WHAT’s NEW and/or CONTINUING for 2025 SEFMD and MSEF (10/3/2024)

* We have migrated our database from our existing site to zFairs. Consequently, the process of affiliating a school, signing up teachers (and judges), and having students register has totally changed. See the link on the Resources page of the website for the directions.

* The 2025 SEFMD and 2025 MSEF will be in-person fairs. Students will prepare a project display board that will be brought to Huntington Place (for the SEFMD) and used for the final round of judging as well as displayed for public viewing. (See “What’s Due When” for detailed information.)

* Students have the option of submitting additional materials online, as has been done for the past several years. This may include a pdf presentation, video presentation, photographs, quad chart, etc. Some professional award organizations will judge projects using only the uploaded material and will not judge projects in person. Any optional materials need to be submitted by the entry deadline specified on the calendar. (See “What’s Due When” for detailed information.)

* The entry fee will be $20/project (individual or team) for ALL projects.

* 3rd-5th graders may again enter the Science Fair. Students may carry out individual projects or work in groups of 2-10 students. The categories and specific requirements for elementary student projects can be found on the science fair website.

* Projects will be checked for Display and Safety Violations, both on line and in person. All materials submitted on line by February 14, 2025 will be checked and if there are any problems (for example, student name is included or there are inappropriate photos), the student will receive an email and be allowed to correct the violation within 24 hours (before judging occurs). During the project set-up day (Tuesday, March 11, 2025) at Huntington Place, project display boards will be checked again for any possible display and safety violations.

* Prior to 2023, the display board (and PDF Presentation) was prohibited from having a section labeled ‘Acknowledgements’. That disqualification reason has subsequently been removed. If the student wants to have a section on the board (or in the PDF presentation) labeled acknowledgements, it will be permitted. No references to mentors or institutions should be mentioned anywhere else on the board.

* Maximum height of a board (including the table) has been reduced from 9 feet to 8 feet.