Information

Important Dates & Times

Tuesday June 07, 2022 at 2:00 AM
not specified
Thursday April 04, 2024 at 11:59 PM
Friday April 05, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Friday April 05, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Friday April 05, 2024 at 9:00 AM

 

Please see this page on our website for the High School Manual: https://scifair.com/resources/

The Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair is the Commonwealth’s largest pre-college science competition providing an annual forum for over 400 students from almost 100 Massachusetts high schools to showcase their independent research and compete for over $500,000 in awards.  Held each year on the campus of the world famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MSEF unites top young scientific and engineering minds where over 300 individuals from the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professional and academic sectors review and judge students’ research projects.

History

The Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair (MSEF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that was founded in 1949 by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, MIT professors & a group of pioneering K-12 science educators. For nearly seven decades, MSEF programs have advanced science literacy and inspired new generations of science and engineering leaders. Over 30,000 students have participated directly in Massachusetts statewide fairs, and many thousands more have been part of the Massachusetts fair pipeline: regional and school-based fairs across the Commonwealth.

Helen Rosenfeld
Executive Director
info@scifair.com
www.scifair.com

 

 

 

 

Astronomy and Space Science

The science regarding the celestial bodies and the observation and interpretation of the radiation received in the vicinity of the earth from the component parts of the universe. Other topics in this category include: optical astronomy, radio astronomy, astrophysics, astrometry and astrophotography.

Behavioral and Social Sciences

The study of thought processes and behavior of humans or other animals studied through observational and experimental methods. Includes: psychology, educational testing, animal behavior, neuroscience, sociology, and anthropology.

Biochemistry

The study of the chemical basis of processes occurring in living organisms, including the processes by which these substances enter into, or are formed in, the organisms and react with each other and the environment. Includes: analytical biochemistry, general biochemistry, structural biochemistry, and medicinal biochemistry.

Biology: Cellular, Molecular, or Microbiology

The study of the structure, function, intracellular pathways, and formation of cells. Studies involve understanding life and cellular processes specifically at the molecular level. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms as well as antimicrobial and antibiotic substances. Includes: cell physiology, cellular immunology, neurobiology, genetics, virology, and microbial genetics.

Biology: Evolution, Plant and Animal Science

The study of animals and plants such as structure, physiology, development, evolution and classification. Includes: pathology, genetics and breeding, nutrition and growth.

Chemistry

The study of the composition of substances, their structure, their behavior, reactions, analysis and synthesis. Other topics in this category include: physical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, modern materials science, computational chemistry, and environmental chemistry.

Computer Science and Technology

Including systems software, robotics, and intelligent machines, this category is for the study or development of software, information processes or methodologies to demonstrate, analyze, or control a process or solution. Additionally studies in which the use of machine intelligence to reduce the reliance on human intervention. Includes: algorithms, cybersecurity, databases, system languages, mobile apps, machine learning, robot kinematics.

Earth and Environmental Science

Focused on geosciences, ecology and related environmental systems, this category covers the study of weather, climate, rock formations, mineral resources, soils, atmosphere, and biomes, as well as the study of environments and the impact of changes (natural or as a result of human interaction) on ecosystems. Includes: pollution sources (air, water and land), natural resource consumption, climate science, and invasive species, aquatic science, climate science, geology, geophysics, physical oceanography, meteorology, seismology, mineralogy and topography.

Engineering: Biomedical

This category is for projects that apply engineering practices to solve biological or medical problems. Projects may create methodologies and/or construct apparatus or biomolecules to obtain data, take measurements, or build understanding of biomedical systems. Includes: biomaterials, biomechanics, biomolecular engineering, biomedical devices, or biomedical sensors or imagining. Note: Student projects may not independently diagnose disease.

Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical

This category includes embedded systems as well as static and dynamic engineering. Studies involving electrical systems in which information is conveyed via signals and waveforms for purposes of enhancing communications, control and/or sensing. Studies may also focus on the science and engineering that involve movement or structure. The movement will be a result of forces; the structure will be stable due to the equilibrium of forces. Includes: circuits, networking and data communications, optics, sensors and signal processing, aeronautical, automotive, civil, industrial engineering, or civil engineering.

Engineering: Environmental

This category is for projects that apply engineering practices to develop processes or infrastructure to solve environmental problems in water systems, waste, systems, pollution control, or climate resilience. Includes: pollution control, water resources management, land restoration, climate adaptation or mitigation.

Mathematics and Computational Modeling

This category is for both theoretical and applied mathematics projects. This includes the study of measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. Students may use both inductive or deductive reasoning. Includes: computational modeling, data science, number theory, probability and statistics, and game theory.

Physics

The study of matter, energy, and the interactions between the two that do not involve change in composition. Topics covered by physics include: aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, solid-state theory, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, and biophysics.

High School Division Judge Qualifications

• Four-year college degree in field(s) of science, technology, engineering, or math and/or;
• 5+ years of professional and/or academic experience in one or more of those fields;
• Most Judges hold Master’s and/or Phd degrees, however this is not a requirement;
• High School teachers are not eligible to judge.

4.1.8873.18236
Powered by: zFairs.com | Privacy | Terms of Use
JavaScript is required to run this site. Please enable your browser to run JavaScript.