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Information

How to Participate

Overview of GSDSEF Participation Steps (last updated 7/12/2026)

For an exact timeline with deadlines, see the 2026-2027 GSDSEF Schedule. The window to turn in SRC information (Steps 1-8 below) is August 1 - December 7, 2026. The earlier you get approved through SRC, the earlier you can start…

For details, log into your student account (step #3 below) and click on the appropriate pages in the left hand column.

A video is available to explain the GSDSEF Student Account and SRC Process

What	Where	Window for Completion
1. Read GSDSEF/ISEF Rules and Ethics Statements	GSDSEF, ISEF Rules and the Ethics Statement	August 1 - December 7
2. Decide on a Project	What makes a good STEM Fair project	August 1 - December 7
3. Teacher creates an account (unless previously created). THEN, Student creates an account (unless previously created), or logs in to their existing account (see the explainer video!)	Teacher registration page (or, Teacher login page if they already have an account) Student registration page (or, Student login page if you already have an account)	August 1 - December 7
4. Fill in SRC (Scientific Review Committee) information	Tab 1- Project Setup Tab 2- Project Details	August 1 - December 7
5. Determine whether your project needs additional safety (ISEF) Forms	Tab 3- Forms Helper	August 1 - December 7
6. Submit Scientific/Safety Review Committee (SRC) online form and any necessary ISEF forms/approvals	Tab 4- SRC Safety Form and any necessary ISEF Forms Upload	August 1 - December 7
7. Student, Parent, and Teacher fill in and sign Information and Consent	Tab 5- Consent and Policies	August 1 - December 7
8. Submit your Project information for SRC approval. ALL projects must go through SRC Review AND BE APPROVED BEFORE STARTING.	You will receive an email indicating SRC Safety Approval, or else items that you must revise and then resubmit before this deadline.	August 1 - December 7
9. After completing your project -- undergo Quality Screening of your Digital Presentation. Download the Digital Presentation Template, complete, and upload.	Tab 6- Digital Presentation Upload. You will receive an email indicating Quality Screening Approval, or else items that you must revise and then resubmit before this deadline.	January-February 2027 (See Schedule for exact dates)
10. After Quality Screening Approval- Copy & paste information into the Abstract.	Tab 7- Abstract	January-February 2027 (See Schedule for exact dates)
11. Payment - Review all previous information. Credit cards or school Purchase Orders only.	Tab 8- Payment	January-February 2027 (See Schedule for exact dates)
12. zFairs account set up for you. Upload your Judging Digital Presentation (using the template provided, different from your Digital Presentation above) and Digital Notebook for Judge’s Preview	zFairs- Students whose projects have completed all steps above on time will receive an email from zFairs with login information and instructions.	February 2027 (See Schedule for exact dates)

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