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Information
2027 GSDSEF Schedule
The 2027 GSDSEF will be held at the Balboa Park Activity Center in Balboa Park, 2145 Park Blvd, San Diego.
See below for schedule details about the participation process and Fair Week:
2026-27 Participation Process Overview
See specific dates below for the following three general stages of participation:
August 2026 - January 2027: Go through SRC Review (Scientific Review Committee – Safety Check), Work on Project, and go through Quality Screening
February 2027: After passing Quality Screening: complete application and payment in order to be accepted into the Fair
March 2027: After being accepted into the Fair: participate in Fair Week, including project setup, judging, awards ceremony, and project pickup
For details, go to: How to Participate
Student Account Creation Deadline
December 7, 2026, 11:59pm – Last day to create a student account
2026-2027 SRC Deadline – Safety Check
December 9, 2026, 11:59pm – Last day to submit SRC (Scientific Review Committee) information for safety approval.
All projects must comply with the GSDSEF and ISEF Rules & Regulations.
The window to submit SRC information is August 1 - December 9, 2026.
The earlier you get your project proposal approved through SRC, the earlier you can start on your project.
All projects (including re-submissions) must have SRC safety approval by December 14, 2026, in order to move on.
2027 Quality Screening Deadlines
Once a project is completed, it must pass Quality Screening before it can be accepted into the GSDSEF. Quality Screening requires your timely submission of Digital Presentation slides that follow the GSDSEF template. You are strongly encouraged to submit your Digital Presentation earlier than the deadline for your school grade:
January 15, 2027 – 6th and 7th grade Digital Presentation submissions due
January 22, 2027 – 8th grade Digital Presentation submissions due
February 1, 2027 – 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade Digital Presentation submissions due
Digital Presentation submissions may be returned to a student for necessary corrections or clarifications in order to meet GSDSEF Quality standards. After making any required corrections or clarifications, the student must resubmit their Digital Presentation for final Quality Screening.
February 12, 2027, 11:59pm – all Digital Presentation resubmissions due
(ONLY required if your initial Quality Screening result was "Needs Modifications")
NOTE: AFTER FEBRUARY 12TH, ANY PROJECT THAT STILL REQUIRES A DIGITAL PRESENTATION SUBMISSION OR RESUBMISSION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED INTO THE GSDSEF, BECAUSE IT HAS NOT PASSED QUALITY SCREENING
2027 Application (Tab 8) & Payment Deadline
February 19, 2027, 11:59pm – all GSDSEF Applications and Payments are due
NOTE: AFTER FEBRUARY 19, ANY PROJECT WITHOUT A COMPLETED APPLICATION AND PAYMENT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED INTO THE GSDSEF (FOR TEAM PROJECTS, THE APPLICATION AND PAYMENT MUST BE COMPLETED BY BOTH STUDENTS BEFORE THIS DEADLINE)
2027 zFairs Deadlines
zFairs is a separate website from the one used above during project registration, SRC safety approval, Quality Screening, Application, and Payment. Each project accepted into the GSDSEF is required to upload project information into zFairs, so that:
GSDSEF staff can assign projects to judging teams
judges can preview your project prior to the Fair
students can self-nominate their project for Special Awards
February 22, 2027 – Students whose projects have been accepted into the Fair will receive an email from zFairs with their account information, so they can log in, complete their zFairs profile, and upload PDFs of their Notebook and Judging Digital Presentation (slides, similar to the Quality Screening slides submitted previously, but following a different template). These two PDFs must be uploaded for all projects.
February 26, 2027, 11:59pm – all zFairs account profile completions, Judging Digital Presentation PDF uploads, and Notebook PDF uploads due. You are strongly encouraged to complete your zFairs uploads earlier than this deadline.
2027 GSDSEF Fair Week Dates
March 8-14, 2027, at the Balboa Park Activity Center (BPAC)
Monday, March 8, 2027
10am-5pm – Fair Setup
Tuesday, March 9, 2027
8am-1pm – Fair Setup
1-7pm – Student project setup at the BPAC – Bring your Backboard Display, Notebook, any display items, and a chair. All display items must be safety screened and approved in order for the items to be displayed. Before you leave, be sure to pick up your exhibitor badge. Note: after approval, valuable items such as laptops may be brought home, but remember to bring them with you again the next morning!
Wednesday, March 10, 2027
7:15-8:00am – Student dropoff at the BPAC Bring your badge, a lunch, and a chair if not already brought!
8:00-11:30am – Category Awards Judging
11:30am-12:00pm – Student Lunch
12:00-2:00pm – Special Awards Judging
12:30-3:00pm – Grand Awards Judging
3:00-3:30pm – Student pickup
Thursday, March 11, 2027
BPAC Closed
6:00-8:30pm – Awards Ceremony (The Magnolia, 210 E Main St, El Cajon, CA 92020, with free parking adjacent to the theater on W D Hall Drive off E. Main St)
Friday, March 12, 2027
BPAC closed to the public. Open for student tours 10am-2pm. Reservation information will be sent out to teachers/advisors.
Saturday, March 13, 2027
10am-1pm – BPAC open to public to view projects.
1-3pm – Project pickup
Sunday, March 14, 2027
10am-1pm – Project pickup – all projects remaining after 1pm will be disposed of
1-6pm – BPAC Cleanup