NC Science and Engineering Fair
Congratulations to all Award Winners!
Save the date the 39th NCSEF April 3, 2027
Exciting News: It’s Fair Time!
First and foremost, a massive THANK YOU to our 10 Regional Directors and their dedicated teams! Your leadership and hard work in conducting the NCSEF Regional Fairs make the state fair possible. Thank you for partnering with us in our shared mission for “Inspiring Innovation in Student Research”!
Of course, the heart of our fair is our brilliant students. Whether you advanced individually or fought your way through a highly competitive school or district fair—we applaud your hard work and dedication. Just like our Regional Directors, there is no state NCSEF without you!
A huge congratulations to the 452 students (representing 367 projects) advancing to our 38th NCSEF! We absolutely cannot wait to see your incredible research in person.
Event Details:
Where: North Carolina State University
What: The 38th Annual NCSEF
When: Saturday, March 21, 2026
We are incredibly proud of our ongoing national affiliations, which offer exciting advancement opportunities for our top innovators:
Junior Division (Grades 6-8): As the state affiliate for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, the 1st and 2nd Place Winners from each of the 8 categories will advance to the next level of competition!
Senior Division (Grades 9-12): As a proud affiliate of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) since 2004, based on our availability of funding, we will be allowed to advance up to 12 Senior Division projects to ISEF in Phoenix from May 10-15, 2026.
Best of luck to all of our advancing students—we will see you at NC State!
Sincerely,
Dr. Gary Kelley, Chairman NC Science Fair Foundation
Dr. Tom Williams, Director, NC Science and Engineering Fair
Participation in science fair allows for eager learners the opportunity to explore and observe real scientific questions in the world they live in. They are truly engaged when scientific questions, theories, and principles are hands-on inquiries and not just words in a textbook.
Carina D, Parent
Teachers
Learn more about supporting student science and engineering research and how to get students involved in fair competitions.
Students
Science and engineering fairs are fun! Check out the resources for entering a project and showcasing your hard work!
Volunteer
Want to make a difference in the lives of students? We need you! Consider volunteering and be inspired.
