopsys Championship
October 30, 2024 – Early SRC pre-approval submission
November 13, 2024 – FINAL deadline for ALL projects that need SRC/IRB Pre-approval
December 1, 2024 – Category Judge Registration Opens
January 10, 2025 – FINAL deadline for ALL applications
March 12-13, 2025 – Synopsys Championship
April 6, 2025 – Synopsys Championship Awards Ceremony
May 10-16, 2025 – Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)
2025 – California Science & Engineering Fair (Date TBD) (CSEF)
CHECK OUT our Spring 2024 Newsletter! This edition covers the history of Santa Clara Valley Science Fair’s transformation, ISEF and more! Read about exciting news regarding science, engineering and scientific breakthroughs!
The Synopsys Science & Technology Championship Awards Ceremony was held on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Heritage Theatre in Campbell, CA. Visit our 2024 Winner Summary page to see all the winners!
Many thanks to our Sponsored Awards Patrons for the 2024 Synopsys Championship. Sponsored Awards sponsors send a small team of judges to interview students and evaluate projects that are relevant to their areas of interest. Students enjoy talking with the judges as much as the awards themselves, which may include cash, tours or tangible items.
All Sponsored Awards are included in the 2024 Winner Summary. If you would like to know more about sponsoring an award, please contact the Sponsored Awards Committee via the Contact page.
If you are a student working with a mentor or headed for a Regulated Research Institution (RRI) to gain valuable experience during the summer months, you may be planning to enter a project in the Synopsys Championship.
Important things to remember:
1. Your mentor or the PI of the lab where you are working should read the ISEF Rules and Guidelines before you begin. Projects may “fail to qualify” if the PI does not understand that ISEF rules are more stringent than those for NIH etc.
2. We accept RRI projects only from students in grades 9-12 with the proviso that they were working legally at the RRI.
3. Certain application forms require dated signatures or institutional documents before experimentation. For a summer project, use the 2024-2025 forms here (pages 31-44):
- Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1)
- Approval Form (1B)
- Student Permission and Hold Harmless Agreement
- plus, if needed:
- Qualified Scientist Form (2)
- Risk Assessment Form (3)
- Human Participants Form (4); Obtain institutional approval forms to document prior review and approval. Without documentation, the experiment must wait for SRC/IRB pre-approval and IRB-approved Human Informed Consent Form.
- Vertebrate Animal Form (5B) (For research at a Regulated Research Institution). Obtain IACUC approval document before experimentation and supervisor signature afterwards.
- Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents…Form (6A)
- Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form (6B)
4. The forms that are required for your specific project may be determined by using the Rules Wizard on the ISEF website.
5. You may present only the work you have done yourself for an individual project.
6. All the students on a team project must be eligible for the Championship; check eligibility here. This means that your lab partner(s) must attend school in Santa Clara County.
7. All high school students will need to have a teacher from their high school sponsor their project. The only exceptions will be when the high school does not have any teachers participating in the Synopsys Championship.
Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmember Dave Cohen of District 4 of the City of San Jose recognized the 65th year of the Santa Clara Science and Engineering Fair Association through a presentation of commendation at the March 5, 2024, San Jose city council meeting. This was a moment of celebration for the students and their accomplishments as well as highlighting the importance of STEM education and encouraging other students to pursue their interests in science, technology, and engineering.
