Alaska’s science fair for grades K–12, since 1955
Science can take you places.
Every Alaska student can enter a science, engineering, computer science or math project, and you don’t need to win a local fair first. Start with your first project, then go national in middle school and international in high school.
Made possible by our sponsors and donors. Thank you!
University of Alaska Anchorage Hecla Charitable Foundation ConocoPhillips Alaska Doug Molyneaux Alissa Oder Broadcom Foundation COEUR Alaska
From Alaska to the world stage
Where this fair can take you
Every grade has a next step. Start with your first project, and keep going all the way to national and international competition.
Your first science fair
Everyone starts somewhere. Pick something you’re curious about, test it and show what you found.
- Talk about your project with real judges from STEM fields
- Every project is judged, and awards go to all age groups
- Build the skills you’ll use in middle and high school
Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge
The top U.S. STEM research competition for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The top 10% of grades 6–8 at fairs like ours are eligible to be nominated. You can also win one of ASEF’s Main Category Awards.
International Science and Engineering Fair
Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest high school science competition. High school grand prize winners here can earn an expense-paid trip. Next stop: Los Angeles, May 2027.
2026 figures from Society for Science: ISEF and Junior Innovators Challenge.
Why enter the fair?
- Show off your workPresent your project to judges from real STEM fields.
- Win prizesCompete across STEM categories for awards from local businesses and organizations.
- Go national or globalMiddle schoolers can be nominated for the Junior Innovators Challenge. High school grand prize winners can earn an expense-paid trip to ISEF.
- Stand outGet noticed by colleges and employers. Several Alaska students have earned college scholarships and major awards at ISEF.
How to enter
- Find your level. Elementary (K–5), Middle School (6–8) or High School (9–12). The requirements differ a little by grade.
- Plan your project. It can be a class assignment or your own idea. Work with a teacher, parent or adult mentor. Need help? Contact a mentor.
- High school: do the paperwork first. Projects with people, vertebrate animals, hazardous materials or other regulated topics need approval before you start. Use the ISEF Rules Wizard.
- Register on zFairs. Register your project and upload your forms at ak.zfairs.com.
- Bring it to the fair. Check in, pass the safety check, set up your display and talk with the judges. You can take part in person or virtually from anywhere in Alaska.
2027 dates are coming soon. The fair is held in Anchorage each March or April. For 2026, registration opened March 1 and the fair ran March 27–29.
Why be a judge?
There are hundreds of projects and only one day to judge them all. There is nothing more satisfying than meeting the participants, encouraging their efforts and finding out just how amazing Alaska’s students are.
- Your feedback gives students a real conversation with someone working in the field.
- High school judges help decide who advances to the International Fair.
- You choose elementary, middle school, high school or any mix.
- Training and rubrics are provided.
Judges are STEM professionals and college students majoring in a STEM field.
Why be a mentor?
Teachers, parents and adult mentors play an important role in every student’s project. They foster the interest, guide and encourage students to do their best work.
- Every student works under the supervision of a teacher, parent or adult mentor, so a mentor can be what makes a project possible.
- Senior high students need adult help with paperwork and the Scientific Review process.
- In Alaska, these adults often travel long distances with their students to attend.
Other ways to help: we need volunteers for setup, check-in and teardown. Register as a volunteer, or email [email protected] about joining the board.
Who makes it possible
ASEF is run entirely by volunteers and funded by donations, with no funding from any school district or government agency. All donated funds go directly to the fair and awards for students.
Our 2027 sponsors
Title Sponsor
$25,000+ with multi-year commitment
Venue Sponsor
- University of Alaska Anchorage
Presenting Sponsors
$10,000+
Platinum Sponsors
$5,000–$9,999
Gold Sponsors
$1,000–$4,999
Silver Sponsors
$500–$999
Friends of the Fair
Up to $499
In-Kind Donors
Thank you to our past sponsors
2026 Fair Sponsors
Venue Sponsor
- University of Alaska Anchorage
Presenting Sponsors
- Hecla Charitable Foundation
Platinum Sponsors
- ConocoPhillips Alaska
- Doug Molyneaux
Gold Sponsors
- Alissa Oder
- Broadcom Foundation
- COEUR Alaska
Silver Sponsors
Friends of the Fair
- Alaska Glacier Seafoods
- Fred Meyer / Kroger Rewards Program
- PND Engineers
- William C. Leight
2025 Fair Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors
- Doug Molyneaux
Platinum Sponsors
- Anchorage School District (in-kind)
- ConocoPhillips Alaska
- Hecla Greens Creek Mine
- University of Alaska Anchorage (in-kind)
Gold Sponsors
- Alaska Commercial Company (in-kind)
- Alaska Miners Association (in-kind)
- Broadcom Foundation
- Chandler Corporation (Puffin Inn)
Silver Sponsors
- Alaska Science Teachers Association
- Aurora Projekt
- Bristol Engineering Services Company
- Granite Construction
- PND Engineers
- ProHNS
- True North Federal Credit Union
Friends of the Fair
- Alaska Electric Light & Power
- Carrs (in-kind)
- Costco Wholesale (in-kind)
- Dawson Construction
- First Bank
- Franz Bakery (in-kind)
- Fred Meyer (in-kind)
- Fred Meyer / Kroger Rewards Program
- Great Harvest (in-kind)
- Kaladi Brothers Coffee (in-kind)
- Meghan Clark
- Mike and Corinne McVee
- Northwind Architects
- Rainbow Foods
- Rebecca Sawyer
- Royal Printing (in-kind)
- Starbucks (in-kind)
- Taylor Ferguson
- Weiss Family
2024 Fair Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors
- Ohana Media Group (in-kind)
Platinum Sponsors
- Hecla Greens Creek Mine
Gold Sponsors
- aeSolutions
- Alaska Miners Association
- Bill Corbus
- COEUR Alaska
- Doug Molyneaux
- Elgee Rehfeld – Alaska’s CPA Firm
- Elizabeth Djajalie
- GCI
- Northern Utility Services, LLC
- RESPEC
Silver Sponsors
- Alaska Science Teachers Association
- Andrea Story
- Bristol Engineering Services Company
- DOWL
- PND Engineers
- ProHNS
Friends of the Fair
- Alaska Electric Light & Power
- Alaska Glacier Seafoods
- Angali Madeira
- Ching Cheng
- Dawson Construction
- Jennifer Reinbold
- Juneau Pizza
- Mary O’Connor
- NAPA / Glacier Auto Parts
- Pannone Engineering Services
- Pita Pit Alaska
- Sarah Steinbarger
- The Alaska Club
- Valley Paint Center
2022 Fair Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
- Franz Bakery Foundation
- MTA
- Regeneron ISEF Grant
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Friends of the Fair
- AMC Engineers
- Elks Lodge Anchorage #2868
- Home Depot
- John Nolin
- Roger Weese
- The Aleut Corporation
2021 Fair Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
- Franz Bakery Foundation
- MTA
- Regeneron ISEF Grant
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Friends of the Fair
- AMC Engineers
- Elks Lodge Anchorage #2868
- Home Depot
- John Nolin
- Roger Weese
- The Aleut Corporation