The Alaska Science & Engineering Fair is Alaska’s only fair affiliated with the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest high school science competition organized by Society for Science. Our fair is the way an Alaska student gets there.
How an Alaska student gets there
- Enter ASEF. It’s open to every Alaska student in grades K–12, and you don’t need to win a local fair first.
- Find a mentor. Mentors are one of the critical parts of a quality project. Ask us about being matched with one.
- Compete in high school. ISEF is for grades 9–12. Main Category judges for high school decide which students advance.
- Earn your place. One or more high school grand prize winners receive an expense-paid trip to ISEF.
Younger students aren’t left out: elementary and middle school projects are judged and earn awards at ASEF, and every project is practice for high school.
What comes with ISEF
- A trip to the world stage. The 2027 fair is in Los Angeles in May 2027.
- Real prizes and scholarships. Finalists compete for more than $7 million in awards, prizes and scholarships, including awards from over 45 professional organizations.
- Judging by experts. Your work is reviewed by doctoral-level scientists.
- Colleges and careers. The STEM College & Career Fair connects finalists with colleges and organizations.
- Friends around the world. You spend the week with peers and STEM leaders from more than 60 countries, regions and territories.
- Good company. ISEF alumni have gone far: 1973 alumnus Michael Woodford won the 2026 Nobel Prize in economics.
Alaska students have done it
Alaska has sent students to ISEF year after year, in cities including Phoenix, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, with projects on topics from ocean acidification and avian influenza to radiation in Prince William Sound. Several have earned college scholarships and major awards there. See the ASEF History page.
Start now if you’re in high school
Do your paperwork first. ISEF rules apply, and projects with people, vertebrate animals, hazardous materials or other regulated topics need approval before you begin. If the paperwork isn’t done first, you won’t be eligible for the grand prizes, no matter how good the project is. Start with the ISEF Rules Wizard and the Senior High Information page. A mentor can help you through it.
ISEF figures are from Society for Science for the 2026 fair and may change each year.