The Academy of Science – St. Louis Science Fair's Honors Division is an advanced research competition, open to all 9-12 students living in or enrolled in St. Louis City or St. Louis County schools. The Honors fair is free to participate in and students self-select in with teacher approval. College scholarships are awarded to students with high scoring projects and up to three students with the highest scoring projects are chosen to represent The Academy of Science - St. Louis Science Fair at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). 

 

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Project Submission Requirements: 

 

 

Round 1 Project Requirements

Projects will be uploaded through ProjectBoard between January 30 at 12A and February 5 at 11:59P. Projects will be scored by judges between February 9-13. Rubrics are based on ISEF Grand Award Judging Criteria. 

 

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  Project Title (Must fit in 60 characters)

 

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  Abstract (must fit in 699 characters)

See requirements here >> https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/how-to-write-an-isef-abstract/ 

 

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  Required ISEF Paperwork - 

Projects that do not have correct paperwork or approvals will be provided feedback but will not be eligible for finalists selection or prizes in the Honors Division. 

ALL PROJECTS MUST SUBMIT FORM 1, 1A, 1B AND RESEARCH PLAN. You can access fillable pdf files of all ISEF Paperwork at >> https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/forms/ 

 

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  Quad Chart 

A single page divided into four quadrants providing a high-level summary of the project.  It is intended to be more visual than detailed to quickly introduce your judges to what is important about your project. See guidelines and template HERE.

 

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  Presentation uploaded as a .pptx file

This presentation should stand on it's own and not require additional explanation to understand your project. See specific requirements for Maker Projects HERE and specific requirements for Science Projects HERE.

 

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  Video 2-5min (NO .HEIC files!!) 

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  Explaining your project, including materials/methods, results, analysis and conclusions.
• You may reference data that can be found in your "Project Presentation" or utilize screen sharing capabilities.
• Acceptable methods of video recording are screen share recordings or a video camera recording a physical presentation.
• Videos must show all the participants and feature the voices of all participants.
• The video may include the student’s name but should be the only submission piece that does.

 

----------------- If you are selected as a finalist you will also need to prepare the materials below.—----------------

 

Round 2 Finalists Requirements

 

Finalists will be announced online and notified by email on or before February 16th at 12P. Finalists must be present on February 21 between 12P-6P to participate in and be a spectator for Round 2 presentations. 

 

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  Project Title

 

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  Abstract 

 

See requirements here >> https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/how-to-write-an-isef-abstract/ 

 

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  Required ISEF Paperwork - 

 

ALL PROJECTS MUST SUBMIT FORM 1, 1A, 1B AND RESEARCH PLAN

 

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  10-15min Research Presentation - Submission information TBA

 

Use of visual aids is permitted, including poster boards and powerpoint presentation. This presentation is done on a stage to an audience of judges, other finalists, caregivers and teachers, and Junior Academy students. Be prepared for up to 5min of questions from the audience following your presentation. 

 

 

 

 

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Important Dates: 

 

After completing their research, participants submit their projects for an online round of judging that occurs February 7 - February 12, 2026. Judges select ten finalist projects for the final presentation round which will be held in-person on February 21, 2026. Based on these presentations, college scholarships are awarded to students with high-scoring projects, and up to three students with the highest-scoring projects are chosen to represent The Academy of Science - St. Louis Science Fair at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, AZ, which will be held May 9-16, 2026. Honors Division students are also automatically considered for special awards in the K-12 Fair held in April in St. Louis.

 

 

Are your ready to conduct your research?? 

 

STEP 1: PREPARE FOR RESEARCH

• Review the ISEF Rules and Guidelines - selected Rules and Regulations can be found at the bottom of this page for quick reference, however, all ISEF Rules and Regulations must be followed for all Honors Division projects. 
  

• Use the ISEF Forms Wizard, the Academy of Science Forms Navigation FlowChart or work with your teacher to complete the required ISEF forms.

  • If you are completing an Engineering, Experiment, or Invention project, your project will REQUIRE SRC approval. 

• If you are completing an Experiment using HUMANS, your project will also require IRB Approval. 

• Submit the applicable forms (as PDFs) for your project to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIiDuR6dhObBflF-1kEN42c1Hgg8Jq-7919swVfox5BLEL9g/viewform?usp=dialog

•  Once you have received all necessary approvals you may move on to STEP 2: Registration. 

 

STEP 2: HONORS DIVISION REGISTRATION

• Teachers must register an estimated number of projects BEFORE students can register their own projects. Teacher/ School registration OPENS Nov 3 and CLOSES Jan 16. 

  • Registration Link can be found here:  https://forms.gle/1dGZf4suMXQxtiaQ6
  • As apart of Registration, Teachers will receive a district-specific password. Students will need this to register their projects.

• Once Teachers have completed regitsration - Students may complete Project Registration. Student Project Registration OPENS Nov 17 and CLOSES Jan 23. .

  • Registration Link can be found here: Link will be posted on Nov 17

• After completing Project Registration, Students will recieve an email to make a ProjectBoard account (this is where the projects for Round 1 will be uploaded)

 

 

 

MOLD/BACTERIA/POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (PHBA)
Projects that handle, test, or sample bacteria, mold, fungi, or potentially hazardous biooloogical agents can be submitted with pre-approval by The Academy of Science - St. Louis Scientific Review Committee (SRC). For pre-approval, please complete this Risk Assessment Form to submit your project idea for review. For a list of Mold/Bacteria/PHBA studies that DO NOT require prior Academy SRC approval, CLICK HERE. 

You may want to reference pages 15 - 21 (Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Rules and Hazardous Chemicals, Activities or Devices Rules) of the ISEF International Rules and Guidelines for Affiliated Fairs for information on what is considered a PHBA. If it is determined by the Academy SRC, or if you are aware, your project contains a PHBA, you will be required to fill out a Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment Form (6A).

 

HUMAN STUDIES

• Projects involving humans will require IRB approval in addition to SRC approval. 
• Projects studying bullying/depression/anxiety will NOT be allowed.
  Instead, student may submit a research literature review paper where students can study RELIABLE DATA. NO SURVEY OR INTERVIEWING of students will be allowed regarding bullying/depression/anxiety. Please Note: Research Literature Review Papers are not appropriate for students entering the Academy's Honors Division, and are not eligible for competition in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
  
• No projects allowed that can cause potential harm to humans.
• Human subjects (and parents for anyone under age 18) need to sign a Human Informed Consent Form (i.e.,-permission form) 
• Students with projects involving humans need to include the following in their research plan-
  • What procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality?
  • Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study and what they will be asked to do.
• Students with projects involving humans will need to include a sample of their human consent form with their logbook. 

 

ANIMALS
No animals (this includes invertebrates) should be harmed or caused pain. Projects with animals will require SRC approval.

 

If you have questions, please contact your science teacher or the Academy Science Fair Director.

  

 

AWARDS

Up to two students with the highest scoring projects, as determined by Academy of Science - St. Louis Science Fair judges and with projects meeting all ISEF Rules and Requirements, will be invited to represent The Academy of Science – St. Louis Science Fair at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) from May 10-16, 2025 in Columbus, OH.

The top 10-12 Honors Division Students will receive college scholarship awards of $200 or more!

All Honors Division projects are automatically entered in The Academy of Science – St. Louis K-12 regional Science Fair and considered for Special Awards. Special Awards are announced and posted to the Science Fair website in May 2025.

   

 If you have questions, contact your science teacher or the Science Fair Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .