Introduction:
Do you have a research topic or project that you want to share with a wider audience? Looking to connect with fellow ambitious future scientists worldwide? Then, you should consider participating in a STEM competition.
1. International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF):
If you’re thinking about participating in a conventional science fair, then ISEF is probably a good fit for you. This is a prestigious annual event that gathers some of the brightest minds from around the globe. It allows high school students to showcase their research across a variety of disciplines. To attend ISEF, you will likely need to participate in a series of local fairs and advance to the international level. Typically, there is a regional fair and state fair before advancement into ISEF.
Find an Affiliated Fair: https://findafair.societyforscience.org/
ISEF Website: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/
2. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium:
The JSHS competition is one of the oldest STEM competitions in the nation to date. To enter, you must submit and present a scientific research paper. The format mocks a professional research symposium in a wide array of categories. Similar to ISEF, JSHS also has a regional or state competition from which a select number of students will be chosen to advance to JSHS.
JSHS Website: https://jshs.org/
3. Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge
This engineering-focused competition focuses on tackling real world problems through innovations. In teams, you are tasked with presenting a solution that tackles a global problem in a variety of fields, including aerospace, health, environmental, energy, and much more. Not only is there a technical and design portion, there’s also a business and social impact aspect. You may need to write a business plan, technical report, financial report, and create a video pitching your product and service.
Conrad Website: https://www.conradchallenge.org/
4. Destination Imagination (DI):
DI is a program that emphasizes teamwork to tackle challenges in various disciplines. Though this competition isn’t specific to research, you still may be able to present your research in their STEM-focused categories. They also offer categories in fine arts and service learning, which are extremely important skills in the real-world. While there is a prepared portion of the competition, there is also the ‘instant challenge’ where teams learn to express creativity, think on their feet, communicate, and problem-solve. Similar to the other competitions mentioned, there is a regional, state, and global level.
DI Website: https://www.destinationimagination.org/
5. Genes in Space:
Genes in Space is a very niche competition uniquely focusing on the use of molecular biology in applications of space travel. Specifically, the focus is on conducting DNA experiments for use on the International Space Station (ISS). Students participating in this competition develop research proposals that undergo rigorous evaluation. The most innovative and scientifically sound ideas will be selected for further development. And, the winning team will work closely with scientists and engineers to launch the experiment to the ISS where astronauts will actually perform the experiments per the students’ instructions. How cool is that!
Genes in Space Website: https://www.genesinspace.org/
Conclusion:
These 5 competitions are just the tip of the iceberg in STEM and research competitions. Stay tuned for future posts where we’ll explore other competitions!
