Serving as a Science Fair Judge is an opportunity to engage with young minds and provide valuable experienced feedback and perspective to shape and increase student's understanding. It is a unique opportunity and environment to foster an enthusiasm for the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

The Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair is a competition for students from 23 school districts and 12 counties who are advancing from their local schools. It is among the largest of the 13 regional science fairs held in Texas. More than 3,500 third - twelfth grade students and their families attend each year. The festival offers a public viewing of the science projects, educational booths and scientific demonstrations for the kids.

It is a valuable way to support our community by investing in our most important resource, our future.

We need approximately 200 Elementary judges (Elementary) (3^rd - 6^th) and 350 judges for the Junior/Senior Divisions (middle/high school).

If you have questions about being a judge or general volunteer before registering online, please email Ingrid Weigand.

Elementary Division: Adults with a good general Science or Teaching education and the ability to talk to young children.

For the Junior and Senior levels we are looking for judges who have experience in specific fields of study that correspond to one of the Regeneron ISEF science project categories.

Junior Division: Undergraduate (3rd year and above) and graduate students, as well as professionals with either a degree or 3 years of experience in the applicable science category

Senior Division: Graduate students, professionals with either a degree or 5 years of experience in the applicable science category.

Senior and Junior Divisions Judging Process

Junior/Senior Judge Schedule

Students submit their projects in one of 18 scientific categories. Judging is competitive and the top two winners in each category from both divisions advance to the state fair. The overall top six projects in the Senior Division, called "Best of Fair", advance directly to the international competition. About 7-8 projects are assigned to each group of judges (typically consisting of 4-5 people). Judges will be able to preview student documentation prior to the scheduled interviews. Each judging team will interview students individually; after that, judges will confer and jointly determine the ranking. Senior categories will be judged on Thursday, Feb 23, from 8 am to noon; Junior ones that same afternoon, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. We offer two options for online orientation sessions in the weeks leading up to the fair.

Elementary Division Judging Process

Elementary Judges Schedule

Elementary students submit their projects by grade level; each one is judged on its own merit and receives a 1st, 2nd or 3rd rating ribbon. Each judge is assigned six to seven projects. Elementary projects will be judged on Saturday, Feb 25, 5th-6th graders from 8 am to 10:15; 3rd-4th graders from 10:30 am to 1 p.m. We offer two options for online orientation sessions in the weeks leading up to the fair.