ISEF commended the efforts of regional fairs that went online and explained their decision not to pursue a virtual fair on the ISEF FAQ page:
- “A significant percentage of our affiliate fairs were not able to hold a fair and name finalists. As an event that saw 80 countries, regions and territories represented at last year’s events, the logistical challenges of language, time zone and equity of technology suggests that any process that we could implement would not be experienced equally or justly across the audience to be judged.
- Regeneron ISEF is an experience that goes beyond the boundaries of the judging interview process. It is a cultural and scientific exchange of people and ideas and experiences across 6 days. A virtual judging appointment is not a substitute for this experience and we feel that it would be unfair to characterize it as such.”
