Grand Awards Judges are experienced professionals who volunteer their time to evaluate the projects of all participants in 17 categories. They represent Intel ISEF and select the winners of the top awards presented by the fair in each category. Students who will be judged are in 9th to 12th grade and may have completed their projects individually or as teams of two or three.

If selected, judges are expected to be available during the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, May 12 and all day on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 to complete their judging assignments. You may arrive as early as 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12 for judges training and to familiarize yourself with all of the projects in your assigned category.

Volunteers for Grand Awards judges need to fill out a on-line Judge's Data Form that will be reviewed by the Reno Judging Committee. Candidates to become Grand Awards judges are required to have either:

1. a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree
   
   OR
2. a B.A., B.S. or masters degree and a minimum of six years of professional experience in a scientific discipline related to one of the 17 project categories.

There are two steps to the application procedure. First, you must apply on-line at http://www.intelisef2009.org/ or http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/judging/judapply.asp. You will receive a confirmation that your application has been received via e-mail. Second, your application will be reviewed by the Reno Judging Committee and you will be informed via e-mail if you are approved or disapproved within 4-6 weeks of your on-line submission.

When registering, judges are asked to identify their primary area of expertise (category and subcategory). Generally, judges will be asked to review projects covering a range of topics within their assigned category, since detailed familiarity with a specific subfield is not essential in evaluating most aspects of the projects. It would help the Judging Committee if you would identify a second category in which you are qualified and willing to judge. Your background may include multiple scientific/technical fields or your specialty, such as propulsion systems or bioinformatics, may span more than one of the 17 Intel ISEF categories. However, identification of a second category is not required and, in most instances, judges will be assigned to their primary category.

• Apply on-line

News and Reminders will be e-mailed to all judges on a periodic basis up to the days of judging - Tuesday and Wednesday, May 12-13, 2009.