Judges
- Requires Preregistration
- Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12
- Content Themes: Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Health and Nutrition, Outer Space, Physics
Judges
Registration is open.
Judges
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.
The 88th Annual Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair will take place Tues., March 24, 2026 (Senior Division) and Wed., March 25, 2026 (Junior and Intermediate Divisions), at Kamin Science Center. Judge Registration is open 
.
If you would like to be added to our judge email list, please email the Volunteer & Internship Office at VolunteerPrograms@KaminScienceCenter.org.
Become a Science Fair Judge
The Science Fair is looking for judges to award a variety of prizes on Competition Days. You can judge on one day or both days!
Senior Division (9–12 Grade) will be judged on Tues., March 24. Junior and Intermediate Divisions (6–8 Grade) will be judged on Wed., March 25.
Read more about the different judge types below as well as how to judge a Science Fair project.
Category Judges
A Category Judge will judge students in a particular project category.
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.
- Behavioral & Social Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science/Math
- Consumer Science (Intermediate Division only)
- Earth/Environment
- Engineering/Robotics
- Medicine/Health/Microbiology
- Physics/Astronomy
- Behavioral & Consumer Sciences
- Biological Sciences, Chemistry
- Physical Sciences & Engineering
Affiliate Sponsor Judges & Awards
Affiliated Sponsor awards are awarded at Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair because of its affiliation with Regeneron ISEF.
Examples of affiliated organizations in recent years include:
- 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
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 (9-12 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 also serve as Category Judges.
Clearances
Upon acceptance as a Science Fair judge, all judges are required to provide and pay for background checks and clearances.
Judges who have lived in Pennsylvania for at least 10 years must have their Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 33) and Criminal Record Check Clearance (Act 34).
Judges who have lived in Pennsylvania for less than 10 years must have their Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 33) and Criminal Record Check Clearance (Act 34) plus an FBI Fingerprint Clearance (Act 114).
Act 33 and 34 Clearances are free for Judges.