Regulated/Registered Research Institution Use

RRI Project:  Grades 9 to 12 only
The student research or engineering project is conducted under the guidance of…

• Regulated/Registered Research Institution (RRI). (Government regulations for institution’s use of animals in accordance with rules of IACUC or Good Laboratory Practice,(GLP), etc.) —
• Professional research staff at a company or government lab. —
• Professional research scientist or engineer providing advice and guidance. —
• Mentors, other than teachers, who provide substantial guidance, data or sophisticated equipment not available in schools. —

Judges will use Form 1C to determine student’s contribution to the research.

Note: Middle school projects may NOT be conducted in the facilities of a Regulated Research Institution.

The forms that are required for your specific project may be determined by using the Rules Wizard on the ISEF web site.

You may present only the work you have done yourself for an individual project.

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.

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) If you are using a proprietary data set (one that is not publicly available) then your project is considered an RRI.

4) Certain application forms require dated signatures or institutional documents before experimentation. For a summer project, use the forms below.

• 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)
  

Project of the Year Award

$5,000 in the Senior Division, $2,500 in the Junior Division
Senior Division: S0906, Shiloh S. Curtis
Grade 11, Laughing Thunder Academy, Sunnyvale, CA, Santa Clara County
Advisor: Dr. Youssef Ismail from Schmahl Science Workshop, San Jose.
Project: Enabling Situational Awareness: A Hat-Based Hands-Free Haptic
Navigational Aid for the Visually Impaired

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2014 Special Awards

Excellence in Environmental Education Award – For …. One award in each division. Award is $500. Presented by the California Environmental Education Foundation.
Junior Division: J1018, Ananya Karthik, Santa Clara County

Math and Science Teachers Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Computer Science Studies– For achievement in mathematics and software studies. This is a tribute to all mathematics and science teaching professionals. Limited to projects in the Senior Division. Award is $500. Presented anonymously.
Award: S1416, Nitya Mani, Santa Clara County

Raytheon Junior Achievement Award – For those projects which demonstrate the greatest potential with ability of achieving technological breakthroughs in the six areas of computer science, electrical engineering, materials engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and physics. Limited to projects in the Junior Division. Award is $500. Presented by the Raytheon Asian Pacific Association (RAPA) – Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems Company.
Award: J0906, Raghav Ganesh, Santa Clara County
Award: J1315, Holly M. Jackson, Santa ClaraCounty

Science Teachers Award for Excellence in Electronics and Electromagnetics Studies – For achievement in electronics and electromagnetic studies. Limited to projects in the Junior Division. Award is $500. Presented anonymously.
Award: J0906, Raghav Ganesh, Santa Clara County

Silicon Boule Award – For distinctive performance in the physical sciences. This award has been presented annually since 1995 and was originally an end piece of an ultra pure monocrystalline silicon boule. Limited to projects in the Junior Division. Award is a TRW custom designed silicon die for the space program which became an enabling technology for the CAT scan. Presented by Dale L. Hall, Senior Engineer Scientist, retired, TRW Space & Electronics.
Award: S0928, Amulya Vadlakonda, Santa Clara County

SPIE Optics & Photonics Award – For the project best demonstrating scientific research and engineering applications of optical, photonic, imaging, and optoelectronic technologies. One award in each division. In the Senior Division, First Place receives $800, Second Place receives $500. The Junior Division Award is $500. Award includes a one year membership in SPIE, and a certificate. Presented by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.
Senior Division, First Place: S0527, Emily S. Wang, Santa Clara County

UCLA Brain Research Institute Award – For outstanding science projects in all areas of neuroscience from molecules to mind. One award in each division. Award is $500 and a certificate. Presented by the UCLA Brain Research Institute (BRI).
Senior Division: S0422, Pravin Ravishanker, Santa Clara County
Junior Division: J0501, Mythri Ambatipudi, Santa Clara County.

2014 Recognition Awards

Clinical Chemistry Award – For interesting and original projects that impact the future of clinical chemistry. Three awards in each division. Award is $250 in the Senior Division, $150 in the Junior Division. Presented by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Southern California Section.
Senior Division: S0525, Sriram Somasundaram, Santa Clara County.

Plant Cell Biology Award – For scientific achievement in the fields of cell and molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, or technology development that will impact our understanding of plant cell biology. Limited to projects in the Senior Division. Award is $100. Presented by the Center for Plant Cell Biology of the University of California, Riverside.
Award: S0527, Emily S. Wang, Santa Clara County.

Plug In America EV Excellence Award – For the best project demonstrating the benefits of plug-in vehicles or advancing the science of vehicle electrification. Award is $200 in the Senior Division, $100 in the Junior Division. Presented by Plug In America.
Junior Division: J0934, Shaya Zarkesh, Santa Clara County

Society of Petroleum Engineers Superior Technical Achievement Award – For outstanding technical achievement in projects relating to the development of oil and/or gas resources, mechanics, subsurface fluid flow, and production of those or other energy resources through wellbores, or in projects of a technical nature requiring a high degree of independent thinking, which could be applied to the advancement of the field of petroleum engineering research and/or development. First Place is $200; Second Place is $100. Award includes a certificate. Presented by the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
First Place: J0609, Anusha Ghosh, Santa Clara County.

UCLA Brain Research Institute Award – For outstanding science projects in all areas of neuroscience from molecules to mind. Two place awards in each division. First Place award is $100, and Second Place award is $50. Presented by the UCLA Brain Research Institute (BRI).
Senior Division, First Place: S0518, Natalie Ng, Santa Clara County
Senior Division, Second Place: S0521, Swetha Revanur, Santa Clara County

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Category Awards –

Congratulations to the following students who won category awards at the California State Science Fair.  The competition took place April 29, 2014 at the California Science Center at Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

First Place Award Winners

Second Place Award Winners

Third Place Award Winners

Fourth Place Award Winners

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Special & Recognition Awards

Below are links to the forms which financially-sponsored Students and Chaperones need to complete and bring with them when the SCVSEFA-chartered bus departs San Jose for the trip to CSEF on April 29th.  Sponsored students include:

• high school Grand Prize Alternates
• middle school Isabelle Stone Best Biological Science Project Award winners
• middle school Castro Family Best Physical Science Project Award winners

In addition, non-sponsored students travelling in the SCVSEFA-contracted bus must also complete the “RISK” form below.

STUDENT Forms:

• STUDENT Behavior Risk form
• STUDENT Medical Release form

CHAPERONE Forms:

• CHAPERONE Responsibilities
• CHAPERONE Risk Release

PARKING Map and form:

• Map for parking at El Paseo Shopping Center
• Request for overnight parking at El Paseo Shopping Center

How are winners to the California Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF) selected?

Each year, we are allotted a number of spots in the California Science & Engineering Fair. The CSEF allocation is calculated on a 5 year rolling average of the number of projects from our local Championship which won at the state fair level.  For 2021, we were allotted 101 projects at CSEF.

The projects are ranked by the CSEF judging team, and the top 101 projects are notified that they qualify to apply to CSEF.  Note: Category judging results do not determine CSEF judging results. First place category winners are not necessarily eligible to attend. Also, the Synopsys Championship has more first place winners than the slots allotted by CSEF.

We strive to send projects to CSEF representing every category we have at our science fair.  In underrepresented categories, this may mean that we send second and honorable mention projects.  In overrepresented categories (such as software engineering), we pick from among the first place winners using the results of the sponsored awards judging to order the projects.  Because of this, some first place projects may not qualify to attend CSEF.

Of the qualified projects, the top 12 (6 each at middle school and high school) received a cash award in 2021. When CSEF is an in-person fair, these Championship winners are given a paid trip to CSEF in Los Angeles, and reimbursed the Application fee. The remaining qualified projects are not financially sponsored by SCVSEFA.

If you received a CSEF eligibility email or letter at the Awards ceremony indicating that you are a qualified student, go to the CSEF website to register and pay your application fee immediately.

If qualified students do not want to attend, their spots become available to students/projects who are wait-listed alternates according to the Synopsys Championship ranking of scientific merit. Alternates may apply to attend the fair only if a Qualified winner does not apply, thereby making space available.

How are winners to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) selected?

The selection of projects for ISEF is called Grand Prize Judging. The Grand Prize Judges are specifically at the Synopsys Championship to choose the top projects for grades 9 through 12.  They are highly qualified, experienced judges with differing areas of expertise among them.

The top 10 high school projects at the Synopsys Championship are awarded Grand Prize and are given a paid trip to ISEF. In 2020 and 2021, they received a cash award.

How are winners of eligibility to enter the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge selected?

First Place category award winners in middle school from our fair who receive a letter of eligibility at the Awards Ceremony may apply.
See the Society for Science website for this competition.

Participant Ethics

All participants including students, parents, teachers, judges, volunteers and employees are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards.

Student researchers, as well as adults who have a role in their projects,  must follow the Rules and Guidelines for participation in the Synopsys Championship and abide by the ethics statement on Form 1B and the SRC Ethics Statement.

Judges must follow the Conflict of Interest policy stated on the Judges page.

Harassment

The Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair (SCVSEFA) is committed to providing an environment for students, volunteers, and employees free of harassment of any kind. SCVSEFA will not tolerate harassment of students, volunteers, employees or anyone else associated with the Synopsys Championship.

Unacceptable Conduct

Any harassing conduct that interferes with a student’s, a volunteer’s, or an employee’s ability to participate in the Synopsys Championship or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for a student, volunteer, or employee is unacceptable.

Harassment may be verbal, visual, or physical in nature. Specific examples of prohibited harassing conduct include, but are not limited to: slurs, jokes, statements, notes, letters, electronic communication, pictures, drawings, posters, cartoons, gestures, unwelcome physical contact, assault, or persistent, repeated requests for exceptions to Synopsys Championship rules, policies, or guidelines.

Consequences

Students who violate this policy may have their project removed from competition or awards rescinded. Harassment by parents may result in their child’s project being removed from competition or awards rescinded.

Volunteers, including judges, who violate this policy will be asked to leave the Synopsys Championship and will be removed from our list of volunteers. A volunteer Director who is found to have violated this policy will be removed from the Board.

Any employee who, after an investigation, is found to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Reporting Incidents of Harassment

If you feel that you have been harassed or feel you have witnessed harassment, please report the incident to any member of the SCVSEFA Board of Directors.

A subcommittee of the Board of Directors will investigate the complaint and attempt to resolve the issue sensitively, promptly and effectively and, if warranted, take appropriate corrective action. Every effort will be made, to the extent possible, to maintain confidentiality.

Procedure for Filing a Concern/Suggestion

1. Send a signed, written message describing the suggestion or concern to the fair manager or a director of SCVSEFA.
2. If the initial response is not adequate, please request clarification from appropriate subcommittee.
3. If response is still not adequate, please request discussion time at a future SCVSEFA Board of Directors meeting.

Procedure for Board Member Receiving a Concern/Suggestion

1. If you are knowledgeable on the question/issue, please attempt to answer. Please blind copy the appropriate committee members. If you are not knowledgeable, please forward to the appropriate board/committee member to answer.
2. If the issue does not appear to be addressed or resolved, the appropriate subcommittee will review the issue/responses and provide additional information, copying President-elect or designated SCVSEFA Board of Director’s recipient.
3. If the issue is still not resolved and board meeting time is requested, the subcommittee provides history and background and recommended guidance.

The SCVSEFA Board of Directors consists of a working group of professionals and interested community members who volunteer more than 3500 hours collectively each year to support the science fair program.

2023-2024 Board of Directors

Srinivas Rao, President
Praveen Krishna, Secretary
Meena Ram Kasturirangan, Treasurer

Other Board Members:
June Andersen
Heidi Strahm Black
Ann Burrell
Aulena Chaudhuri
Renee Fallon
Antonio Gallo
Moenes Iskarous
Veena Jain
Anjaney Kottapalli
Preeti Lal
Lynn Liebschutz
Sandra Meditch
Colin Ong
Dinakar Panyam
Shanthi Pichai
Larke Reeber
Aparna Sayana
Paul Streit
Laurie Toyama
John Turner
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Xi Zhao-Wilson

2022-2023 Board of Directors

Heidi Black, President
Srinivas Rao, President-Elect
Praveen Krishna, Secretary
Anjaney Kottapalli, Treasurer

June Andersen
Heidi Black
Vanessa Burbach
Ann Burrell
Aulena Chaudhuri
Antonio Gallo
Moenes Iskarous
Veena Jain
Praveen Krishna
Preeti Lal
Lynn Liebschutz
Sandra Meditch
Shanthi Pichai
Srinivas Rao
Larke Reeber
Donna Richardson
Aparna Sayana
John Turner
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Xi Zhao-Wilson

2021-2022 Board of Directors

Sandra Meditch, President
Heidi Black, President-Elect
Praveen Krishna, Secretary
Anjaney Kottapalli, Treasurer

June Andersen
Heidi Black
Vanessa Burbach
Ann Burrell
Aulena Chaudhuri
Antonio Gallo
Moenes Iskarous
Veena Jain
Praveen Krishna
Lynn Liebschutz
Srinivas Rao
Larke Reeber
Donna Richardson
Aparna Sayana
John Turner
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Sandi Yellenberg
Xi Zhao-Wilson

2020-2021 Board of Directors

Sandra Meditch, President
Sudha Raman, President-Elect
Aparna Sayana, Secretary
Anjaney Kottapalli, Treasurer

June Andersen
Heidi Black
Vanessa Burbach
Ann Burrell
Aulena Chaudhuri
Antonio Gallo
Moenes Iskarous
Veena Jain
Lynn Liebschutz
Larke Reeber
Donna Richardson
John Turner
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Xi Zhao-Wilson

2019-2020 Board of Directors

Heidi Black, President
Sandra Meditch, President-Elect
Aparna Sayana, Secretary
Anjaney Kottapalli, Treasurer

June Andersen
Vanessa Burbach
Ann Burrell
Aulena Chaudhuri
Antonio Gallo
Karen Gundy-Burlet
Moenes Iskarous
Veena Jain
Lynn Liebschutz
Sudha Raman
Larke Reeber
John Turner
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Sandi Yellenberg
Xi Zhao-Wilson

2018-2019 Board of Directors

Karen Gundy-Burlet, President
Heidi Strahm Black, President-Elect
Katy Korsmeyer, Treasurer
Sandra Meditch, Secretary

June Andersen
Vanessa Burbach
Ann Burrell
Holly Denton
Moenes Iskarous
Veena Jain
Anjaney Kottapalli
Lynn Liebschutz
Sudha Raman
Larke Reeber
Aparna Sayana
John Turner
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Sandi Yellenberg
Xi Zhao-Wilson

2017-2018 Board of Directors

Katy Korsmeyer, President
Karen Gundy-Burlet, President-Elect
Larke Reeber, Treasurer
Sandra Meditch, Secretary

June Andersen
Heidi Strahm Black
Vanessa Burbach
Ann Burrell
Pat Castro
Jenny Chui
Holly Denton
Kanchan Dilip
Moenes Iskarous
Veena Jain
Uma Kottali
Lynn Liebschutz
Ajay Navaratna
Sudha Raman
Aparna Sayana
Sruba Seshadri
Lynn Shannon
John Turner
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Sandi Yellenberg

2016-2017 Board of Directors

Veena Jain, President
Katy Korsmeyer, President-Elect
Larke Reeber, Treasurer
Sandra Meditch, Secretary

June Andersen
Heidi Strahm Black
Vanessa Burbach
Ann Burrell
Pat Castro
Jenny Chui
Holly Denton
Moenes Iskarous
Kavitha Jayachandran
Bruce Kawanami
Uma Kottali
Susan Lange
Lynn Liebshutz
Ajay Navaratna
Sudha Raman
Aparna Sayana
Sruba Seshadri
Lynn Shannon
John Turner
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Sandi Yellenberg

2015-2016 Board of Directors

2014-2015 Board of Directors

Bruce Kawanami, President
John Turner, President-Elect
Larke Reeber, Treasurer
Vanessa Burbach, Secretary

June Andersen
Ann Burrell
Heidi Strahm Black
Pat Castro
Jenny Chui
Moenes Iskarous
Veena Jain
Kavitha Jayachandran
Uma Kottali
Vinish Lall
Susan Lange
Lynn Liebschutz
Sandra Meditch
Ajay Navaratna
Sudha Raman
Aparna Sayana
Sruba Seshadri
Lynn Shannon
Lydia So
Kerry Veenstra
Forrest Williams
Sandi Yellenberg
Teresa Zarrin

2013-2014 Board of Directors

2012-2013 Board of Directors

2011-2012 Board of Directors

Left to Right:  Sudha Raman, Vanessa Burbach, Julie Karni, Sandi Yellenberg, Veena Jain, Sandra Meditch, Lynn Liebschutz, Heidi Black, Moenes Iskarous, Vinish Lall, Bruce Kawanami, Steven Nelson, Forrest Williams.  

Not Pictured above: Ajay Navaratna,  Pat Castro, Susan Lange, Kerry Veenstra,  Ann Burrell, John Turner, Larke Reeber, Sruba Seshadri, and Kavitha Jayachandran.

2010-2011 Board of Directors

1st Row (left to right):  Ajay Navaratna, Sandi Yellenberg, Pat Castro, Prema Rao, Susan Lange, Heidi Black, Vanessa Burbach.    2nd Row: Lynn Liebschutz, Bruce Kawanami, Forrest Williams, Sandra Meditch, Kerry Veenstra, Steven Wang, Ann Burrell, and  Moenes Iskarous.

Not Pictured above: Vinish Lall, Veena Jain, John Turner, Larke Reeber, Lydia So, Kavitha Jayachandran, and Steven Nelson.

2007-2008 Board of Directors

 

1st Row (left to right):  Jerry Kissinger, Kerry Veenstra, Bruce Kawanami, Susan Lange, Larke Reeber, and Rochan Sankar.  2nd Row: Lynn Liebschutz, Prema Rao, Vanessa Burbach, Susan Oldham-Fritts, Heidi Black, Ann Burrell, Sandy Yellenberg, Veena Jain, John Turner, Sandra Meditch, Moenes Iskarous, and Pat Castro.

 

 

 

Competitions Which Require Participation in the Synopsys Championship

Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Formerly Broadcom MASTERS Competition)

The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) Competition. As a result of this affiliation, all projects in the Junior Division which receive a category award of First Place will be automatically qualified into the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. This is a nationwide competition for students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. From the total entrant pool, the Top 300 semifinalists will be selected, including 40 Finalists who win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will compete for awards and prizes, including the top education award of $25,000. Complete details are available at their website.

CSEF — California Science & Engineering Fair

Top ranked middle and high school projects (grades 6–12) will be invited to attend the California Science & Engineering Fair, based on (1) the quality of the project at the Championship (ranking by judges), and (2) the number of spaces allotted to SCVSEFA by CSEF. We have great news. Our allotment numbers have shown a steady increase based on our recent successes. There will be 101 slots this year! Learn more: csef.usc.edu

Regeneron ISEF — International Science and Engineering Fair

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, provides an annual forum for more than 1800 high school students from over 75 countries, regions, and territories to showcase their independent research as they compete for more than $5 million annually. The Synopsys Championship typically sends 10 projects to this competition. http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/

Competitions Which DO NOT Require Participation in the Synopsys Championship

RISE Program

RISE Program, supported by the Rhodes Trust and Schmidt Futures. The program offers benefits including scholarships, mentorship, access to career development opportunities, funding, and more as Global Winners work toward solving humanity’s most pressing problems. Rise is open to students who will be 15 to 17 years old by July 1, 2024. Students can learn more about the program here. The application closes on January 17, 2024.

BioGENEius Challenge

The At-Large BioGENEius Challenge is a virtual competition available to high school students in the United States. Students in grades 9-12 may enter their life science/biotech-related regional fair projects provided they meet the criteria listed on the National competition website (www.biotechinstitute.org). Please note: There will not be a 2024 Bay Area BioGENEius Challenge.
Applications are due: May 17, 2024

Spellman High Voltage Clean Tech Competition (sponsored by the Center for Science Teaching & Learning)

The  Clean Tech Competition is a research and design challenge for pre-college youth that builds on sound scientific understanding of real-world issues and the integration of science, English/language arts, mathematics, technology, the arts, and the design process to inspire all students toward achievement and make them aware of the impact of science and technology on the 21st century world. Each year, the competition will address a clean technology issue that is grounded in core technological competency areas and focuses on the next great engineering challenges. The competition is designed to foster a deeper understanding of science and technology, recognize outstanding talent, and prepare the next genertion of globally competitive innovators. For more details visit: https://krk.boo.mybluehost.me/home/

DE-YSC — Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge:

Middle school students create a 1-2 minute video describing a new innovation or solution that could solve or impact an everyday problem related to how we live, how we work or how we play. Ten finalists are chosen for their passion for science, spirit of innovation and communication skills
Learn more: https://www.youngscientistlab.com/

MIT THINK Competition

THINK stands for Technology for Humanity guided by Innovation, Networking, and Knowledge. The competition challenges high school students to take a refreshing approach to designing a technological solution to a social problem. Learn more. MIT THINK competition

Regeneron Science Talent Search

A Society for Science & the Public  affiliate,  the Regeneron Science Talent Search is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.  Students are selected based upon their scientific research and also on their overall potential as future leaders of the scientific community.  Regeneron STS

Stockholm Junior Water Prize Competition

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious youth award for a water-related science project. The prize taps into the unlimited potential of today’s high school students as they seek to address current and future water challenges. Any high school student (grade 9-12) with a water-related science project is eligible to participate in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition. Teams of up to three students may enter; however, only one state representative is guaranteed a trip to the national competition to present their team project. Stockholm Junior Water Prize

Category awards (ribbons, monetary awards, or sponsored trips) valued at approximately $60K are awarded to Synopsys Championship winners as described below.  See Award History for previous winners.

• SCVSEFA awards First, Second, and Honorable Mention ribbons based on scientific merit.  Approximately 40% of Championship projects receive scientific category awards. Grand prize winners, Isabelle Stone and Castro Family Award winners, and GP alternates automatically receive a 1st Place Category Award.
• Ten to twelve outstanding projects in the high school division (grades 9–12) win Grand Prize Awards and an all-expense-paid trip to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
• Twelve outstanding projects in the middle school division (grades 6–8) receive the Isabelle Stone Award (biological sciences) or the Castro Family Award (physical sciences) and an all-expense-paid trip to the California Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF) in Los Angeles.
• Selected winners (approximately 10%) in the middle school division (grades 6-8) are eligible to compete in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (formerly Broadcom Masters Competition). This competition culminates with a competition for the 30 finalists in Washington, DC, in October.
• About 100 top projects in the middle school and high school divisions are selected to compete in the California Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF).
• In addition, there are more than 40 companies and organizations that sponsor Sponsored Awards to projects that meet their specific criteria (see below).

Sponsored Awards

Approximately 40 companies and organizations select projects to receive Sponsored Awards at the Championship. These awards may include cash, tours, and/or tangible items. Judging for Sponsored Awards is based on the criterion set up by the participating company or organization or individual.
Therefore, a student should give his/her project a descriptive title so that Sponsored Awards judges can spot that potential project of interest based on the title of project alone. Students need to keep in mind that in general, a well worded title and thoughtfully written abstract invites the attention of judges.