The STEM Action Grant program aims to bolster and support community-driven nonprofit organizations that are working to enhance the public’s understanding of science and to increase participation of underrepresented populations in STEM fields. Since 2016, the Society has awarded $410,000 to 64 organizations wanting to improve access to STEM education.

Affiliated fairs are members of the Society for Science network. These competitions exist in nearly every state in the United States as well as over 70 other countries, regions and territories. Fairs are conducted at local, regional, state and national levels and can be affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and/or the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. To compete at ISEF, a 9th-12th grade student must first win the honor through participation at a Society-affiliated fair. Each affiliated fair has a designated number of projects (individual or team) that they may support to come to ISEF.

Students finalists overwhelmingly say that the most significant interactions that they have at the fair are with the judges. Likewise, judges find their discussions with these outstanding students to be a positive and uplifting experiences. We encourage you to volunteer your time to support these young scientists and engineers and to be inspired!