Pre-Collegiate Competitions

Congratulations to all students who have qualified for the statewide Georgia Science & Engineering Fair by advancing from a GSEF-affiliated Regional Fair. GSEF will take place at The Classic Center in downtown Athens, GA, March 30 - April 1, 2023.

To participate in GSEF, all qualifying students must complete both of the following steps within three (3) calendar days following your Regional Fair. See the GSEF Registration Instructions for full details.

1. Submit your signed GSEF Participation Agreement(s), required Research Forms, and the GSEF registration fee (cash/check) to your Regional Fair Director. (Or pay the registration fee online.)
2. Complete the GSEF Project Entry Form.

All GSEF exhibitors and supporting adults are responsible for knowing the information in the GSEF Exhibitor Handbook, which includes the Attendance Policy, Display & Safety Regulations, and Judging Criteria. Additional information for all GSEF attendees, including parking and hotel options, can be found in Information for Attendees.

The 75th Georgia Science & Engineering Fair (GSEF) is scheduled to take place at the Classic Center in downtown Athens, GA, March 30 - April 1, 2023.

Researchers in grades 6-12 may qualify for GSEF by advancing from a school level fair to one of the GSEF-Affiliated Regional Fairs across the state, where they may be selected to compete at GSEF.

All students and sponsoring teachers who are interested in conducting scientific research and qualifying for regional or statewide science and engineering fairs must follow the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research. Proper protocol and prior approvals will be required for all students to be eligible to compete at affiliated regional fairs across the state and GSEF.

BEFORE BEGINNING EXPERIMENTATION: It is the responsibility of the student and the Adult Sponsor to evaluate student research to determine if the project requires forms and/or approval prior to experimentation, especially projects that use human participants, vertebrate animals, or potentially hazardous biological agents. Students are encouraged to consult with the local SRC/IRB to ensure they have followed all rules and completed all required forms. Students and mentors are strongly encouraged to use the ISEF Rules Wizard tool to help determine what forms are required for the project.

• Required Forms Guide & Checklist
• Official GSEF Abstract Form
• Form 1: Checklist for Adult Sponsor
• Form 1A: Student Checklist
• Research Plan/Project Summary Instructions
• Form 1B: Approval Form
• Form 1C: Regulated Research Institutional / Industrial Setting
• Form 2: Qualified Scientist Form
• Form 3: Risk Assessment Form
• Form 4: Human Participants Form
• Sample Informed Consent Form
• Form 5A: Vertebrate Animals Form
• Form 5B: Vertebrate Animals Form (Regulated Research Institution)
• Form 6A: Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Form
• Form 6B: Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form
• Form 7: Continuation / Research Progression Form
• ISEF Rules & Guidelines (full text)

About GSEF

The Georgia Science & Engineering Fair (GSEF) is Georgia’s premier forum for students to showcase their original research, compete for awards, and interact with top-level professional scientists. The science fair system in Georgia serves not only to recognize students for their achievements, but also to prepare students to succeed and flourish in an increasingly complex and highly technical world by becoming problem solvers, critical thinkers, reflective learners, and more productive and influential members of their communities. GSEF is held annually in March/early April at the Classic Center in downtown Athens, Georgia.

Every year thousands of students compete in local science fairs across the state. The winners of these fairs are invited to compete in one of the GSEF-Affiliated Regional Fairs in January and February, and the top projects from each regional fair are invited to attend and compete at GSEF. At GSEF, the exhibitors have the opportunity to share their research with some of the top scientists in Georgia and compete for awards and scholarships. A select number of projects will be chosen to advance to the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, Texas May 13-19, 2023.

Mission Statement: The Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF) is dedicated to encouraging all Georgia's teachers and school districts to incorporate active science and engineering research into their classrooms in order to help students 1) develop a love for science, 2) learn to isolate important problems and to attack and solve these problems within the framework of organized, logical thought, careful research, and a detailed analysis of facts, and 3) showcase and celebrate their achievements.