10 STEM Fairs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 7 hours ago
- 8 min read
If you're a middle school student keen to pursue an academic career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), you can consider enrolling in STEM fairs.
STEM fairs for middle school students are considerably more prestigious than regular STEM competitions, as many of them have a selective nomination process! Fairs can also be a great starting point to explore various disciplines, showcase experiments, and test research before high school.
Beyond offering practical experience, STEM fairs give you the opportunity to network and connect with scientists, engineers, and peers from around the country (or even the world). They also give you a taste of the discipline and dedication required to thrive in this field and can help you boost your college application if your submission to the fair is rigorous.
We’ve narrowed down our picks for the top 10 STEM fairs for middle school students; each fair on this list is selective and backed by a prestigious institution.
The San Francisco Middle School Science Fair, hosted at the Randall Museum in San Francisco, CA, requires you to conduct an original research project in any four categories, i.e., biological, behavioral, physical, or environmental sciences, and present it in a formal public setting. You're expected to develop a hypothesis, design experiments, and analyze results. All projects require a registered adult sponsor, and if your experiment involves human subjects, animals, or controlled materials, you also need additional review and consent documentation from the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) or Institutional Review Board (IRB).
The fair includes a rigorous judging process, wherein you have to showcase and defend your project and get feedback from scientists and educators. Top-performing projects get the chance to advance directly to the California Science & Engineering Fair. You can also attend the STEAM College Students panel, explore other exhibits, and participate in a public science festival at the fair.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective—exact information on cohort size not available
Dates: March 10 – 22
Application Deadline: Sponsors to register before January
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 from San Francisco, Marin, and Sonoma counties—participants must have adult sponsors (teacher, parent, or school administrator)
The California Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF) is the culminating STEM competition for middle and high school students across the state.
This fair is held over two days at California Lutheran University and requires you to present your project to judges, field questions during interviews, and compete for awards totaling over $40,000. You'll compete in a high-caliber environment with around 900 students from 400 schools and nearly 800 projects in attendance, among California’s most motivated young researchers. Entry to CSEF is by invitation, and you'll need to submit an official application after qualifying.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective—approximately 900 students from across 400 schools in California invited to participate
Dates: April 12 – 13
Application Deadline: Students must be invited by an affiliated fair and submit an individual application to CSEF—deadline depends on affiliated fair
Eligibility: Open to California students in grades 6–12—must qualify via a regional affiliated fair to receive an invitation
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, formerly the Broadcom MASTERS, is one of the most prestigious STEM fairs for middle school students. To participate, you first need to compete in a Society-affiliated local science fair; the top 10% of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade participants earn a nomination.
From there, the top 300 are selected, and 30 finalists are invited to Washington, D.C., for a week of team challenges, project presentations, and STEM immersion. Finalists compete for more than $100,000 in awards, including top prizes for invention, health advancement, and overall scientific excellence. The competition also gives you access to mentoring and networking with fellow young researchers and opportunities to attend companion programs like Broadcom MASTERS International.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective—about 30 finalists chosen
Dates: Application Opens: February 1 – Winners Announced: October 28
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Open to U.S. students in grades 6–8—must be in the top 10% of a Society-affiliated science fair
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is one of the most prestigious national STEM competitions for middle school students in the U.S. If you're in one of the grades from 5 through 8 and have an idea for solving a real-world problem, you can enter by submitting a one- to two-minute video explaining your innovation. The challenge focuses on applied science in areas like climate tech, robotics, AR/VR, and home safety. Ten finalists will be mentored by 3M scientists over the summer and earn the chance to win $1,000.
If you’re chosen, you’ll need to present your work at an in-person event for a chance to win up to $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” The 3M Young Scientist Challenge will also give you the opportunity to learn the ropes of product development, prototyping, and scientific communication.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective—10 finalists chosen nationally
Dates: Finalist event in October
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 5–8—must submit an original video describing innovation or research idea
This challenge requires you to work in a team of two to four members under the guidance of an adult Team Advisor to investigate a community problem using science or solve it using engineering. Projects range from tackling major environmental issues to developing innovative tech-based solutions. All submissions are judged online and receive written feedback.
You’ll also get access to live chats with STEM professionals and mentorship via message boards to help you refine your ideas and deepen your understanding of real-world science. Top teams will receive awards at the state, regional, and national levels and can apply for a STEM-In-Action grant to develop projects.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective—information on the acceptance rate not publicly available
Dates: Registration Opens: August 15 | Team Registration Closes: February 26 | Mission Folder Submission Deadline: March 10 | Virtual Judging Period: March 12 – 26 | State Winners, Regional Finalists and National Finalists Announced: May 2 | National Judging & Educational Event (NJ&EE): June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 6–9
Future City is a project-based STEM competition wherein you’ll work in teams of at least three to design and build a city of the future, using science, math and engineering and a whole lot of creativity. You’ll also be mentored by a volunteer and an educator to bring your vision to life. Here, you’ll build a project to answer pertinent questions, such as “How to design a floating city?” or “How to solve a pressing urban sustainability issue?.” Over four months, you, along with your team, will research solutions, write essays, build a physical model under $100, and present your ideas to engineering judges. You'll also use SimCity software to plan your design.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective—information on the size of the application pool not available
Dates: Regional competitions run from fall to early winter; National Finals held in February
Application Deadline: Typically late October to early November, depending on region
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–8
The American Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest student rocket competition, providing insight into real-world aerospace engineering practices and the chance to design, build, and launch a model rocket that meets precise engineering specs. It is open to both middle and high school students and takes place over an academic year. You’ll work in a team to meet changing rocket mission criteria, such as payload requirements, altitude goals, or flight duration, while applying physics, aerodynamics, and systems engineering.
You and your team will test prototype rockets multiple times, refine designs, and submit flight scores to qualify for the National Finals. Here, the top 100 teams will get the chance to compete for over $100,000 in prizes and attend the Paris Air Show. The challenge also offers STEM Innovation Grants for Title I schools, and you’ll have access to rocketry mentors, starter kits, and NASA-aligned learning materials.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective—information on the size of the application pool not available
Dates: Throughout the academic year—national finals take place in May
Application Deadline: December (exact date varies each year)
Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 6–12, working in teams of 3–10 with adult sponsors
Junior Solar Sprint is a hands-on STEM fair for middle school students. Here, you and your teammates will design, build, and race a solar-powered vehicle using real-world engineering and design principles. You'll work through every phase of the engineering process, from sketching and prototyping to assembling and testing. Your projects will be evaluated on speed, creativity, and craftsmanship, and you can race at local TSA state conferences or U.S. Army-hosted events.
Top teams will qualify to compete nationally at the TSA National Conference, held each summer. The program is free to register, includes access to resource kits and mentorship, and is a practical introduction to renewable energy and environmental problem-solving.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective—information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size not available
Dates: Spans from October to July
Application Deadline: Registration typically closes in April
Eligibility: Students in grades 5–8—must be part of a TSA middle school chapter or a U.S. Army base hosting a JSS event
The Aerial Drone Competition is a hands-on, team-based competition wherein you'll explore drone flight principles. You’ll gain insight into programming, piloting, documentation, and STEM communication. The competition consists of four core missions: a teamwork challenge, an autonomous mission, a piloting mission, and a communications interview. Here, you’ll compete with another team on a competition field, code your drone to fly independently, navigate obstacles, and interview with the judges respectively.
Throughout the year, you’ll build skills in physics, computer science, and engineering design, all while developing critical thinking and collaboration skills. Teams will participate in local qualifiers, with the chance to move on to Regional Championships and beyond.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective—information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size not available
Dates: Spans from April to June
Application Deadline: December 13
Eligibility: Middle and high school students—teams must register and compete at a local event to advance
The NEDC is a popular STEM fair wherein the top middle school and high school MESA teams compete. In this challenge, you’ll work in teams of two to four to design a prototype that addresses a local issue of inequity through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs).
The competition will be judged on four components: a design proposal that outlines the inspiration behind the proposed solution, an academic poster that underlines key points of the design process, a technical pitch that exhibits the functionality of the prototype, and a symposium that allows you to discuss the project with the judges.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective—exact cohort sizes vary by region and are not published
Dates: June
Application Deadline: General Event Logistics: June 2 | Competition Components: June 9—no submissions will be accepted post-June 11. Note: Dates are subject to change; for updated competition timelines and regional participation details, check here.
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in a MESA-affiliated program—check with your state’s MESA organization for specifics
Prepare for a STEM fair with the Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore research and work on a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure! To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to review the upcoming cohorts and deadlines, please refer to this page.
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Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.