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Information GSDSEF / ISEF Rules and Regulations The GSDSEF is an affiliated fair of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and its parent organization, the Society for Science. Per the Society's Affiliated Fair Guidelines , this includes the requirement that the GSDSEF will "operate under the ISEF Rules and Guidelines and ensure that students and teachers are aware of these requirements as they begin research projects." All students who develop a project for the GSDSEF must read and comply with all Rules and Regulations in this document. Parents, teachers, and adult supervisors must also read and understand these rules and regulations. Below is an eligibility and participation overview, as well as the GSDSEF ETHICS STATEMENT , ISEF RULES , and ADDITIONAL GSDSEF RULES . WHO MAY ENTER THE GSDSEF Any 6th through 12th grade student attending a public, private, parochial, or home school in San Diego or Imperial Counties may enter a project into the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF). Team projects of not more than two students are permitted, and there is no requirement for participation in or qualification from a school or school district science fair. DIVISIONS Junior -- students in grades 6 through 8 (both students, for team projects) Senior -- students in grades 9 through 12 (both students, for team projects) Click here for details about how to participate in the GSDSEF . To summarize, students must: identify a teacher to oversee their project (an adult sponsor , as defined in the ISEF rules for Roles and Responsibilities of Students and Adults), and ask them to create an account for your project on the projects.gsdsef.org website (for team projects, both students must have an account created for them); complete a Review process by the GSDSEF SRC (Scientific Review Committee), where their project is reviewed for safety and other compliance with GSDSEF and ISEF rules; complete a Screening process to be accepted into the Fair, by uploading a digital overview of their completed project which is then reviewed by the SRC for quality; complete a Registration process to finalize their participation in the Fair, including uploading a final digital version of their project on the gsdsef.zfairs.com website; and participate in all required Fair Week activities, including setting up their project, attending judging sessions, and removing their project (attendance at the Awards Ceremony is also strongly encouraged). ETHICS STATEMENT FOR GSDSEF PARTICIPATION The GSDSEF follows the Ethics Statement of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Student researchers, as well as adults who have a role in their projects , are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. These include, but are not limited to: Integrity. Honesty, objectivity, and avoidance of conflicts of interest are expected at every stage of the research. The project should reflect independent research done by the student(s), and represent only one year’s work. Legality. Compliance with all federal, country, state, and local law is essential. All projects must be approved by a Scientific Review Committee (SRC), and when necessary must also be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and/or Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). Respect for Confidentiality and Intellectual Property. Confidential communications, as well as patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property must be honored. Unpublished data, methods, or results may not be used without permission, and credit must be given to all contributions of research. Stewardship of the Environment. It is the responsibility of the researcher(s) and the adults involved to protect the environment and its organisms from harm. All projects involve some amount of risk. Everyone is expected to recognize the hazards, assess the risks, minimize them, and prepare for emergencies. Animal Care. Proper care and respect must be given to vertebrate animals. The guiding principles for the use of animals in research includes the following “Four R’s”: Replace, Reduce, Refine, Respect. Human Participant Protection. The highest priority is the health and well-being of the student researcher(s) and human participants. Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (PHBAs ). It is the responsibility of the students and adults involved in the project to conduct and document a risk assessment, and to safely handle and dispose of organisms and materials. Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. This includes plagiarism, forgery, use or representation of other researcher’s work as one’s own, and fabrication of data. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in affiliated fairs and ISEF. The Society for Science reserves the right to revoke recognition of a project subsequently found to be fraudulent. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS BY ISEF These requirements are not limited to the following list. For COMPLETE requirements, please refer to the ISEF Rules and Guidelines . All students must adhere to local, state, and US Federal laws, regulations, and permitting conditions. Note: The GSDSEF may have additional restrictions or requirements beyond those of ISEF ( see below ). All projects must adhere to the GSDSEF rules, guidelines, and requirements in order to qualify for ISEF. It is the responsibility of the student and the Adult Sponsor/Teacher/Advisor to evaluate the study to determine if the research will require forms and/or review and approval PRIOR to experimentation . As necessary, SRC, IRB, IACUC, IBC approvals must be received and documented before experimentation begins. The use of non-animal research methods and alternatives to animal research are strongly encouraged and must be explored before conducting a vertebrate animal project. Introduction or disposal of non-native, genetically-altered, and/or invasive species (e.g. insects, plants, invertebrates, vertebrates), pathogens, toxic chemicals or foreign substances into the environment is prohibited. Please reference local, state, and national regulations. All students must follow the Ethics Statement and ISEF Rules and Guidelines in order to compete at the affiliated fair (GSDSEF), California Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF) and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Projects may include no more than 12 months of contiguous research and may not include research in the prior year. For example, for the 2026 ISEF competition, research cannot be from before January of 2025. A research project may be a part of a larger study performed by professional scientists, but the project presented by the student must only be only their own portion of the complete study. GSDSEF PROJECT SAFETY RULES AND GUIDELINES – in Addition to ISEF The Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF) adheres to and complies with the Safety Rules and Guidelines of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Refer to the ISEF Rules and Guidelines for questions regarding general safety and specifically Vertebrate Animals, Research Involving Humans, Biohazards, and other Hazards. Research involving Vertebrate Animals and Humans have additional rules, regulations, and guidelines which must be complied with. In addition to the ISEF Rules and Guidelines, GSDSEF: reserves the right to decline any project it deems unsafe prohibits projects involving tobacco; tobacco products; smokeless powder; black powder; explosives; and the manufacture or production of rocket fuel and/or alcohol/other intoxicants or gasohol prohibits students from loading or reloading any ammunition requires any project in which anything is burned to complete a Hazards Form For questions about GSDSEF Rules, please contact Steve Rodecker, steve.rodecker@gsdsef.org

Past Results GSDSEF Directories, Awards, and Awards Ceremony Slides by Year 2026 Results - 72nd Annual GSDSEF (under construction) 2025 Results - 71st Annual GSDSEF 2024 Results - 70th Annual GSDSEF 2023 Results - 69th Annual GSDSEF 2022 Results - 68th Annual GSDSEF (under construction)

2026 Results - 72nd Annual GSDSEF (under construction) Table of Contents 2026 GSDSEF Student Directory Category Place Awards Special Awards Advancement to Affiliated Fairs and Competitions Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony Program Awards Ceremony Pictures Awards Ceremony Slides – Category and Grand Awards Grand Award Winners GSDSEF Student Results In Post-GSDSEF Competitions California Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF), April 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), May 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovation Challenge (TFSJIC), later 2026 2026 – 72nd GSDSEF Student Directory 2. 2026 GSDSEF Directory_FINAL .pdf Download PDF • 127.99MB 2026 – 72nd GSDSEF Award Results Click here for the GSDSEF summary press release . Category Place Awards Junior Division Place Award Results by Category: 3. Jr. Division Category Awards .pdf Download PDF • 74KB Senior Division Place Award Results by Category: 4. Sr. Division Category Awards .pdf Download PDF • 76KB Special Awards Special Awards List: 5. Special Awards List by Organization .pdf Download PDF • 386KB Special Awards Slide Scroll: 6. Special Awards Slide Scroll .pdf Download PDF • 11.42MB Special Awards — Stage Awards Slides 7. Special Awards Slides - Stage Awards .pdf Download PDF • 950KB Affiliated Fairs – Qualified and Nominated Students California Science and Engineering Fair Qualified Students (JR and SR divisions): 8. CSEF-Qualified Slides .pdf Download PDF • 201KB Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Nominees (JR division): 9. TFSJIC Nominees Slides .pdf Download PDF • 146KB 2026 – 72nd GSDSEF Teacher of the Year Tina Tom – Chula Vista Middle School Over the past seven years, l've mentored approximately 350 students, with 70 of those young scientists ultimately representing Chula Vista Middle School at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair, with some going on to the California Science and Engineering Fair. The true power of a science project lies in the fact that students have complete ownership of their work, while teachers like me serve as guides on this rewarding journey. This experience is particularly transformative at our Title I school because it provides exposure to the power of science that many might not otherwise encounter. By mastering the Scientific Method, time management, formal reporting, experimental design, and data analysis, students gain essential life skills that inspire them to pursue STEM at the university level and beyond. 2026 – 72nd GSDSEF Awards Ceremony Program 12. Awards Ceremony Program .pdf Download PDF • 2.39MB Pictures from the 72nd GSDSEF Awards Ceremony Awards Ceremony Slides – Category and Grand Awards 14. JR Div Third Awards .pdf Download PDF • 1.05MB 17. SR Div Third Awards .pdf Download PDF • 1.11MB 15. JR Div Second Awards .pdf Download PDF • 1.23MB 18. SR Div Second Awards .pdf Download PDF • 1.21MB 16. JR Div First Awards .pdf Download PDF • 1.37MB 19. SR Div First Awards .pdf Download PDF • 1.39MB 20. JR+SR Grand Awards .pdf Download PDF • 911KB Grand Award Winners SENIOR DIVISION JUNIOR DIVISION Grand Award Winners: Life Sciences Grand Award Winners: Life Sciences Giles Del Priore and Ronald Wyatt Eastlake High School Advisor: Amanda Williams ISEF FINALIST Project Title: Design and Evaluation of a Behaviorally-Grounded, Caregiver Governed AI Companion for Individuals with Memory Impairment Jonah Figueroa The Rhoades School Advisor: Roxanne Hunker Project Title: Quantifying Effects of Commercial Fertilizers on Cyanobacteria Growth Claire Lim Canyon Crest Academy Advisor: Ed Gerstin ISEF FINALIST Project Title: Inducible TLR4 Decoy for Targeting Microglial Activation to Reduce Neuronal Degeneration in Parkinson’s Disease Uma Kattamuri Oak Valley Middle School Advisor: Kristina Latonia-Wilson Project Title: Elevated CO2 During Kalanchoe pinnata Growth Reveals Enhanced Antiproliferative and Synergistic Therapies Grand Award Winners: Physical Sciences Grand Award Winners: Physical Sciences Kayley Xu The Bishop’s School Advisor: Marcus Milling ISEF FINALIST Project Title: Designing a Passive All-Dielectric Metasurface for Retinal Disease Intervention Through Beam Steering Paul Schnabl The Bishop’s School Advisor: Kelly Kleinertz Project Title: ARGOS: Machine Learning Irrigation Reduced Water Usage and Improved Growth Ethan Hu The Bishop’s School Advisor: Benjamin Heldt ISEF FINALIST Project Title: Configurable Electromagnetic Refreshable Tactile Display with FDM Printable Bistable Cam Aishah Siddiqui Bright Horizon Academy Advisor: Najwan Naserelddin Project Title: Joynt Quest - A Therapeutic Glove Integrated with a Digital Game-Based Rehabilitation System For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Grand Award Runners Up: Life Sciences Grand Award Runners Up: Life Sciences Charles Brum Catholic Cathedral High School Advisor: Jeanette Loptka ISEF FINALIST Project Title: BeeCast: A Novel Predictive Model Using Neural Network to Predict Colony Collapse Shanmei Lee and Maya Goel The Rhoades School Advisor: Roxanne Hunker Project Title: Investigating Regrowth in Coastal Sage Scrub Burned Habitat Janet Yang Canyon Crest Academy Advisor: Xiaohui Liu ISEF FINALIST Project Title: Neuro-Behavioral Convergence: A Multimodal Approach to Stroke Risk Assessment Olivia Liu La Jolla Country Day School Advisor: Chris Uyeda Project Title: Soap, a Friend or Foe of Skin Bacteria? Grand Award Runners Up: Physical Sciences Grand Award Runners Up: Physical Sciences Shounak Ray Chaudhuri Francis Parker School Advisor: J.P. Pierce ISEF FINALIST Project Title: Novel Scalable Multiphase Autonomous Vehicle Systems for Emerging Markets Manas Pisipati The Rhoades School Advisor: Roxanne Hunker Project Title: A Study of the Effects of Salt Nucleation on Doped Amino Acids Ryan Rezaei Canyon Crest Academy Advisor: Albert Dul ISEF FINALIST Project Title: Omni-Prot: Unifying Protein Function Prediction with PLM-Centric Fusion Joie Green Muirlands Middle School Advisor: Lori Trombley Project Title: Soon I will be Invisible: How to Direct Energy with Topological Metamaterials GSDSEF Student Results In Post-GSDSEF Competitions 2026 California Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF) Only one project in each CSEF Category is awarded a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Award. Each category may have more than one 5 th Award (= Honorable Mention). Students at CSEF can also receive Sponsored Awards and Major Fair Awards. At the 2026 CSEF, 36 GSDSEF projects (37 students) received an Award ( see GSDSEF press release here ): 19 Junior Division projects received a Category Award (4 First, 4 Second, 3 Third, 5 Fourth, and 3 Fifth) 17 Senior Division projects received a Category Award (3 First, 2 Second, 2 Third, 1 Fourth, and 9 Fifth) 3 Sponsored Awards 2 Major Fair Awards CSEF Award Results of GSDSEF Junior Division Students: 21. CSEF GSDSEF Jr Div Winners by Last Name .pdf Download PDF • 230KB CSEF Award Results of GSDSEF Senior Division Students: 22. CSEF GSDSEF Sr Div Winners by Last Name .pdf Download PDF • 217KB CSEF Sponsored Awards Results of GSDSEF Students: 23. CSEF SponsoredAwards_v_2026 .pdf Download PDF • 980KB CSEF Major Fair Awards (SR) and additional TFSJIC nominations (JR): 24. CSEF MajorFairAwards_2026 v2 .pdf Download PDF • 183KB 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) At the 2026 ISEF, six GSDSEF projects (seven students) received a Category Award: Shounak Ray Chaudhuri, Second Award (Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics) Emma Liu, Third Award (Computational Biology and Bioinformatics) Ethan Hu, Fourth Award (Embedded Systems) Claire Lim, Fourth Award (Cellular and Molecular Biology) Ihan Sung, Fourth Award (Chemistry) Kayley Xu, Fourth Award (Biomedical Engineering) Ihan Sung also won a Second-place Aramco Special Award. Next Previous

Latest News The 75th California Science and Engineering Fair Apr 12, 2026 Read More The 72nd Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair Mar 18, 2026 Read More The 75th International Science and Engineering Fair May 16, 2025 Read More The 71st Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair Mar 12, 2025 Read More

Behavioral & Social Sciences The science or study of the thought processes and behavior of humans and other animals in their interactions with the environment studied through observational and experimental methods. Subcategories : Clinical & Developmental Psychology Cognitive Psychology Neuroscience Physiological Psychology Sociology and Social Psychology Other/Multiple Subcategories Clinical and Developmental Psychology: The study and treatment of emotional or behavioral disorders. Developmental psychology is concerned with the study of progressive behavioral changes in an individual from birth until death. Cognitive Psychology: The study of cognition, the mental processes that underlie behavior, including thinking, deciding, reasoning, and to some extent motivation and emotion. Neuroscience: Studies of the neural basis of cognitive processes, including learning and memory, language and thought, perception, attention, and affect. It investigates the human brain, from the functional organization of large-scale cerebral systems to microscopic neurochemical processes. Physiological Psychology: The study of the biological and physiological basis of behavior. This field studies the neural mechanisms of perception and behavior through direct manipulation of the brain in controlled experiments. Sociology and Social Psychology: The study of human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society. Sociology is concerned with all group activities-economic, social, political, and religious. Includes studies of consumers and decision-making about a particular product/service or study of the need, attitude, and markets of a particular group. Other/Multiple: Studies in Behavioral and Social Science that do not fit in the above subcategories or which may involve multiple subcategories. Next Project Category Previous Project Category

Mathematics The study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. The deductive study of numbers, geometry, and various abstract constructs, or structures. Subcategories: Algebra Analysis Combinatorics, Graph Theory, and Game Theory Geometry and Topology Number Theory Probability and Statistics Other/Multiple Algebra: The study of algebraic operations and/or relations and the structures which arise from them. An example is given by (systems of) equations which involve polynomial functions of one or more variables. Analysis: The study of infinitesimal processes in mathematics, typically involving the concept of a limit. This begins with differential and integral calculus, for functions of one or several variables, and includes differential equations. Combinatorics, Graph Theory, and Game Theory: The study of combinatorial structures in mathematics, such as finite sets, graphs, and games, often with a view toward classification and/or enumeration. Geometry and Topology: The study of the shape, size, and other properties of figures and spaces. Includes such subjects as Euclidean geometry, non-Euclidean geometries (spherical, hyperbolic, Riemannian, Lorentzian), and knot theory (classification of knots in 3-space). Number Theory: The study of the arithmetic properties of integers and related topics such as cryptography. Probability and Statistics: Mathematical study of random phenomena and the study of statistical tools used to analyze and interpret data. Other/Multiple: Studies in Mathematics that do not fit in the above subcategories or which may involve multiple subcategories. Next Project Category Previous Project Category

Information Category Judge Resources Dear Judges, Judging for the 2026 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair will take place in person at the Balboa Park Activity Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. You can support the Fair and the students by volunteering as a judge. After judging registration opens in January 2026 , to register as a judge please click here to access zFairs. Tutorial videos will be provided to help you navigate through zFairs, where you will be able to view virtual previews of student projects. With your help as a judge, we will make the 2026 GSDSEF as successful as all the previous 71 Fairs! For 2026 we will continue with these categories and descriptions which were introduced in 2022. Each category name below is hyperlinked to a category-specific judging guide, for you to view or download. You can also view the Project Categories page f or descriptions of each category. Animal Sciences Behavioral and Social Sciences Biochemistry Biomedical Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Cellular and Molecular Biology Chemistry Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Computer Science and Systems Software Earth and Environmental Sciences Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics Engineering: Energy, Materials, and Transport Mathematics Microbiology Physics and Astronomy Plant Sciences Product Testing View or download additional judging resources below: GSDSEF Standards for Judging a Science Fair Project 20 Questions You Might Ask Comparing Projects Elements of a Science Fair Project Reward the Best Encourage the Rest Judges Rubric Vickie Driver Judging Coordinator For more information, please contact: judging@gsdsef.org

Information 2026 GSDSEF Schedule The 2026 GSDSEF was 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. An updated schedule for the 2027 GSDSEF will be posted in summer 2026. 2025-26 Participation Process and Working on Project August 2025 - January 2026: Work on Project, and go through SRC Review and Quality Screening For details, go to: How to Participate Scientific Review (Safety) Committee Review - Complete by December 31, 2025 2026 Quality Screening Deadlines: January 20 – 6th and 7th grade digital project submissions due January 27 – 8th grade digital project submissions due February 11 – 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade digital project submissions due February 17, NO EXCEPTIONS – All digital re-submissions due (if your initial screening result was "Needs Modifications") 2026 Applications (Tab 8), Payments, and zFairs*: February 20, 11:59PM, NO EXCEPTIONS – all GSDSEF Applications and Payments are due February 23 – Students receive initial login email from zFairs February 23 - March 1 – Students complete accounts in zFairs, and upload PDFs of their Digital Judging Presentation (slides) and Notebook March 1, 11:59pm (deadline extended) – Judging Digital Presentation and Notebook PDFs must be uploaded to zFairs for each project March 9-15 – Judges preview Digital Presentation information in zFairs *What is zFairs? We use zFairs to upload your digital project information – notebooks and Digital Presentations – so judges can preview your project in the weeks preceding the Fair. zFairs is also used to assign judges to judging teams and teams to projects. GSDSEF dates for the 2026 Fair : March 16-22, 2026, at the Balboa Park Activity Center (BPAC) Monday, March 16, 2026 10am-5pm – Fair Setup Tuesday, March 17, 2026 8am-1pm – Fair Setup 1-7pm – Student project setup at the BPAC - - Bring Backboard Displays and Notebooks!! Students-- bring a chair! Wednesday, March 18, 2026: 7:15-8:00am – Student dropoff at the BPAC Students, bring a lunch! 8:00-11:30am – Category Awards Judging 10:00-11:30am – Special Awards Judging 11:30am-12:00pm – Student Lunch 12:00-2:00pm – Special Awards Judging 12:30pm-3:00pm – Grand Awards Judging 3:00-3:30pm – Student pick up Thursday, March 19, 2026: 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 20, 2026 BPAC closed to the public. Open for student tours 10am-2pm. No reservation necessary. Saturday, March 21, 2026 10am-1pm – BPAC open to public to view projects. 1pm-3pm – Students may start to take pick up their projects Sunday, March 22, 2026 10am-1pm – Project pickup 1pm-6pm – BPAC Cleanup

Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical & Robotics a) Engineering: Electrical Studies involving electrical systems in which information is conveyed via signals and waveforms for purposes of enhancing communications, control and/or sensing. Subcategories: Circuits Internet of Things Microcontrollers Networking and Data Communications Optics and Photonics Sensors Signal Processing Other/Multiple Circuits: The study, analysis, and design of electronic circuits and their components, including testing. Internet of Things: The inter-networking of physical devices embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity to enable objects to collect/exchange data and/or provide control. Such devices are to be connected with the internet and/or the cloud. Microcontrollers: The study and engineering of microcontrollers and their use to control other devices. Networking and Data Communications: The study of systems that transmit any combination of voice, video, and/or data among users. Optics and Photonics: The use of visible or infrared light instead of signals sent over wires. The study and development of optical devices and systems devoted to practical applications (e.g. photonics) such as computation. Sensors: The study and design of devices that transmit an electrical response to an external device. Signal Processing: The extraction of signals from noise and their conversion into a representation for modeling and analysis. Other/Multiple: Studies in Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics that do not fit in the above subcategories or which may involve multiple subcategories. b) Engineering: Mechanical Studies that focus on the science and engineering that involve movement or structure. The movement can be by the apparatus or the movement can affect the apparatus. Subcategories: Computational Mechanics Industrial Engineering-Processing Mechanical Engineering Computational Mechanics: A study that applies the discipline and techniques of computer science and mathematics to solve large and complex problems in Engineering Mechanics. Industrial Engineering-Processing: Studies of efficient production of industrial goods as affected by elements such as plant and procedural design, the management of materials and energy, and the integration of workers within the overall system. The industrial engineer designs methods, not machinery. Mechanical Engineering: Studies that involve the generation and application of heat and mechanical power and the design, production, and use of machines and tools. Other/Multiple: Studies in Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics that do not fit in the above subcategories or which may involve multiple subcategories. c) Robotics Studies in which the use of machine intelligence is paramount to reducing the reliance on human intervention. Subcategories: Biomechanics Cognitive Systems Control Theory Machine Learning Robot Kinematics Other/Multiple Biomechanics: Studies and apparatus which mimic the kinematic role of mechanics in biological systems. Cognitive Systems: Studies/apparatus that operate similarly to the ways humans think and process information. Systems that provide for increased interaction of people and machines to more naturally extend and magnify human expertise, activity, and cognition. Control Theory: Studies that explore the behavior of dynamical systems with inputs, and how their behavior is modified by feedback. This includes new theoretical results and the applications of new and established control methods, system modelling, identification and simulation, the analysis and design of control systems (including computer-aided design), and practical implementation. Machine Learning: Construction and/or study of algorithms that can learn from data involving a robot/machine. Robot Kinematics: The study of movement in robotic systems. Other/Multiple: Studies in Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics that do not fit in the above subcategories or which may involve multiple subcategories. Next Project Category Previous Project Category

Physics & Astronomy Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth. Subcategories: Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Astronomy and Cosmology Biological Physics Condensed Matter and Materials Mechanics Nuclear and Particle Physics Theoretical, Computational, and Quantum Physics Other/Multiple Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics: The study of atoms, simple molecules, electrons, light, and their interactions. Projects studying non-solid-state lasers and masers also belong in this subcategory. Astronomy and Cosmology: The study of space, the universe as a whole, including its origins and evolution, the physical properties of objects in space and computational astronomy. Biological Physics: The study of the physics of biological processes and systems. Condensed Matter and Materials: The study of the properties of solids and liquids. Topics such as superconductivity, semi-conductors, complex fluids, and thin films are studied. Mechanics: Classical physics and mechanics, including the macroscopic study of forces, vibrations and flows; on solid, liquid and gaseous materials. Projects studying aerodynamics or hydrodynamics also belong in this subcategory. Nuclear and Particle Physics: The study of the physical properties of the atomic nucleus and of fundamental particles and the forces of their interaction. Projects developing particle detectors also belong in this subcategory. Theoretical, Computational, and Quantum Physics: The study of nature, phenomena and the laws of physics employing mathematical or computational methods rather than experimental processes. Other/Multiple: Studies in Physics and/or Astronomy that do not fit in the above subcategories or which may involve multiple subcategories. Next Project Category Previous Project Category

Information SRC Review and Quality Screening What is SRC Review? During the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) review, qualified scientists, engineers, and teachers review each project to determine if safe scientific and engineering practices have been followed. This process occurs BEFORE you start your project and you must have approval from the SRC BEFORE you start your project. What is Quality Screening? During quality screening, qualified scientists, engineers, and teachers review each project to determine if correct scientific and engineering practices have been followed. Quality Screening approval is required AFTER the project is done. For SRC Review: 1.Students log into their account. 2. Students then click on DASHBOARD in upper left hand column, then click on CREATE PROJECT which is on the right side. 3. Students fill in all details about their project (title, materials, procedure, etc.) in TAB 1 and TAB 2. Teacher and student should review the procedure to check for any needed ISEF forms. Information can be found below and in the FORMS HELPER TAB 3 on student account. 4. Attach any ISEF forms that are needed in TAB 4. 5. DIGITAL Signature Procedure-- TAB 5 a) Student fills in and signs form digitally. b) Parent fills in and signs form digitally. c) Student sends the form to the teacher to be signed digitally. d) The teacher/advisor will receive an email notifying him/her that there are projects to review and sign. Once the teacher/advisor signs digitally, the project will be automatically sent for SRC review. The project will be reviewed by the GSDSEF SRC and the student will receive an email with approval or a request for forms/modifications before approval is given to start. ALL Students--Do not start with your project until you have received SRC approval. Depending on the project, you will get approved, be asked to make modifications, or be asked to provide further forms. If you have questions whether your proposed project is acceptable or to clarify any safety concerns, please contact Rose Armour at rose.armour@gsdsef.org . For Quality Screening: To properly submit projects for screening, students must Go to gsdsef.org and log in to their account. Go to the My Project link on the left side of the screen. Click on to the Tab 6 Digital Presentation Upload On the top of Tab 6 will be the Digital Presentation Template if you have not already downloaded it and used it. When completed and saved as a pdf file , upload your Digital Presentation in Tab 6. After uploading your Digital Presentation, click SUBMIT TO QUALITY SCREENING The project will then be screened. The student will receive an email as to the status of the project. Helpful Tools: 2026 Digital presentation template(2) .pptx Download PPTX • 95KB Digital Presentation Example .pdf Download PDF • 682KB What_screeners_are_looking_for_in_a_gsdsef_project_2 .pdf Download PDF • 70KB Results of Quality Screening: There are three possible outcomes from the screening process. Students and teachers will hear back directly about the results, which typically takes about a week. Approved/Recommended Based on the quality of the science, engineering, or coding, the project merits participation in the GSDSEF. Students will then go to TAB 7 Abstract and follow the directions for uploading the abstract. Not Approved / Not Recommended Based on the factors listed below, the project has been NOT Recommended to participate in the GSDSEF. Students will not be able to apply to this year's GSDSEF. project is demonstration of principle or a report project has too many inadequacies- Please see "What Screeners are Looking for" above. project violates GSDSEF rules Resubmit with Modifications The overall quality of the project is good, but in order to be acceptable, modifications required by the Screener must be carried out and sent back to be re-screened by the deadline. The original screener then decides whether the project will be Approved/Recommended or NOT Recommended. The student will receive an email listing the changes that need to be made. Project is resubmitted. If accepted, you will apply to the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair: Once you are accepted and have uploaded your Abstract (TAB 7), you will then proceed to TAB 8 for the Review and Payment. Fee Payment must be submitted and received by the Fair deadline in order to complete the entire process. The student will receive an email when the whole process is completed and paid. 1) All individual payments must be done with a credit card. 2) School PO's-- If a school or school district is paying for the students to participate in the GSDSEF, the teacher or school official must contact the GSDSEF Fair Director to approve the PO and receive a code for students to complete the payment process. 3) If an individual is unable to pay via electronic methods, please contact Steve Rodecker at steve.rodecker@gsdsef.org within 3 days of receiving notification of being recommended to the GSDSEF for alternative payment method directions. NOTE: If you are a team project, each member submits his/her own separate application and fee payment. Please follow all deadlines! Students who submit their application and fees after the application deadline will not be entered in the Student Exhibitor Directory and Information. The GSDSEF Application fee is $ 50 PER STUDENT.

Information How to Participate Overview of GSDSEF Participation Steps (and suggested timeline) For details, log into your student account (step #3 below) and click on the appropriate pages in the left hand column. You can also see this video on the GSDSEF Student Account and SRC Process What Where Completion Date 1. Read GSDSEF/ISEF Rules and Ethics Statements GSDSEF, ISEF Rules and the Ethics Statement September 2. Decide on a Project What makes a good STEM Fair project September-October 3. Teacher makes an account. THEN, Student makes an account Teacher registration page Student registration page September 4. Fill in SRC (Scientific Review Committee) information Tab 1- Project Setup Tab 2- Project Details September-October 5. Determine whether your project needs additional safety (ISEF) Forms Tab 3- Forms Helper September-October 6. Submit Scientific/Safety Review Committee (SRC) online form and any necessary ISEF forms/approvals Tab 4- SRC Safety Form and ISEF Forms Upload (if necessary) September-November 7. Student, Parent, Teacher fill in and sign Information and Consent Tab 5- Consent and Policies September-November 8. After SRC approval, start on your project. ALL projects must go through SRC Review AND BE APPROVED BEFORE STARTING. You will receive an email indicating SRC Safety Approval. September- December 9. After completing your project -- Quality Screening with Digital Presentation. Download the Digital Presentation Template; complete and upload. Tab 6- Digital Presentation Upload. You will receive an email indicating Quality Screening Approval. January 10. After Screening Approval - Copy paste information into the Abstract. Tab 7- Abstract January-February 11. Payment - Review all previous information. Credit cards or school Purchase Orders only. Tab 8- Payment January- February 12. zFairs account set up for you. Upload your Digital Presentation and Digital Notebook for Judge’s Preview zFairs- February