2026 Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN BSEF
The 2026 Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair (BSEF) project submission portal for competition will open on Monday, December 8, 2025 and close at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 through the ProjectBoard platform.
Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate.
The submission fee is $50.00 per student.
The 2026 Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at CAS in Columbus.
To begin a project or to prepare to submit a project for the 2026 BSEF – students must create or re-activate last years account in ProjectBoard by February 4, 2026. If participating through a classroom educator/facilitator, that person will connect the student with their ProjectBoard class.
If the student is independent (not connected to a classroom educator or afterschool facilitator), please contact the Ohio Academy of Science to get connected with a class facilitator at: info@ohiosci.org
Submitting a BSEF Project
You can browse previous BSEF projects on ProjectBoard (pictured right).
Important Dates
Project Submission Opens: December 8, 2025
Project Submission Closes: 5:00 PM on Monday, February 4 2026
2026 BSEF Fair – in-person at CAS on Saturday, March 7, 2026
2025 ISEF FINALISTS
Congratulations to the following students who will be representing the Buckeye Science & Engineering Fair at ISEF 2025
Please click the student’s name to see their ProjectBoard
Jack D’Cruz – University School, Hunting Valley, 11th
Kyla Fallis – Bath HS, Lima, 12th
Kira Florek – Mentor HS, Mentor, 12th
Mateo Johnson – Metro School, Columbus, 11th
Kara Jones – Central Christian HS, Kidron, 12th
Anuki Mudalige – Olentangy Orange HS, Lewis Center, 9th
Anshul Sharma – University School, Hunting Valley, 11th
Elena Zhu – Upper Arlington HS, Upper Arlington, 11th
Michael Zhu – University School, Hunting Valley, 11th
Please see the full press release here.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
The Buckeye Science & Engineering Fair (BSEF) provides all Ohio’s students in grades 9-12 with an opportunity to qualify for the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF). The ISEF is the largest and most prestigious science fair in the world. The BSEF will advance a total of six (6) student projects to the ISEF, where they will be joined by students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 75 countries, regions, and territories. ISEF students will compete for more than $4 million in scholarships and awards. For information, please visit Regeneron ISEF.
The BSEF is a separate fair and is not affiliated with, nor requires participation in either Regional Science Day or State Science Day. As an affiliated ISEF fair, the BSEF will follow the ISEF rules and form requirements.
Melvin Scholars are selected from the BSEF based upon the quality of their research project.
The 2025 Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at CAS, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43202.
View the schedule
Parking information
View photos from previous events
Regeneron ISEF 2025 will take place in Columbus, OH from May 11-16, 2025.
