Teacher Information

This page is being revised for the 2024 Synopsys Championship. Please check back periodically for updates.

Topics:

Important Dates

Student Clinic @ Santa Clara High SchoolSeptember 28, 2023 at 4:30pm
Applications open for 2024 Synopsys ChampionshipOctober 2, 2023
Teacher Workshop, Santa Clara, CAOctober 25, 2023 at 4:30pm
Virtual Teacher WorkshopNovember 2, 2023 4:30-5:30pm
FINAL deadline for ALL projects that need SRC/IRB Pre-Approval
November 21, 2023 at 11:59pm
Category Judge Registration OpensDecember 1, 2023
FINAL deadline for all applicationsJanuary 19, 2024
Volunteer application opensFebruary 1, 2024
Deadline for organizations to register Sponsored Awards February 20, 2024
Last day to change title, category, field of study, or to withdraw a project*February 23, 2024
Students begin to upload abstracts to judging foldersFebruary 25, 2024
Deadline for students to upload abstracts; projects without abstracts will be withdrawnMarch 5, 2024 at 11:59pm
Deadline for students to make changes to abstracts or add Forms 1C or 7, if requiredMarch 8, 2024, at 11:59pm
Sponsored Awards & Grand Prize judges begin reviewing abstracts onlineMarch 9, 2024
Category Judges begin reviewing abstracts onlineMarch 12, 2024
Check-In Day (project boards)March 13, 2024, Noon to 6pm
2024 Synopsys ChampionshipMarch 14, 2024
2024 Synopsys Championship Awards CeremonyApril 7, 2024 1:00 - 5:30pm

Note: The Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and IRB will have 2 meetings before the final pre-approval deadline. Applications that are submitted by either October 22 or November 5 will be reviewed before the rush at the November 21 deadline.


Announcements & Resources

New Field of Study

We are excited to introduce a new field for the competition for Middle Schoolers – ‘Food Science/Engineering’. Projects in the new field must not use humans or vertebrate animals. A list of suggested research areas is found on our Project Categories page.

And as a reminder for other fields of study, students may not do any health-related project that involves diagnosis or treatment without supervision of a doctor.


Rise is a program that finds promising young people and provides them with opportunities that allow them to work together to serve others, by providing resources like including higher education scholarships and a global network. If you are interested in applying to this program, click HERE.


Virtual Teacher Workshop for 2023-2024: Thursday November 2nd 4:30-5:30pm

A second Teacher Workshop specifically geared to help teachers fill out the Synopsys Championship paperwork will be held virtually on Thursday, Nov 2nd from 4:30-5:30pm. Contact us for the zoom link.

It is strongly recommended for teachers who are new, relatively new or returning to the Championship attend the Teacher Workshop. The workshop will focus on how to fill out the forms correctly, especially projects that require SRC pre-approval, the importance of dates, and meeting Minimum Quality Requirements. It is strongly recommended that you take time to review the ISEF Rules and Guidelines and Contact us ahead of time with any questions you would like answered before joining the session.

Teacher Workshop for 2023-2024: Wednesday Oct 25th 4:30-5:30pm

A Teacher Workshop specifically geared to help teachers fill out the Synopsys Championship paperwork will be held In-Person on Wednesday, Oct 25 from 4:30-5:30pm in Santa Clara, CA. Location details will be shared with the first 35 teachers who register for the workshop. Contact us to register.


A question and answer session will be held on Thursday Sept 28 from 4:30-6pm at Santa Clara High School’s FabLab. It is recommended that students, new teachers, as well as sponsors who will supervise a PSP (privately-sponsored project), attend to ask questions and get answers. The slides will give you an overview of how to get started, do’s and don’ts and timelines for the 2024 Synopsys Championship. It is strongly recommended that you review the slides BEFORE coming to the Q n A. Please contact us if you have any questions.


Invitation to apply for the (free) Advancing STEM Research Teaching Program (ASRT)

The application will remain open until November 13, 2023 at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time)

This professional development program for high school teachers is completely free thanks to funding from Regeneron and Carl Zeiss Microscopy. Over the past 5 years, individual teachers, groups of teachers and Science Fair Directors have applied, been accepted, and benefitted from this very customized ASRT program.

If one or more of the “Top 10 mistakes teachers make….” have impacted you, or the high school teachers in your region, when guiding your students through planning, working on, and presenting STEM Research projects, you/they should consider applying for the free, customized, in-person, Advancing STEM Research Teaching Program.

Link to apply for High School Teachers:  https://forms.gle/dzMXJNMhbVXbQ73e7


Society Update: Applications for the Advocate Program are now closed

Sign up to be notified when the 2024/2025 application opens here. This program provides a stipend, training, and year-round support to teachers and mentors who help students from traditionally underrepresented groups and low-income households enter STEM research competitions. Click here for eligibility requirements. Please share with your educator networks!


Enroll your school in Science News for Middle and High Schools

Calling all science teachers: would you like a free tool that helps your students apply curricular topics to real-world scenarios, practice reading comprehension, and explore the world of science?

Science News Learning in High Schools and Middle Schools aims aims to boost science literacy for every student – and gives you easy ways to bring today’s science developments into your teaching. Your school’s participation is free. Sign up today to ensure your sponsored spot for the next school year!


Application Limits

The Application Limit for a teacher is determined by the number of scientific category award-winning projects you sponsored on the 2023 list of winning projects. Sponsored awards do not count in the total.

# projects that won category awards in prior year# sponsored projects allowed this year
04 (also applies to new teachers)
14
28
38
4 or more12

A teacher supervising a school-based science club or equivalent may request from the SRC up to 20 project application slots, but only if the school does not have a research class.


Planning and Preparation

Read ISEF Rules and Guidelines before students begin their projects. 

As an ISEF affiliated fair, the Synopsys Championship follows ISEF Rules and uses ISEF forms, but SCVSEFA also has some requirements and forms that are specific to the Synopsys Championship. 

Review information under the Rules and Registration and Teachers tabs, including Who can Sponsor and Responsibilities. Information on projects at a Regulated Research Institution (RRI) may be found here.

Check the Student Information page to see our advice on finding a project and applying to the Synopsys Championship.

Student Clinics and Teacher Workshops

A Teacher Workshop, if available, is recommended for new teachers as well as sponsors who will supervise a PSP (privately-sponsored project). Contact the SRC if you would like to host a workshop at your school.

Application Process

The online application requires the student or team leader to complete several steps:

  • register online,
  • complete a set of digital forms,
  • upload the forms to the students forms folders,
  • pay the application processing fee, which officially SUBMITS the application for review.

After registration, the student receives a Project Code and personalized instructions via a detailed Project Page. You may read a general version of the application instructions here.

Teacher access to a project Forms Folder is possible but not automatic. Either the student/team leader or the Fair Administrator can grant access.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

  • If SRC pre-approval is required for a project, the application must arrive before the deadline, usually at the end of November.
  • A project involving humans, including questioning about or testing a project, must be submitted for pre-approval.
  • Application due dates are RECEIPT dates not POSTMARK dates. An application will be processed if payment has not yet been received, but alert the Fair Manager to any other problems via the contact page.
  • Consider requesting payment voucher codes for your students if multiple projects will be covered by a single check. Contact the Fair Manager via the contact page for details.

Judging by Category and Field of Study

Students must select a Category and Field of Study when they register.
For detailed information on Categories, Fields of Study and project numbers, go to Project Categories.

  • For Category Awards, projects are judged by category in groups of about 8 to 12 projects by a team of at least two judges.
  • Projects done at home, school or in the field (non RRI) are judged by grade and category.
  • Projects done at Regulated Research Institutions (RRI) are judged by category only.

Chaperones + Rules for Teachers

Registered classroom teachers employed by schools participating in the fair may sign up to be Chaperones during the judging period 1:30–6 PM by completing the application form. As part of the application you will need to confirm that you have read and agreed to observe Rules for Teachers.

Teacher Registration