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!
Broadcom Foundation Hecla Charitable Foundation ConocoPhillips Alaska Doug Molyneaux Alissa Oder COEUR Alaska University of Alaska Anchorage
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 scientists and engineers
- Every project is judged, and awards go to all age groups
- Build the skills you’ll use in middle and high school
Need an idea? See K–5 project ideas that go beyond the volcano.
Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge
The top U.S. science and engineering 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 who work in science and engineering.
- Win prizesCompete in categories from animals to computers 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. A mentor is one of the best ways to build a strong project. Need one? Contact us.
- High school: do the paperwork first. Projects with people, animals with backbones, dangerous materials and some other topics need approval before you start. This online tool shows which forms you need.
- Register on zFairs, our online registration site. 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 scoring guides are provided.
Judges work or study in science, technology, engineering or math.
Why be a mentor?
Judges are part of the fair. Mentors are part of the process. They work with students long before fair day, and they’re one of the critical parts of creating the quality projects that take Alaska students to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
- You help build a quality project. Guide a student from a first idea through the research and, in high school, the paperwork and project approval.
- A deep pool finds the right fit. Not every student has someone nearby who can help, so we need people from many fields to match with a project when a student needs one.
- You won’t be needed every year. Mentors are assigned as needs come up, so joining the pool isn’t a yearly commitment.
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
Gold Sponsors
$1,000–$4,999
In-Kind Donors
Venue Sponsor
- Title Sponsor$25,000+ with multi-year commitmentThis slot is open. Become a sponsor
- Presenting Sponsors$10,000+This slot is open. Become a sponsor
- Platinum Sponsors$5,000–$9,999This slot is open. Become a sponsor
- Silver Sponsors$500–$999This slot is open. Become a sponsor
- Friends of the FairUp to $499This slot is open. Become a sponsor
Thank you to our past sponsors
2026 Fair Sponsors
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
Venue Sponsor
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