ISEF Category: Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth.

ISEF Categories: Materials Science: The study of the integration of various materials forms in systems, devices, and components that rely on their unique and specific properties. It involves their synthesis and processing in the form of nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanolayered structures, to coatings and laminates, to bulk monolithic, single-/poly-crystalline, glassy, soft/hard solid, composite, and cellular structures. It also involves measurements of various properties and characterization of the structure across length scales, in addition to multi-scale modeling and computations for process-structure and structure-property correlations.

ISEF CATEGORY: BIOCHEMISTRY (Code: BCHM)

The study of the chemical basis of processes occurring in living organisms, including the processes by which these substances enter into, or are formed in, the organisms and react with each other and the environment.

Studies of the environment and its effect on organisms/systems, including investigations of biological processes such as growth and life span, as well as studies of Earth systems and their evolution.

National Geographic Society has made a two-year commitment to sponsor the earth and environmental sciences category in addition to a delegation of finalists from Washington, DC. Additionally, National Geographic will be sponsoring the Pin Exchange, a signature event at Regeneron ISEF, featuring an ice breaker activity where students trade lapel pins representing their state or country with as many students as they can meet from other places in the United States and around the world.