2025 GSDSEF Schedule
In 2025 we will be back to the Balboa Park Activity Center in Balboa Park, 2145 Park Blvd, San Diego.
2025 Screening Deadlines:
January 20 – 6th and 7th grade digital project submissions due
January 27 – 8th grade digital project submissions due
February 10 – 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade digital project submissions due
February 18- All digital re-submissions are due (if you had Needs Modifications) NO exceptions
Applications, Payments and zFairs*:
February 21, 11:59PM – all GSDSEF Applications and Payments are due. NO exceptions.
February 24- Students receive initial login email from zFairs
February 24-28- Students complete accounts in zFairs and upload digital Judging Slidedecks and Notebooks.
February 28, 11:59pm-- Judging Slidedecks and Notebooks must be uploaded to zFairs.
March 2-9-- Judges preview digital project information in zFairs
*What is zFairs? We use zFairs to upload your digital project information--notebooks and slidedecks--so judges can preview your project in the week before the Fair. It is also used to assign judges.
GSDSEF dates for 2025 Fair: March 10-16, 2025. Balboa Park Activity Center (BPAC)
Monday, March 10, 2025
10am- 5pm- Fair Setup
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
8am-1pm- Fair Setup
1pm-7pm-- Student project setup at the BPAC-- Bring Backboard Displays and Notebooks!! Students--bring a chair!
Wednesday, March 12, 2025:
7:15-8:00am-- Student dropoff at the BPAC Students, bring a lunch!
8:00- 11:30am-- Categorical Judging
10:00 -11:30 - Professional Society Judging
11:30- noon-- Student Lunch
noon- 2:00pm-- Professional Society Judging
12:30pm-3:00pm-- Grand Awards Judging
3:00-3:30-- Student pick up
Thursday, March 13, 2025:
BPAC Closed
6:00-8:30pm-- Awards Ceremony -- The Observatory, 2891 University Avenue, San Diego
Friday, March 14, 2025
BPAC closed to the public. Open for student tours 10am-2pm. No reservation necessary.
Saturday, March 15, 2025
10am- 1pm-- BPAC open to public to view projects.
1pm-3pm-- Students may start to take projects.
Sunday, March 16, 2025
10am- 1pm --Project pickup
1pm-6pm-- BPAC Cleanup