About EISEF

The Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair (EISEF) takes place each year in March, usually on the third Saturday, in Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This year’s Fair is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2025.

Mission Statement

We are the Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair (EISEF).

Our mission is to inspire eastern Iowa’s students to pursue careers in science, engineering, and math.

To accomplish our mission, every year we do the following:

We challenge the students in grades 6–12 to do science projects.
We support their parents and teachers in guiding their projects.
We invite them to Cedar Rapids to exhibit their projects and explain what they learned.
We recognize the deserving students with awards, prizes, and scholarships.
We send the very best students to the International Science and Engineering Fair, to exhibit their projects alongside the best students from around the world.
We raise funds and mobilize volunteers and resources to make all this happen.
We try to have fun doing it, and make it fun for everyone else.

International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

EISEF is affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), an activity of the Society for Science & the Public (SSP). EISEF’s ID is USIA01. For more information, follow one of these ISEF Web links:

Exhibitor Classifications

2 Research Categories: Biological and Physical.
2 Age Groups: Junior (grades 6–8) and Senior (grades 9–12).
2 Project Types: Individual and Team
5 Divisions:
- Junior Biological (JB)
- Junior Physical (JP)
- Junior Teams (JT)
- Senior Biological (SB)
- Senior Physical (SP)

See the For Students And Teachers page for more information.

Rules

For the Senior Age Group (grades 9–12), EISEF follows ISEF’s Rules. EISEF Rules are specific on exhibit size and height as well as handling live animals and hazardous organisms, materials or displays. Junior Age Group certification rules are relaxed, giving teachers more discretion.

Awards

The top EISEF Awards winners and their teachers will win trips to the International Science and Engineering Fair. EISEF also presents Class and Division Awards using donated moneys.

Organizations and companies can Sponsor Awards by applying to the EISEF Awards Committee; a sponsor can do the judging and presentation for its award. Visit our Award Signup page for more information about sponsoring an award.

Eligible schools

Students in grades 6–12 anywhere in the eastern half of Iowa are eligible to participate in the EISEF. Our Schools in EISEF page has details, including a map.

Other Iowa Science Fairs

The Western Iowa Science and Engineering Fair (WISEF) is the ISEF-affiliated regional fair that covers the schools and students in Iowa west of EISEF’s territory. This year’s WISEF is scheduled for March 23, 2024.

The State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI) in Ames is a State Fair and all students in Iowa may participate in that fair as well as their regional fair. This year’s SSTFI is scheduled for March 27–28, 2025. Top 2 winners from each regional and state fair may go on to the International Fair held in May.

Funding

All the money we use to run the Fair comes from private donations. All donations are tax deductible; our federal tax ID (EIN) is 46–1075519. All fundraising is done by members of the EISEF Fair Board, who are unpaid volunteers. We acknowledge all donors in our Fair Booklet. Visit our Contributors page for more information about donating to EISEF.

Officers

see Board of Directors

Requirements for board membership

None, other than willingness and ability to volunteer time.

Info & Entries

see Contact Us

Chronology

Preceded by “PTA Science Fair”, Cedar Rapids Memorial Coliseum.
1959: Incorporated as “Eastern Iowa Science Fair”.
1960: Held at Coe College, Cedar Rapids.
1973: Moved to Washington High School, Cedar Rapids.
1975: Name changed to “Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair”.
1984: Moved to Westdale Mall, Cedar Rapids, and shortened the Fair to one day.
1999: Moved to Lindale Mall, Cedar Rapids.
2000: For the first time, EISEF sent four students (instead of just two) to the International Fair (ISEF).
2001: EISEF website inaugurated.
2005: EISEF started accepting senior teams (grades 9–12).
2007: EISEF started accepting grade 6 students.
2009: EISEF selected its first team project as Senior Champions (Pandy Wadsworth & Yogita Singh from Fairfield).
2020: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, EISEF was moved online. The students uploaded video presentations; the judges watched and scored the presentations.
- Also, ISEF was cancelled entirely.

Publicity info contact

promotions@eisef.org

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