- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$100 to $1,000
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
88 days left
Science competitions for students under 18
Science competitions reward original research or deep subject knowledge. Research fairs (ISEF, Regeneron STS, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium) want a project you designed and ran yourself, usually over several months. Subject olympiads (USABO, USNCO, Physics Olympiad) are exams first, with the top scorers invited to residential training camps.
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $400
PreparationReading Brain Facts or Neuroscience: The Science of the Brain
FormatIndividual
WhereBoth
Science
Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Explain a hard scientific idea in a three-minute video, for a $250,000 scholarship package.
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- Grades8 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationDeep understanding of one concept in physics, life sciences or mathematics
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Science
Chemistry Olympiad
A local exam, a national exam, then a study camp that picks the four-person United States team.
6 days left
- Grades9 to 12
- CostUp to $25
PreparationFamiliarity with a full first-year high school chemistry curriculum
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Scholarships and challenges
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Scholarships of up to $50,000 for a significant piece of work in science, technology, mathematics, literature, music or philosophy.
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- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationA completed piece of work at or close to college graduate level
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Engineering
eCYBERMISSION
Solve a problem in your own community using science or engineering, entirely online, for free.
Engineering
ExploraVision
Pick a technology, project it twenty years forward, and write the paper explaining how it gets there.
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- Grades6 to 9
- CostFree
- FormatTeam
- WhereOnline
168 days left
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereOnline
Robotics
FIRST LEGO League
The entry point to competitive robotics, starting at age four and running through middle school.
140 days left
- Grades1 to 8
- Cost$100 to $1,200
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Environment
GENIUS Olympiad
An international project competition on environmental issues, spanning science, art, writing, business and robotics.
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- Grades8 to 12
- CostNot confirmed
PreparationA completed project on an environmental theme, plus funds for the finalist fee and travel
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Science
HOSA
Over sixty competitive events across clinical skills, health knowledge and leadership, from middle school upward.
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- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$20 to $1,500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Science
JSHS
Present original research to a live audience of scientists at a regional symposium, with scholarships attached.
82 days left
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationOriginal independent research, usually with a mentor
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Science
Junior Innovators Challenge
The premier middle school science research competition, entered by nomination from an affiliated science fair.
Science
National Ocean Sciences Bowl
A buzzer-based ocean science quiz competition for high school teams, run through regional bowls.
Science
National Science Bowl
A fast buzzer competition across all sciences and maths, run free by the Department of Energy since 1991.
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- Grades6 to 8
- CostFree
- FormatIndividual
- WhereBoth
Check site
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $300
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree to $50
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Environment
NCF-Envirothon
Field-based environmental science: teams are tested outdoors on soils, forestry, wildlife, water and a current issue.
Science
Physics Olympiad (F=ma)
A 25-question mechanics exam that opens the pathway to the United States physics team.
75 days left
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $1,000
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $50
PreparationFluency with mechanics: kinematics, forces, energy and momentum
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Science
PhysicsBowl
A 40-question, 45-minute physics exam sat at school, with divisions matched to how much physics you have taken.
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- Grades9 to 12
- CostUp to $20
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Science
Regeneron ISEF
The world's largest pre-college science research competition, reached by winning your way up through affiliated fairs.
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- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $50
PreparationAn ongoing research project and a win at an affiliated fair
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Science
Regeneron Science Talent Search
The oldest and most prestigious science research competition for United States high school seniors.
Science
Science Olympiad
A 23-event team tournament covering everything from anatomy to bridge building, run at invitational, regional, state and national level.
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- Grades12 to 12
- CostFree
- FormatIndividual
- WhereBoth
57 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$50 to $500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Environment
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
An international water research prize with national competitions in over thirty countries.
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- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationA completed water-related research paper
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Science
USA Biolympiad
An open biology exam that narrows to twenty finalists and the four-person United States team at the International Biology Olympiad.
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- Grades9 to 12
- Cost$125 to $125
PreparationFamiliarity with a full first-year high school biology curriculum
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Science
USAAAO
Two rounds of astronomy and astrophysics exams leading to the US team for the international olympiad.
44 days left
- Grades9 to 12
- Cost$20 to $30
PreparationSelf-directed study of the IOAA syllabus, beyond school astronomy
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Check site
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