Skip to main content
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public (the Intel ISEF) is the world's largest pre-college science competition. Each year the Intel ISEF provides an opportunity for the top young scientists and researchers from around the globe to share ideas, showcase their cutting-edge projects, and compete for over $3 million in awards and scholarships.
Students that compete in Intel ISEF emerge from a worldwide field of millions of science fair participants during the academic year. They move on to compete with students at more than 450 regional SSP and Intel ISEF affiliated science fairs around the world to win the right to attend the Intel ISEF. There are currently Intel ISEF affiliated fairs in 70 countries, regions and territories including U.S. fairs in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Each affiliated fair may select 2 individual projects and 1 team project to travel to the Intel ISEF to compete in 17 different categories: Animal Sciences, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Energy and Transportation, Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical, Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Mathematical Sciences, Medicine & Health, Microbiology, Physics and Astronomy, and Plant Sciences.
An Intel ISEF-affiliated science fair is a science competition that is a member of the Intel ISEF network. These competitions exist in 46 states and the District of Columbia, and 70 countries, regions, and territories. All Intel ISEF-affiliated science fairs register with Society for Science & the Public (SSP) and must consist of five participating high schools or 50 students in the 9th to 12th grades. Fairs are conducted at local, regional, state and national levels. Find an Intel ISEF-affiliated fair in your area.
SSP has owned and administered the ISEF since its inception in 1950. The corporate world has long been a friend of the ISEF, because it recognizes the urgency of promoting achievement in science to students worldwide.
Title Sponsor - Intel Corporation In 1997, Intel became the title sponsor of the ISEF. Since that time they have heightened the visibility of the fair, and have made the Intel ISEF a world-renowned program with true international flavor and participation. Intel's sponsorship of the Intel ISEF is part of the Intel® Innovation in Education initiative, a sustained commitment - in collaboration with educators and government leaders worldwide - to help prepare students to succeed in a knowledge-based economy. Other Intel ISEF Sponsors Society for Science & the Public is pleased to have received significant support in the past from Google, Agilent Technologies, Northrop Grumman, the Ricoh Corporation, and Shell Oil for the Intel ISEF. Intel ISEF 2012 Public Day and Outreach Sponsors SSP and Intel thank the following organizations for their generous support for the Intel ISEF 2012 Public Day which will be attended by thousands of Pittsburgh-area middle school and high school students and their teachers: Agilent Technologies Foundation Alcoa Foundation Bayer Corporation Broadcom Foundation The Buhl Foundation Eden Hall Foundation The Grable Foundation National Museum of Crime & Punishment NOVA Chemicals Corporation Lynn Peavey Company PPG Industries Foundation Ricoh Americas Corporation Shell Exploration and Production Company Dr. Nelson Ying Together we are proud to support these students and hope their participation will inspire future students, educators, parents, scientists and others. Special Award Organizations Each year, over 70 organizations representing a wide variety of scientific disciplines affiliate with the Intel ISEF as Special Awards Organizations. These governmental, industrial, and educational institutions present grants, scholarships, internships, and scientific field trips to finalists at affiliated fairs and at the Intel ISEF.
In 1997, Intel became the title sponsor of the ISEF. Since that time they have heightened the visibility of the fair, and have made the Intel ISEF a world-renowned program with true international flavor and participation. Intel's sponsorship of the Intel ISEF is part of the Intel® Innovation in Education initiative, a sustained commitment - in collaboration with educators and government leaders worldwide - to help prepare students to succeed in a knowledge-based economy.
Society for Science & the Public is pleased to have received significant support in the past from Google, Agilent Technologies, Northrop Grumman, the Ricoh Corporation, and Shell Oil for the Intel ISEF.
SSP and Intel thank the following organizations for their generous support for the Intel ISEF 2012 Public Day which will be attended by thousands of Pittsburgh-area middle school and high school students and their teachers:
Together we are proud to support these students and hope their participation will inspire future students, educators, parents, scientists and others.
Each year, over 70 organizations representing a wide variety of scientific disciplines affiliate with the Intel ISEF as Special Awards Organizations. These governmental, industrial, and educational institutions present grants, scholarships, internships, and scientific field trips to finalists at affiliated fairs and at the Intel ISEF.
More than 600 individual and team awards are presented every year at the Intel ISEF. Each entry is judged at least four times with category awards given in first, second, third and fourth place. Awards are $3,000, $1,500, $1,000 and $500 respectively in each of the 18 categories. The top winner of the Intel ISEF receives the Gordon Moore Award, and $75,000, with the next top two winners each receiving a $50,000 award. Additional awards worth over $2 million are provided through the Intel ISEF Special Awards program, and include tuition scholarships, summer internships, scientific field trips, and laboratory equipment. They are provided by Intel and about 70 other corporate, professional, and government sponsors annually.
Each year about 1,000 science, engineering, and industry professionals serve as judges for the Intel ISEF. All judges have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree and/or six years of relevant experience. Judges volunteer their time and pay their own travel and accommodation expenses. Learn more about becoming a judge.
Society for Science & the Public, then Science Service, created the National Science Fair for high school winners of local and regional science fairs, first held in Philadelphia in 1950. In 1958, the fair became international for the first time when Japan, Canada, and Germany joined the competition. This annual fair has since grown into the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair with affiliated fairs in about 70 countries, regions, and territories. See a detailed history of the fair, with the number of affiliated fairs and finalists, as well as fair location, by year.
Contact us for more information about the Intel ISEF.
Sign-up for the free SSP newsletter today.