International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), founded in 1950, the world’s largest international science competition, annually provides a forum for more than 1,500 high school students from about 70 countries to showcase their independent research.

A chance to attend the ISEF is given to the participants of ISEF-affiliated regional and state fairs from which the best win the opportunity to attend ISEF. (Georgian- American High School is an only Intel ISEF-affiliated regional fair in the country).

The ISEF unites these young scientific minds, showcasing their talent on an international stage, enabling them to submit their work to judging by doctoral level scientists – and providing the opportunity to compete for over $3 million in prizes and scholarships. Participants are judged on their creative ability and scientific thought, as well as the thoroughness, skill, and clarity shown in their projects.

The annual results of  ISEF are published in media outlets as varied as The New York Times, CNN, Forbes magazine, ABC World News, The Washington Post, and local television stations and newspapers around the world. 

Grand Awards of the ISEF included:

The Gordon E. Moore Award
This $75,000 top award of the ISEF is provided to the top Best in Category project. (Gordon Moore co-founded Intel Corporation in 1968, serving as president  as well as Chairman of the Board before his retirement in 1997. With degrees in chemistry and physics from University of California, Berkeley (B.S.) and Caltech (Ph.D.), Moore is widely known for “Moore’s Law.”

Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards Intel and SSP will present $50,000 awards to two Best in Category projects. 

Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award (R. Herschbach, Harvard Professor and 1986 Nobel Laureate in chemistry). An all-expense-paid trip enables three Finalists to attend the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS) which includes attendance at the Nobel Prize ceremonies, in Stockholm, Sweden.

European Union Contest for Young Scientists An all-expense-paid trip enables attendance at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists – located in a new city each year.
Intel Best of Category Awards Best of Category Winners are provided a $5,000 scholarship.

ISEF Grand Awards Four finalists are awarded  of some amount of money in each of the 17

 ISEF categories.

Team projects will be judged and awarded within their scientific category. Team members will split the award equally.

Georgian-American High School has been an only ISEF affiliated organization in Georgia since 2005. Since then the school has taken part in International Science and Engineering Fair several times: Phoenix, Arizona, 2005;   Indiana, Indianapolis, 2006; New Mexico, Albuquerque, 2007 May, Atlanta, Georgia 2008.

Participating in a science fair can be a very rewarding experience. It is the culmination of conducting an independent research project and provides valuable feedback as you continue your scientific pursuits. However, careful planning and consideration of the rules to ensure the safety of the student researcher and any research subjects is critical to this success.