Students who participate in the Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair can also present their project at the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF).  The 2024 WSSEF will be at Bremerton High School on April 5 (grades 1-8) and April 6 (grades 9-12).  Learn more about WSSEF at wssef.org.

If you want to attend this year’s WSSEF, you must answer “yes” inside the “Promotion to WSSEF” milestone in your STEM Wizard account by 9pm on March 11, 2024. You must fully participate in the Mid-Columbia Fair to be eligible to present your project at WSSEF. Once the Mid-Columbia Fair is complete, the fair director will electronically promote projects to the WSSEF STEM Wizard site. This will send your research plan, forms, and Abstract directly to the WSSEF STEM Wizard site. DO NOT directly register on the WSSEF site, your project must be promoted from the Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair. 

Once your project has been promoted from the Mid-Columbia Fair, you will receive an auto STEM Wizard email. You can check that your project has been promoted to WSSEF by logging into your account and STEM Wizard will show “Washington State Science and Engineering Fair” at the top of the page. Contact registration@midcolumbiasciencefair.org with any questions about promoting your project to WSSEF.

After your project has been promoted, you must log into your account at: https://wssef.stemwizard.com and complete the following items:

by March 15, 2024 at 11:55 PM:
1. Pay the $30 WSSEF Entry Fee.  WSSEF Entry Fees are separate from from any Regional Fair Entry Fees. You are responsible for paying the entry fees or checking with your school, fair or organization to make sure they have arranged for payment.
2. Abstract milestone – Any edits between the regional fair and WSSEF must be completed.
3. All WSSEF milestones must be completed including the “Additional Information” Milestone.
4. Optional Research Paper for Grade 9 – 12 can be submitted if desired
5, Any category changes can be requested from the WSSEF Registration Team. Send an email to registration@wssef.org with your request. If approved, the WSSEF Registration Team will contact you by email.

Fair Day is almost here!  We look forward to seeing your projects on Thursday, March 7, at the Columbia Center Mall.  Here is some more information about the fair:

• Student Check-In is between 8-9am.  Projects need to be set up by 9am.
• Enter through the MALL entrance next to JC Penney on the West side of the mall.  (This is the mall entrance between JCP and Macy’s Men’s/Children’s).  All other mall doors will be locked.
• The project entry fee is $5.  If students are paying this individually at check-in, please bring exact change or a check made out to “Mid-Columbia Science Fair”.
• Students will receive two nametags when they check in.  One needs to be worn for judging.  The second is for the student to wear at the awards ceremony.
• Each student will be interviewed by at least 3 judges.  Students should prepare a 3-5 minute talk about their project, then be ready to answer questions from their judges.  The judges are excited to learn about your projects!
• Review the project display rules at: https://midcolumbiasciencefair.org/project-display-information/
• Bring a book or homework to work on during any down time.
• Lunch breaks will be staggered by division to reduce crowding.  Students can purchase lunch at the food court, or bring food from home.
• The awards ceremony will be on Saturday, March 9, from 1-4:30pm at Chief Joseph Middle School (504 Wilson St., Richland).
• Project displays should be removed from the mall between 5-8pm on Saturday.
• Please ask if you have any other questions.  See you at the fair!

We look forward to seeing your projects at the Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair on Thursday, March 7! Projects need to be checked in and set up at the Columbia center Mall in Kennewick between 8-9am.   Judge interviews begin at 9am.  We have a couple of reminders as you work on your projects for the fair:

Abstracts – the Abstract milestone inside STEM Wizard is due by 9pm on Monday, March 4.

Display and Safety Review – Check your projects before coming to the Columbia Center Mall:

The Scientific Review Committee (SRC) will be checking display boards, reports / lab notebooks / journals during judging.  Since the fair is at the Columbia Center Mall it is important NOT to have items displayed that are dangerous to the public and also to follow the rules on the Project Display Information page. 

The SRC will inspect projects and remove or tape over any items that are not to be displayed on your project.  These items can be picked up after judging at the Special Awards Table.  A sticker will be placed by your project if it is approved.

Project Display DOs and DON’Ts:

1. DON’T Display the following:

• containers of water/ chemicals/ any other liquids.
• plants, animals, soil, food
• petri dishes with bacteria, containers with soil, baggies with mold, lab equipment
• containers with residues from experiments, explosives, corroded metals or batteries
• flames or sharp objects

DO Use photos of the above items instead

2.  DO Focus on the hands of the student working on the experiment if you want to include pictures of the student experimenter.
DON’T include photos with peoples’ faces on your display. 

3. DO Include credit lines: photo taken by student… or image from …  
DON’T Forget to credit photos and images.

4. DO Plan on alternatives for the use of electricity.
DON’T Plan on electrical outlets. They are not provided.  

5. DO make sure your display board can explain your project on its own.  
DON’T include active internet connections in your display.

6.  DO Place names on back of display boards and on the inside of binders, journals and reports.
DON’T Write your name, school or other institutions on the front of display, binder, report or journal.

7.  DO Put acknowledgments in your report
DON’T make references to mentors, social media, QR codes, contact information or display ribbons or awards from other fairs on your display.

8.  DO Post abstract on your display board.
DON’T Forget your abstract. 

9.  DO Focus on the results and conclusion of your experiment on the display board.  
DON’T Distribute give-away items such as printed paper info about your project or food samples. 

See the Project Display Information page for the full Project Display Rules. Good luck with your projects!