Who may participate?
The Coriell Science Fair is open to students in grades 6 through 12 who attend schools in Burlington, Camden, or Gloucester counties.
What if my school has a science fair?
If your school has a science fair, you can participate in both your school's fair and the Coriell Science Fair. (Remember to plan ahead! All regulated projects which might enter Coriell's Fair must be pre-approved by Coriell before they are started.)
Why should I participate?
At Coriell, we believe that participation in the Fair offers you a foundation on which to build your interest in the sciences by engaging in self-directed research, learning to manage real-world regulatory requirements, interacting with and communicating your ideas to practicing scientists and educators, and representing your school in competition. You will have the opportunity to win certificates, cash prizes, and scholarships at the Coriell Fair, and advance to the Delaware Valley Regional Science Fair (DVSF) and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
How do I participate?
To take part in the Coriell Science Fair, visit STEM Wizard, to register your project, complete your ISEF forms, and submit your paperwork to Coriell for approval. With completed (and approved) forms, you may begin your research project. Don't forget – deadlines can sneak up quickly! Keep current with all the Fair's important dates and deadlines.
How do I access STEM Wizard?
Click here to access STEM Wizard. You can register and submit all forms and project details electronically.
How do I upload my forms into STEM Wizard?
You can use the Form Uploader, which can be found on the left-hand side of STEM Wizard, once you are logged in. Remember to upload each form individually. For additional help, visit the "Help" tab in STEM Wizard, where you will find guides on Files & Forms.
Who will I compete against?
Individual projects are judged by categories and also by grade groups. Individual student entries are divided into the following grade groups:
6-8th grade
9-10th grade
11-12th grade
Team entries, regardless of categories, are divided by grade groups: 6-8th grade and 9-12th grade.
Where may I perform my research?
Generally, risk-free projects can be done at home with adult supervision. Low-risk regulated projects can be done at school. Higher-risk regulated projects should be done at a regulated research institute/industrial setting.
Does my project need to be approved?
Yes, all projects must have approved forms prior to experimentation.
If your project requires only the basic registration forms then you only need approval from an adult sponsor before beginning your project.
When a student's project involves either human participants, vertebrae animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, or hazardous chemicals, activities, or devices, additional forms and approvals are required. For help determining if your student's projects contain one of these elements, you can consult the ISEF Wizard, a tool that will help you fill out the necessary forms.
In such instances, a scientific review committee would have to approve the project. If a school does not have a scientific review committee, Coriell might be able to approve the student's work. Please contact us with any questions.
Can I use AI in my project?
Student researchers can utilize AI, but must clearly document in their Procedure how Artificial Intelligence was used in their project.
Students must cite the use of AI just as they should cite research from the literature. This documentation should be clearly cited in their procedure, logbook, research paper, or poster. The absence of this documentation will result in disqualification from the competition.
It is the responsibility of the student(s) to disclose the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. There are legitimate uses for AI. The student should are expected to explain why and how AI was used to judges. Judges must be able to understand the details of their use of AI.
How can I prepare for the judge interview portion?
In addition to the overall strength of a student's project and the development of an effective project display, judges also evaluate the student's interview performance.
Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:
Where is the additional information that used to be on Coriell.org?
Much of this information was migrated to STEM Wizard. Check the homepage "Useful Links" section, or the "Help" section once you are logged in.
Who do I contact with additional questions?
Please contact us at sciencefair@coriell.org.
