EISEF 2024 award winners, by school (March 18, 2024)
Beckman Cath HS, Dyersville
EISEF: Class I, Junior Teams
EISEF: Class II, Senior Biological
EISEF: Class II, Senior Physical
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Senior Biological
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Senior Physical
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 4th Year Student
Excellence in Science Research: Outstanding Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Meritorious Achievement
Laverne & Frances Vaske Science & Education Memorial Award: Oustanding Achievement
Thermo Fisher JIC: Outstanding Achievement
Central Lee HS, Donnellson
EISEF: Class I, Senior Biological
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 4th Year Student
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 6th Year Student
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 7th Year Student
Excellence in Science Research: Outstanding Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Meritorious Achievement
Systems Engineering: Outstanding Achievement
US Air Force: Outstanding Achievement
Central Lee MS, Donnellson
EISEF: Junior Champion
EISEF: Class I, Junior Biological
EISEF: Class I, Junior Physical
EISEF: Class I, Junior Teams
EISEF: Class II, Junior Biological
EISEF: Class II, Junior Physical
EISEF: Class II, Junior Teams
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Biological
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Physical
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Teams
Excellence in Science Research: Outstanding Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Meritorious Achievement
Lemelson Early Inventor Prize: Outstanding Achievement
Systems Engineering: Outstanding Achievement
Thermo Fisher JIC: Outstanding Achievement
US Air Force: Outstanding Achievement
US Navy and Marine Corps: Oustanding Achievement
City High, Iowa City
EISEF: Class I, Senior Biological
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Meritorious Achievement
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 4th Year Student
Drexler MS, Farley
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Biological
Excellence in Science Research: Outstanding Achievement
Holy Trinity, Ft. Madison
EISEF: Class I, Junior Biological
EISEF: Class II, Junior Biological
EISEF: Class II, Junior Physical
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Physical
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 4th Year Student
Cedar Rapids Audubon Society: Outstanding Achievement
Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club: Outstanding Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Meritorious Achievement
Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers: Outstanding Achievement
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Outstanding Achievement
Systems Engineering: Meritous Acheivement
Thermo Fisher JIC: Outstanding Achievement
US Navy and Marine Corps: Oustanding Achievement
Keokuk HS, Keokuk
EISEF: Class II, Senior Physical
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Senior Biological
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 4th Year Student
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 5th Year Student
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 6th Year Student
Excellence in Science Research: Outstanding Achievement
Genius Olympiad: Outstanding Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Meritorious Achievement
Laverne & Frances Vaske Science & Education Memorial Award: Oustanding Achievement
US Metric Association: Award of Merit
Keokuk MS, Keokuk
EISEF: Class I, Junior Physical
EISEF: Class II, Junior Teams
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Teams
Excellence in Science Research: Outstanding Achievement
Thermo Fisher JIC: Outstanding Achievement
Keota HS, Keota
EISEF: Class II, Senior Biological
Association for Women Geoscientists: Outstanding Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Teacher Award
Ricoh Corporation: Ricoh Sustainable Development
Maharishi SAE, Fairfield
EISEF: Senior Champion
EISEF: Class I, Senior Biological
EISEF: Class I, Senior Physical
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Senior Physical
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 5th Year Student
Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club: Outstanding Achievement
Genius Olympiad: Outstanding Achievement
Regeneron Biomedical Sciences Award: Outstanding Achievement
Systems Engineering: Meritous Acheivement
US Air Force: Outstanding Achievement
US Navy and Marine Corps: Oustanding Achievement
Mid-Prairie HSAP, Kalona
EISEF: Senior Champion
EISEF: Class I, Senior Physical
Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers: Outstanding Achievement
US Navy and Marine Corps: Oustanding Achievement
West HS, Iowa City
EISEF: Class I, Senior Biological
EISEF: Class I, Senior Physical
EISEF: Class II, Senior Biological
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Senior Physical
American Psychological Association: Outstanding Achievement
Cedar Rapids Audubon Society: Outstanding Achievement
Genius Olympiad: Outstanding Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Meritorious Achievement
Laverne & Frances Vaske Science & Education Memorial Award: Oustanding Achievement
NASA Earth System Science Award: Outstanding Achievement
Society for In Vitro Biology: Outstanding Achievement
US Agency for International Development: Science Champion
US Navy and Marine Corps: Oustanding Achievement
Yale Science & Engineering Association: Most Outstanding Exhibit
EISEF 2024 award winners, by award (March 18, 2024)
EISEF: Junior Champion
EISEF: Senior Champion
EISEF: Class I, Junior Biological
EISEF: Class I, Junior Physical
EISEF: Class I, Junior Teams
EISEF: Class I, Senior Biological
EISEF: Class I, Senior Physical
EISEF: Class II, Junior Biological
EISEF: Class II, Junior Physical
EISEF: Class II, Junior Teams
EISEF: Class II, Senior Biological
EISEF: Class II, Senior Physical
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Biological
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Physical
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Junior Teams
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Senior Biological
EISEF: Honorable Mention, Senior Physical
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 4th Year Student
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 5th Year Student
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 6th Year Student
EISEF: Participation Achievement Award: 7th Year Student
American Psychological Association: Outstanding Achievement
Association for Women Geoscientists: Outstanding Achievement
Cedar Rapids Audubon Society: Outstanding Achievement
Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club: Outstanding Achievement
Excellence in Science Research: Outstanding Achievement
Genius Olympiad: Outstanding Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Meritorious Achievement
Inspiring Excellence: Alan B. Adams Teacher Award
Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers: Outstanding Achievement
Laverne & Frances Vaske Science & Education Memorial Award: Oustanding Achievement
Lemelson Early Inventor Prize: Outstanding Achievement
NASA Earth System Science Award: Outstanding Achievement
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Outstanding Achievement
Regeneron Biomedical Sciences Award: Outstanding Achievement
Ricoh Corporation: Ricoh Sustainable Development
Society for In Vitro Biology: Outstanding Achievement
Systems Engineering: Meritous Acheivement
Systems Engineering: Outstanding Achievement
Thermo Fisher JIC: Outstanding Achievement
US Agency for International Development: Science Champion
US Air Force: Outstanding Achievement
US Metric Association: Award of Merit
US Navy and Marine Corps: Oustanding Achievement
Yale Science & Engineering Association: Most Outstanding Exhibit
Last-minute info for the 2024 Fair (March 12, 2024)
The Fair is Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Lindale Mall, Cedar Rapids.
Times
Check-in for everybody starts at 8:00 AM on Fair Day.
- Students
- EISEF judges
- Sponsored Award judges
Places
Mall Entrance
- Only one Mall entrance will be open on Saturday morning: On the Mall’s north side, next to the former Sears.
- Lindale Mall Info has maps and a photo that show where it is.
- We’ll raise an EISEF banner beside the entrance to guide you.
- Follow the crowds and the parked cars.
- Everybody — students, adult sponsors, and judges — will be funneling through this single set of doors.
- Nobody else will be entering the Mall at that time.
Key locations
- EISEF Headquarters: Main level near the former Sears, across from the Sears entrance.
- Student Check-in: Main level in front of the Sears entrance.
- Judges’ Check-in: Outside EISEF HQ.
- Sponsored Awards Check-in: Inside EISEF HQ.
The When and Where page has schedules, maps, and directions to help you find your way on Fair Day.
Advice for you
Last-minute judges and volunteers: come to check-in (EISEF Headquarters) and we’ll sign you up there.
Students:
- This year you have two ways to check in:
- Online: In the early hours of Fair Day, we’ll send an email to you and your adult sponsor, inviting you to check in online — you can confirm whether you’ll be attending (or not) before your bus reaches Lindale Mall. If you do this, you’re free to go directly to your division area and find your exhibit table.
- Check-in desk: If you didn’t receive the email, couldn’t check in online, forgot your exhibit number, need a chair for medical reasons, or have questions, visit our Student Check-in desk; the clerks there will be happy to help you.
- Have someone take a photo of you in front of your exhibit, then email it to .
Judges:
- You can pick the exhibits you’d like to judge — before the Fair. These pages list the entries we’ve received, with their titles and descriptions. Look them over, choose a couple that are right for you, and you’ll be ready to sign up on Fair Day morning.
- Exhibit List for Judges (regular EISEF judging)
- Exhibit List for Awards (Sponsored Awards)
Everybody: Contribute to the 2024 Photo Album!
- Take 3 (or more) photos of things you see at EISEF.
- Email them to .
- We’ll include the photos we like.
EISEF press release (March 1, 2024)
On March 1, 2024 EISEF President Jeff Kuehl issued this press release, targeted at the Corridor Business Journal:
Press Release
Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair
The Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair (EISEF) is an annual competition for 6th through 12th grade Eastern Iowa students. Now in its 65th year, this year’s Fair will be held on Saturday, March 16th at Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids.
EISEF is a Regional Fair affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair, administered by the Society for Science & the Public. EISEF draws about 275 students each year. Students in 6th through 8th grades compete in the Junior Division. Students in 9th through 12th grades compete in the Senior Division where the top projects will be selected to compete at the International Fair to be held in Los Angeles this coming May. Projects in both divisions can be individuals or teams of up to 3 students.
EISEF’s mission is to encourage Eastern Iowa’s students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The EISEF supports teachers in their implementation of inquiry-based education and provides a venue for students to present their scientific and engineering research. During EISEF, students will interact with members of business and academia in describing their research project. Through their research and participation in EISEF, students will:
- Increase their understanding of scientific and engineering inquiry as a human endeavor and the nature of science.
- Develop abilities necessary to perform scientific inquiry and problem solving.
- Enhance oral, written, and visual communications skills.
- Gain an appreciation of career opportunities in science and technology.
- Learn about opportunities available in science and technology at institutions of higher education.
- Have the opportunity to compete for awards.
Many EISEF alumni have gone on to study science related fields, earning degrees such as doctor of pharmacy, biology and engineering. One notable alum received a Nobel Prize in chemistry.
There are many ways for the Corridor business community to help EISEF inspire the students of Eastern Iowa.
- Volunteer to judge on Saturday morning. Judges will discuss the students’ research project with them and score their project on its quality. This is a great opportunity to interact with some great students who will be tomorrow’s science, engineering and business leaders. You can find additional information or register to judge on our website at www.eisef.org, or you can email us at with any questions.
- Contribute money to help sponsor the EISEF so that we can run the Fair and send the top students to the International Fair. EISEF runs solely on generous contributions from individuals and corporations. EISEF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN 46–1075519) and everyone involved is a volunteer. You can find more information on fundraising at www.eisef.org, or you can email us at .
Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator 2024 (February 5, 2024)
We received the following from on February 4, 2024:
The Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator 2024 application is live! Do you know bold young innovators (ages 16–26) based in the U.S., U.S. Territories, and India, determined to drive positive change?
Encourage them to apply to the Ambition Accelerator, which fuels young innovators’ powerful ideas for positive change in their communities. The Ambition Accelerator is dedicated to supporting innovators at every stage — young people at any stage in their ventures are eligible to apply!
Why should young people apply? They could receive:
- Total cash prizes of up to $25,000
- Guaranteed $500 prizes for 260 applicants
- Continued mentorship by industry experts
- Virtual skill-building and networking
- Connection to our national community
- Application and project plan feedback
- National recognition
- … and more!
The application is open until March 14, 2024 and it is FREE to apply. Those who apply by February 15 at 11:59PM ET will automatically be considered as a potential Early Entry Standout. All Early Entry participants will have the chance to get customized feedback on their application before the Final Entry deadline, and 10 participants from this group will be selected to receive $500! Don’t wait: APPLY HERE!
Help us accelerate young peoples’ most ambitious social impact ideas:
- Share this opportunity with your network by using our Outreach Toolkit.
- Let’s meet to explore how we can collaborate and enhance each other’s efforts.
- Invite us to host a (free) info or support session for your network.
Thank you for supporting the young people in your world to be changemakers! Let’s activate young people to challenge the norm and disrupt existing systems and mindsets within their communities! Additionally, please let me know if you would be interested in getting on a call to explore how we can collaborate and enhance each other’s changemaking efforts!
Yours in Changemaking,
Regeneron ISEF: Exciting Announcements for 2025 and Beyond (December 18, 2023)
We received the following from on December 18, 2023:
Good morning,
We have had a lot of Regeneron ISEF news recently.
Science Fair: The Series
Science Fair: the Series is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+! As you know, the film crew followed a number of finalists around the country and world as they competed in their local fairs and participated in Regeneron ISEF in Atlanta, GA. This three-part docuseries is a spin-off to the award-winning documentary film Science Fair released in 2018. In addition to Regeneron ISEF and the finalists, you’ll see a few faces that you may find familiar including, Knowledge Chukundi, Ryan Cilsick, Loree’ Harvey, Serena McCalla and Yajaira Torres-De Jesus. The team also traveled to science fairs in Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New York and Puerto Rico.
Society alumna Cristina Costantini (ISEF 2004–2005) is Executive Producer and Director of the docuseries, which is already receiving a great reception.
- LA Times — Meet the unlikely TV star who developed a tool to help reduce teen suicide
- New York Times — What to Watch This Weekend: An Upbeat Documentary Series
- Geek Dad — Science Fair: The Series Comes to NatGeo and Disney+
I hope you will take the time to watch the series. (See the trailer here!) We are excited for more of the world to know about the extraordinary young people who participate in Regeneron ISEF.
We’re Heading to Ohio in 2025
Society for Science announced that Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2025 will be taking place in Columbus, Ohio. (May 10–16, 2025) ISEF was last hosted in Columbus in 1984, when 581 finalists from seven countries, regions and territories participated in the event. In 2025, that number is expected to jump to nearly 2,000 finalists from more than 60 countries, regions and territories. Learn more here.
Regeneron Commits $34 Million over 5 Years to ISEF
Regeneron is increasing and extending its commitment as the title sponsor of ISEF, with a total investment of approximately $34 million over a five-year period. The renewed sponsorship includes a $10 million increase from its previous commitment level, allowing Regeneron and the Society to raise the top ISEF award, the George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award, to $100,000 (up from $75,000), the two second place awards, the Regeneron Young Scientist Awards, to $75,000 each (up from $50,000 each) and increase all category awards by 20 percent. This increase will take effect during Regeneron ISEF 2025.Learn more here.
As always, please email if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
—The Regeneron ISEF Team
2024 EISEF Logo is now available (November 25, 2023)
Guidance for science fair projects using BSL2 organisms (November 10, 2023)
We’ve assembled some guidance for doing your experiment with Biosafety Lab 2 (BSL2) organisms — when your school doesn’t have a BSL2-certified lab.
Some reasons you need to use a level 2 BSL:
- You are using an organism deemed BSL2 level by the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).
- The petri dish needs to be opened for subculturing or counting colonies, and it contains a BSL1 organism, or an unknown organism.
- You are using an antibiotic-resistant BSL1 bacteria or a fungi that is resistant to fungal medication. This resistance automatically makes the organism BSL2 level.
- You use blood, or blood products that are not your own.
Ways to alter your experiment to avoid a BSL2 designation:
- Redesign the experiment so you don’t have to open the petri dish that contains a BSL1, medication resistant, or unknown organism.
- If you are analyzing soil or water, a good alternative is to purchase PCR primers from MO BIO, such as UltraClean® PCR Clean-Up Kits. This kit will clean up the sample, and then you use a facility with a PCR instrument even if it lacks a BSL2 hood. The primers can identify what is in the sample without having to culture the sample.
Requirements for a BSL2 lab:
All BSL2 labs must provide these barriers to in order to qualify as a BSL2 lab.
Primary barriers — Required personal protective equipment:
- gloves
- goggles
- gowns
- lab coats
- etc.
Secondary barriers — The lab’s physical construction must include:
- Self-closing doors
- No carpets
- Sinks for hand washing
- All surfaces non-porous for easy cleaning
- Eyewash stations
- A BSL2 certified hood. This hood must have a HEPA filter and be tested annually.
When you think you’ve found a BSL2 lab for your experiment, have the facility complete this checklist (or the original checklist from ISEF) to confirm that it meets these standards. And photograph the HEPA certification label on the hood so there’s no question that this is a BSL2 lab.
Finding a BSL2 lab:
The State Hygienic Lab at the University of Iowa has a Certified Laboratories Facility Search: “You can generate a facility list of laboratories currently certified by IDNR under one or more of Iowa’s environmental laboratory certification programs….”
The most common place you will find a BSL2 lab is a Regulated Research Institution (RRI). Colleges, universities, private labs and governmental labs will typically have a BSL2 certified hood. Some hospitals may have a BSL2 hood, but not all will have one. In addition, public wastewater treatment plants will not usually have a BSL2 hood either. You can reach out to these facilities and ask if they’d be willing to host you for a brief amount of time.
Reminder: Iowa Junior Science And Humanities Symposium (October 11, 2023)
We received the following from on October 11, 2023:
JSHS 2024
Hello JSHS Educators,
I hope your school year is off to a great start. We’re just reminding everyone that our plan is to host JSHS on The University of Iowa Campus February 26–27, 2024. Our paper submissions link will open Dec 1 and the deadline for submissions is January 10. Nationals will be held sometime in the middle of April, location still to be determined. One change for this year is we’re welcoming students from Nebraska as a combined region.
Please refer to the research handbook for guidelines regarding paper requirements.
If your students are looking for research mentors, national JSHS has a virtual mentor platform called Chronus which they can access for free.
Let us know if you have any questions.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone next semester!
EISEF 2024 season starts (September 1, 2023)
Location and date of this year’s Fair: Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids, on March 16, 2024.
Come to Attend the first EISEF Board meeting and see what it takes to put on a science fair!
- When and where:
- Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 5:30 PM
- The second is October 12, 2023 at 5:30 PM
- By videoconference (email for details)
- Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 5:30 PM
- The Calendar of Events shows the meeting dates for the whole season.
Senior students & adult sponsors: You need to review the ISEF rules for any recent changes.
- The ISEF website has a document that highlights the latest rules changes.
- The International Rules and Guidelines FAQ has a section “Can I use last year’s forms?” (It strongly recommends using the current year’s forms.)
- The EISEF Forms Guide requires you to use the current ISEF forms.
- Resources for Fair Committees — you need to check this out. It has links to:
- SRC Materials
- IRB Materials
- Self Checklists for Biosafety-Level 1 and -Level 2 Laboratories
Awards for Iowa students at ISEF (May 19, 2023)
This Iowa student received a Grand Award at ISEF in Dallas:
Jacob Hohl, Central Lee HS, Donnellson
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Fourth Award of $500
Flash update on photos (April 9, 2023)
100% coverage! This year, we got a photo of all the student exhibits. We received a replacement for the missing exhibit photo, Charolett Schneider & Ayla Zinnert, at SSTFI (the state science fair) from their adult sponsor Arie Schiller. Yea!