Congratulations to the participants in the 2026 Synopsys Championship!

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2026 Synopsys Championship! A special thank you to our sponsors, teachers, judges and amazing volunteers for making the event a success. Stay tuned for the winners’ list!

Stay connected by reading our 2026 Spring Newsletter and following us on Instagram!

The 2026 Synopsys Championship Awards Ceremony is set for March 29th at the Heritage Theater in Campbell.  See the Winner Summary page for a list of students who are invited to the ceremony.

The Awards Ceremony is an ‘Invitation Only’ event for each student. Middle school students are allowed 2 guests and should arrive at 12:40 PM. High school students are allowed 2 guests and should arrive at 3:10 PM. Details can be found here.

If any students have changed their email addresses since applying to the 2026 fair, they should notify fairmanager@science-fair.org at once.

Be sure you bring the following Forms on Monday, March 9th Check-In Day:

• Project abstract (1 copy)
• Compliance-Checklist
• Project Notebook; hard copy, printed, or digital.
• Form 1B
• Signed Assistance Disclosure Form
• Signed Ethics Statement
• Form 3 Risk Assessment Form (if your project requires it)
• Form 1C Regulated Research Institutional / Industrial Setting Form (if your project requires it)
• Form 7 Continuation Projects Form (if your project requires it)
• Form 4 Human Participants Form from your application (if your project requires it)
• Signed Human Informed Consent Forms (if your project requires them) (Fair Check-In Day ONLY) 
• Forms 6A and 6B from your application (if your project requires it)
• DO NOT BRING Forms 1, 1A, 2, 5A, 5B and Research Plan. They are NOT required at Check-In on March 9th.

Visit our Fair Check-In Day, Judging Day and Student Drop-Off and Parking Info pages for more details.

Please upload your project abstract to your Judging Folder by 8:00 PM Feb 27th. Do not wait until the last minute, as technical issues may arise before the deadline. Projects without an abstract will be withdrawn from the Championship.

If applicable, also upload Form 1C (for RRI projects) and Form 7 (for continuation projects). No other forms should be placed in the Judging Folder. ONLY upload a Form 7 if you and your SRC reviewer determined your project is a Continuation of previous work. 

You will have access to revise your abstract until 11:59 PM on March 3. Your Judging Folder should never be empty. If you need to make changes, upload the revised version at the same time you remove the old one. If a judge accesses your folder while it is empty, they may not return.

Please do not use subfolders or shortcuts. Upload PDF documents only and remove any duplicate files in other formats.

Join us for the Speak Your Science: Oral Presentation Workshop on February 26, 2026 (6:30–7:30 p.m., via Zoom). This workshop is part of our student-led pilot program designed for first-time STEM fair participants, this session offers guidance to help newcomers feel confident and prepared. A Zoom link will be provided to you before the Workshop.

Focused specifically on oral presentation skills for Judging Day at the Synopsys Championship, students will learn how to clearly explain their research, structure a concise presentation, highlight key findings, and respond confidently to judges’ questions. Participants will also hear practical advice from experienced student researchers to build the communication skills needed to present with clarity and confidence. The workshop will also feature a speaker panel of successful fair alumni who have won at ISEF; they will share their experiences, offer insights on what sets strong presentations apart, and participate in a live Q&A session with attendees.

Upload your project abstract to your Judging Folder (not your Forms Folder) by 8:00 PM on February 27. Projects without an abstract will be withdrawn from the Championship.

If applicable, also upload Form 1C (for RRI projects) and Form 7 (for continuation projects). No other forms should be placed in the Judging Folder. ONLY upload a Form 7 if you and your SRC reviewer determined your project is a Continuation of previous work.

You will have access to revise your abstract until 11:59 PM on March 3. Your Judging Folder should never be empty. If you need to make changes, upload the revised version at the same time you remove the old one. If a judge accesses your folder while it is empty, they may not return.

Please do not use subfolders or shortcuts. Upload PDF documents only and remove any duplicate files in other formats.

Students now have access to their Judging Folders. Check your email! Contact the Fair Administrators to request access if you can not access the folder via your Project Page; please include your project code. You may use the link on your Project Page and follow the newly posted Step 7 through Step 10 for instructions.  Links were sent to the email address you used when you registered. Deadline to upload your Abstract is February 27 at 8:00pm. Projects without abstracts will be withdrawn. We highly encourage students to upload their Abstracts (interactive PDF here) sooner rather than later.

Science fairs aren’t just about cool projects—they’re about thinking like a scientist. In every strong project, there’s a clear problem or claim, a procedure that tests it, and data that backs it up. A Zoom link will be provided to you before the Webinar. Slide presentation is available here.

We’ll break down how to collect and analyze data so your results actually mean something, not just “it worked” or “it didn’t.” You’ll see how graphs, patterns, and evidence help you prove your claim—or revise it.

We’ll also demystify the abstract: the short summary judges read first. Think of it as the trailer for your project—what you tested, how you tested it, and what you discovered—all in a few powerful sentences.

By the end, you’ll know how to turn your experiment into a clear, convincing science story.

Summit Education hosts virtual summer programs for high-achieving students interested in STEM. In 2026, students have the opportunity to apply to the Summit STEM Fellowship (SSF) and Summit Research Scholars (SRS).

• Summit STEM Fellowship (SSF): SSF empowers the next generation of STEM leaders by helping students explore a wide range of STEM fields and career pathways while building leadership and life skills. The fellowship is a flexible 10–15 hour per week commitment, allowing students to participate alongside other summer activities. 
• Summit Research Scholars (SRS): SRS equips students with the tools to conduct original research, covering essential research methods and technical skills. At the end of the program, students complete a Research Capstone and practice applying their skills to solve real-world problems.

Applications for Summer 2026 programs are now open. Admissions are rolling, and students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To learn more and apply, please visit www.summiteducation.org.

Congratulations to Minghao Zou, from Santa Clara, CA for winning 8th Place. Forty finalists, including six (6) students from California, participated in the finals week competition of Regeneron STS March 6 – 12, 2025. Regeneron STS is the nation’s oldest science and mathematics competition for high school seniors. The competition was in-person this year, culminating ina public Exhibition of projects on March 9th and a formal awards ceremony on March 12th.