Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair
- Requires Preregistration
- Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12
- Content Themes: Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Health and Nutrition, Outer Space, Physics
A science fair unlike any other.
The Competition
Each year, students from nearly 100 schools participate in the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair (PRSEF), spending up to 12 months developing projects using the scientific method. The fair is supported by foundations, universities, industries, corporations, and professional societies.
Inspire the Next Generation of Scientists!
Do you work with 6th–8th grade students?
The Lucchino Science Inspiration Fund is your chance to guide them to success at the 2026 Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair – with full support from the Science Center.
Apply by Sept. 28 to join a cohort of passionate educators and receive:
- $800 stipend upon completion
- ACT 48 hours and professional development
- One-on-one mentorship from our Science Fair team
- Free parking, waived entry fees, and lunch at the Science Fair
- Up to $150 in supply reimbursement per project
Your scholars will benefit from in-school support, hands-on guidance, and recognition for their achievements.
Priority given to schools with ≥40% free/reduced lunch.
Educators must attend four workshops (Oct. 2025–March 2026) and bring at least 10 scholars to the Fair on March 25, 2026.
Questions? Contact Apryl at PeroneyA@KaminScienceCenter.org
Apply here: Lucchino Science Scholars Application 
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The 2026 PRSEF competition will be held on Tues., March 24 for Grades 9–12. and Weds., March 25 for Grades 6–8.
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Middle and high school students can design, implement, and present original experiments for a chance to win cash prizes and scholarships.
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Open to students in grades 6–12 from 21 counties in Western Pennsylvania and Garrett County, Md.
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Established in 1940, PRSEF is Pittsburgh’s premiere science fair and the third oldest in the United States affiliated with the Society for Science.
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Participants connect with broader science communities through the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
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The nonrefundable registration fee of $50 per project is due by March 6, 2026.
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A nonrefundable “early bird” registration fee of $25 per project is available if paid prior to Dec. 1, 2025.
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Grant funding may be available for schools that qualify.
Please contact Christie Orlosky at OrloskyC@KaminScienceCenter.org with questions. Funding requests must be on school letterhead, contain details on financial need, including free/reduced lunch percentage, and must be received by Dec. 1, 2025, to be considered.
Register Today
Schools, teachers and students
The 2026 early bird registration fee to participate in PRSEF is $25 per project if paid by December 1, 2025. After this date, the registration fee is $50 per project (individual and teams). Schools where 40%+ of their student population qualifies for or receives FRL/Title 1 funds will have their registration fee waived. If you qualify for the waived fee, please submit proof of FRL % on official school/district letterhead to Christie Orlosky, STEM Competitions Coordinator, at OrloskyC@KaminScienceCenter.org.
Email questions or comments to PRSEF@KaminScienceCenter.org or call the Science Fair office at 412.237.1534.
The 2026 registration fee to participate in PRSEF is $50 per project (individual and teams) but schools where 40%+ of their student population qualifies for or receives FRL/Title 1 funds will have their registration fee waived. If you qualify for the waived fee, please submit proof of FRL % on official school/district letterhead to Christie Orlosky, STEM Competitions Coordinator, at OrloskyC@KaminScienceCenter.org.
Contact Us
The Teachers’ and Students’ Handbook provides a step-by-step guide on everything from registration deadlines to project selection and fair-day details—your go-to resource for all PRSEF questions.
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For detailed information on rules, regulations, and guidelines, refer to the ISEF rules for required forms and safety protocols.
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Before submitting forms, please be sure to read the Guide to the Scientific Review and the Risk Assessment Guide.
More About PRSEF
The Mission
The Science Fair promotes workforce readiness and career awareness by helping students foster new skills. They will:
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Apply math and science skills, sparking interest in further studies.
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Support schools in meeting state and national standards.
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Present their research to a broader audience.
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Connect with professionals in diverse science and engineering fields.
The Vision
The Science Fair strives to connect motivated young scientists with regional industry, academia, and professional organizations. Together we:
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Promote economic development within Western Pennsylvania.
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Introduce students to local science and technology opportunities.
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Cultivate and retain talented youth as a valuable regional resource.
Judges and Volunteers
Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair (PRSEF) is one of the largest ISEF-affiliated science fairs in the country. An event this size requires the efforts of many individuals. We couldn’t provide this opportunity for our students without the help of our many judges and volunteers.
The 88th Annual Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair will take place Tues.–Wed., March 24-25, 2026, at Kamin Science Center. Registration opens on Dec. 1, 2025.
Become a Science Fair Judge
The Science Fair is looking for judges to award a variety of prizes on Competition Days, Tues.–Wed., March 24-25, 2026. You only need to be present for one of the two days to judge.
Read more about the different judge types below.
Category Judges
Judges must have a bachelor’s degree in the field in which they are judging or related experience. In the junior or intermediate levels (Grade 6–8), a non-science degree may be acceptable. Active K–12 educators are not eligible to judge.
Senior (9th–12th) and Intermediate (7th–8th) Division categories:
- Behavioral & Social Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science/Math
- Earth/Environment
- Engineering/Robotics
- Medicine/Health/Microbiology
- Physics/Astronomy
Intermediate Division also includes Consumer Science.
Junior (6th grade) Division categories:
- Behavioral & Consumer Sciences
- Biological Sciences, Chemistry
- Physical Sciences & Engineering
Qualifications:
Judges need a bachelor’s degree in the field they judge or relevant experience.
For Junior or Intermediate levels, a non-science degree may be acceptable.
Note: Active K–12 educators are not eligible to serve as judges.
Affiliate Sponsor Judges & Awards
Affiliated Sponsor awards are awarded at Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair because of its affiliation with Regeneron ISEF.
Organizations such as:
- American Meteorological Society
- American Psychological Association
- Thermo Fisher
- Intel Excellence in Computer Science
- Mu Alpha Theta
- NASA Earth System Science Award
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Ricoh Americas Corporation
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Metric Association
- U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps – Office of Naval Research
- Stockholm Junior Water Prize/Water Environment Federation
- Yale Science and Engineering Association require judges to award prizes on their behalf.
Affiliate judges will review student projects, interview students and decide upon the recipients of each award.
Affiliate judges will review student projects, interview students, and decide upon the recipients of each award.
Affiliate sponsor awards (certificates and medallions as determined by sponsors) are awarded at the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair because of its affiliation with Regeneron ISEF.
Scholarship Judges
Senior Division PRSEF participants (9th-12th grade) are eligible to be judged and receive scholarships. Scholarship judges will evaluate projects for the schools providing those awards. Please contact PRSEF@KaminScienceCenter.org if you represent a school which would like to offer a scholarship to PRSEF students.
Sponsor Judges
Sponsor Judges represent a PRSEF sponsor and choose exhibits that address the particular field of interest of that sponsoring organization. If your organization is interested in sponsoring an award at PRSEF, please contact: PRSEF@KaminScienceCenter.org.
ISEF Judges
As an affiliate fair of the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF), Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair can advance up to seven Senior Division projects to ISEF.
The ISEF Judges, experts from local universities and organizations, read the papers submitted by the student researchers and select and interview the ISEF candidates. These judges may or may not be part of the category award selection committee.
ISEF judges are experts from local universities and organizations.
They will review papers submitted by student researchers.
They select and interview candidates for ISEF.
ISEF judges may or may not participate in the category award selection committee.
Become a Science Fair Volunteer
Volunteer registration will open Dec. 1, 2025. Volunteers help students find their way through the museum, provide support for students on the exhibit floor, inspect project displays for safety, and direct students during lunch break.
If you would like to be added to our volunteer email list, please email the PRSEF office at PRSEF@KaminScienceCenter.org
Guide students through the museum.
Provide support on the exhibit floor.
Inspect project displays for safety.
Direct students during lunch breaks.
Volunteer registration opens on [date].
Email questions or comments to PRSEF@kaminScienceCenter.org or call the science fair office at 412.237.1534.
Science Fair Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
- Princeton Alumni Association of WPA
- Range Resources
- Slippery Rock University
- Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
- The American Concrete Institute, Pittsburgh Area Chapter
- The Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers, Inc.
- The Webb Law Firm
- Vesuvius
- Westinghouse
- Aerotech Inc.
- Air & Waste Management Association
- Alcosan
- Allegheny County Medical Society
- American Chemical Society
- American Society of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section
- American Statistical Association Pittsburgh Chapter
- Carnegie Mellon University Dept of Biological Sciences
- Carnegie Mellon University Gelfand Center
- Chemical Association of Pittsburgh
- Clinical Research Strategies
- Duquesne University, School of Science and Engineering
Powered by:
STEM Center Founding Partners:
- Bayer
- Chevron
- Duquesne Light Company
- Eaton
- FedEx
- Kennametal Foundation
- NOVA Chemicals
- PPG Foundation
Science Fair Awards
Awards are distributed based on the number of entries in each category. Only one first place will be awarded in each category. Multiple second and third place awards may be awarded. Fourth place awards will receive a certificate.
More than $1 million in cash, scholarships, and trips are awarded each year. Those awards fall into several different categories.
Category Awards
Awards are distributed based on the number of entries in each category. Multiple second and third place awards may be awarded. Only one first place will be awarded in each category.
Note: Teams will split the award money equally among team members.
Senior Division
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$300 – First Place
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$150 – Second Place
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$75 – Third Place
Intermediate Division
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$150 – First Place
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$100 – Second Place
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$50 – Third Place
Junior Division
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$150 – First Place
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$100 – Second Place
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$50 – Third Place
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC)
Senior Division – Grades 9–12
Each student researcher entering an exhibit may apply for participation in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Senior division student researchers will be chosen from the applicants and will win a chance to compete in the Regeneron ISEF event.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC) – Grades 6–8
Category Award winners (top 10%) are nominated to advance to the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, a program of Society for Science.
Category Judges select the students that exhibit excellence in Creativity, Literature Review, Presentation, or Scientific Method. Students will receive a certificate of excellence that signifies their outstanding performance in one of these areas.
PRSEF Scholarships Vary by University/College
Sponsor Awards
Companies that sponsor the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair may award a prize and/or certificate to a student of their choosing.
Affiliate Sponsor Awards
These are awarded at Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair because of its affiliation with ISEF.
Affiliate Sponsor Organizations:
- American Psychological Association
- Association for Women Geoscientists
- Broadcom Coding with Commitment
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Lemelson Early Inventor Prize
- NASA Earth System Science Award
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- National Geographic, That’s Geography! Award
- Office of Naval Research – U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps
- Regeneron Biomedical Science Award
- Ricoh USA, Inc. Sustainable Development Award (RSDA)
- Society for In Vitro Biology
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- U.S. Metric Association
- U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize
- United States Air Force
- Yale Science and Engineering Association
Merit Awards
Category Judges select the students that exhibit excellence in Creativity, Literature Review, Presentation, or Scientific Method. Students will receive a certificate of excellence that signifies their outstanding performance in one of these areas.
PRSEF 2025 Scholarships Vary by University/College