Washington State Science and Engineering Fair

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Registration

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.

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Fair Day Information

Posted on March 3, 2024 by Registration

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!
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Project Display DOs & DON’Ts

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Registration

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!

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Deadline Reminders

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Registration

Students, here are the upcoming deadlines for the Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair:  

1) Research Plan and Form Corrections are due by 9pm February 27: The SRC is working to review your projects.  You can check on your project’s approval inside STEM Wizard — milestones turn green with a checkmark once they have been completed and approved.  The SRC is sending messages to students who need to make research plan corrections before their research plan can be approved.  Students can view these messages inside STEM Wizard and also should receive a copy at the email address they entered when they registered. Be sure to click the blue SAVE button after you have made any corrections to your Research Plan.  

The SRC/IRB is also working on approving forms and is sending messages about items that need to be fixed for Forms to be approved.  Please make these corrections promptly.  Let us know if you have any questions or need help uploading forms.  You can upload corrected forms into STEM Wizard or email them to “registration@midcolumbiasciencefair.org“.  You can see which forms have been approved inside your STEM Wizard account.

2) Additional Information Milestone due by 9pm February 27: This milestone has some short (mostly yes/no) questions that may qualify your project for certain special awards.

3) Project Display Information: As you prepare for the fair, please read through the rules for your project display: https://midcolumbiasciencefair.org/project-display-information/  Your project board should fully explain your project on its own – no active internet or email connections are allowed as part of your project display.

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Teacher Announcements

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Registration

We are looking forward to seeing your students’ projects at the Columbia Center Mall on March 7!  Here are some important updates and reminders about this year’s fair:

Project Review: The SRC is working to review projects and will send messages to students if they need to make corrections to their Research Plans or Forms before they can be approved.  Please encourage your students to complete these corrections promptly so their projects can be approved.  Let us know if you have any questions or need help uploading forms.  Students can upload corrected forms into their STEM Wizard accounts, or email them to “registration@midcolumbiasciencefair.org“.  The deadline for completing any corrections requested by the SRC is Tuesday, February 27.  You and your students can see which forms have been approved inside your STEM Wizard accounts.

Certificate of Insurance: All schools need to have a current Certificate of Insurance on file at the Columbia Center Mall.  Certificates should be sent to Kelly Odland at kodland@simon.com.  More instructions and an example certificate are at: https://midcolumbiasciencefair.org/teachers/teachers-documentation/

Interpreters: If you have ESL students, you may bring support staff from your school to Interpret for these students during the Judge Interviews. Display boards must be in English. Email judging@midcolumbiasciencefair.org by March 5 with the names of students who will be receiving interpreting services and the names of the interpreters.

Project Display Information: Please make sure your students are aware of the rules for their project display: https://midcolumbiasciencefair.org/project-display-information/  No active internet or email connections are allowed as part of the project display.  

Additional Information Milestone: The deadline for students to complete the “Additional Information” milestone is February 27.  This milestone has some short questions that may qualify projects for certain special awards.

Payment: The participation fee of $5 per student will be collected when you check in at the fair.  We ask that teachers who are bringing a group of students collect payment for all their students and then submit one single payment at fair check-in.  Payment by Purchase Order or Check is highly preferred. Payment may be made by check, PO, or cash.

Stipends: MCSF has stipends available to help defray travel and/or substitute teacher expenses.  One $50 stipend is available per school.  If you are interested, email fair director Joyce Stark at: joyce.stark@sunnysideschools.org.  Include your school’s mailing address.  Checks will be payable to the school and sent after the fair.

Schedule: The general fair schedule is at: https://midcolumbiasciencefair.org/students/schedule/  Lunch breaks are staggered by division to avoid crowding in the food court.

WSSEF: Students who participate in the Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair are also eligible to participate in the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF).  We’ll send more information about WSSEF in early March and will open up a new milestone then where students can indicate if they want to participate at WSSEF.  

SRC Updates: We’ve received an update from the State-level SRC that if a student’s project uses a hot plate or involves boiling water, the student should mention this in their Research Plan safety section and include a Form 3 (risk assessment form).  Safety precautions should include: eye protection, using gloves to lift the hot container, non-flammable table, not filling container near top, no headphones/earbuds while working in the lab, knowing where fire extinguisher is and how to use it, and not leaving hot plate unattended.

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Project Registration Reminders

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Registration

Hi Students,

We look forward to seeing your projects at the 2024 Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair!  The deadline to complete the Research Plan and Files & Forms milestones is just over a month away, on February 13.  February 13 is also the deadline for obtaining SRC/IRB pre-approval (if needed):

2024 MCSF Dates & Deadlines:

  • Feb 13 at 9pm: “Research Plan” and “Files & Forms” milestones due
  • Feb 13 at 9pm: deadline for SRC or IRB pre-approval
  • Feb 27 at 9pm: deadline to complete any corrections to your Research Plan and Files & Forms
  • Feb 27 at 9pm: “Additional Information” milestone due
  • March 4 at 9pm: “Abstract” milestone due
  • March 7: Fair Day!  

Here are some important reminders about Research Plans & Forms:

  • Project registration is done by completing a series of “milestones” in the your STEM Wizard account.   Milestones will turn green with a checkmark once you have entered the requested information and it has been approved.
  • You need to include enough steps and details in your Research Plan for the SRC and IRB to understand your experiment.  Number the steps in your procedure.
  • Middle school students should state that they will be calculating averages and graphing their data in the “data analysis” section of the Research Plan.  High schoolers should also include statistics.
  • While there are a few exceptions, projects involving human subjects (including surveys and testing on yourself), animals, and bacteria require project approval from the SRC or IRB BEFORE experimentation can begin. Please be mindful that our SRC and IRB reviewers are volunteering their time, and understand that it may take 7-10 days for them to complete review of your project.  See https://midcolumbiasciencefair.org/students/src-irb/ for more details about projects with human subjects, vertebrates, pathogens, and hazardous substances.  Including all the requested information in your research plan will speed up the review process!
  • Bacteria projects cannot be completed at home.  If your project studies bacteria, we suggest ordering the K-12 strain of E. coli from Carolina Biological Supply. This strain is exempt from pre-approval, but you must state that you are using the K-12 strain of E. coli in your procedure and purchase from Carolina.
  • The SRC reviewers will send you a message if you need to make Research Plan or Forms corrections. Please make these corrections promptly so your project can be approved.
  • If your project doesn’t require SRC/IRB pre-approval, you can begin experimentation as soon as your adult sponsor has approved your research plan.
  • Please check that all your forms are complete and have signatures and dates before you upload thiem.  See https://midcolumbiasciencefair.org/students/src-irb/#general for details about the forms required for all projects. 
  • If you edit your research plan in STEM Wizard after it has been approved, the milestone will switch back to “Not Approved”.

Good luck with your project! Please let us know if you have any questions:

registration@midcolumbiasciencefair.org for questions about registering in STEM Wizard
src@midcolumbiasciencefair.org for questions about SRC approval
irb@midcolumbiasciencefair.org for questions about projects with human subjects
director@midcolumbiasciencefair.org for overall fair questions

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Judge Registration is Now Open

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Registration

We are seeking around 130 qualified judges for the 2024 Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair.  Judges will interview students starting at 9am on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick WA. Judges need to arrive by 8:30 am and most judges are done by mid-afternoon. If you have a scientific, engineering, health, agriculture or food sciences background and think you might enjoy interacting with and encouraging the young scientists at the Fair, please volunteer to help judge.

Register at: https://mcsf.stemwizard.com/public_site/judge_register

Visit https://midcolumbiasciencefair.org/judges/ for more information about Judging at the Mid-Columbia Science and Engineering Fair. 

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MCSF Students chosen as delegates for the American Junior Academy of Science!

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Registration

Congratulations to Advaitha Motkuri from Richland High School and Matthew (Jerry) Yao from Walla Walla High School, who were recently named as delegates to the American Junior Academy of Sciences (AJAS)! Advaitha and Matthew will now travel with the other Washington State delegates on an expenses-paid trip to attend the annual AJAS conference, which will be held this February in Denver, Colorado. You can learn more about the projects by Advaitha, Matthew, and the other Washington State delegates at: https://washacad.org/2024-ajas-awardees/

from the AJAS website: The American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) is the only national honor society recognizing America’s premier high school students for outstanding scientific research. The AJAS mission is to introduce, encourage, and accelerate pre-college students into the professional world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Each state’s Academy of Science nominates high school students as AJAS delegates. The chosen delegates are then invited to attend the AJAS annual conference, which is held in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting. During the conference, AJAS delegates tour local institutions of scientific importance, share their research with their peers and with other scientists, attend conference sessions, and are inducted as lifetime Fellows into the American Junior Academy of Science.

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Student Registration is now open!

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Registration

Student registration is now open for the 2024 Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Please see the Student Registration page for details and the link to the MCSF STEM Wizard page to begin your registration. Email registration@midcolumbiasciencefair.org if you have any questions about registration. We look forward to seeing your projects at this year’s fair!

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Teacher Information Meeting – November 30 at 7pm

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Registration

Teachers interested in learning about the 2024 Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair are invited to attend a Zoom meeting on Thursday, November 30 from 7-8pm. During this meeting, the Fair Director and SRC and IRB Chairs will give an overview of the fair, explain the process for student registration & answer questions about the SRC and IRB review process. The meeting will be recorded and posted on the MCSF website.

Please register for a teacher account at: https://mcsf.stemwizard.com/ or send an email to registration@midcolumbiasciencefair.org to be added to the contact list for this meeting. We will send the Zoom link by email a few days before the meeting.

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