News & updates
ISEF news & updates
Season announcements, deadlines, results, and guidance for students preparing for the International Science and Engineering Fair.
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Scientific Method vs Engineering Design Process at ISEF (2026): Which Frame Fits Your Project?
ISEF accepts both science and engineering projects — but they follow different logics. How the two frames differ, how to tell which one your idea is, and how to avoid the hybrid-mess trap.
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ISEF Team vs Solo Projects (2026): Rules, Trade-offs & How to Decide
Should you enter ISEF solo or as a team? The official team rules in outline, honest trade-offs for China-based students, a decision framework, and how teams are judged together.
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How to Find an ISEF Research Mentor as a China-Based Student (2026): Roles, Rules & Red Flags
How China-based international-school students find a legitimate ISEF research mentor: the three official adult roles, realistic mentor channels, a summer outreach plan, and the red flags that sink projects.
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ISEF Awards Decoded (2026): How Grand Awards and Special Awards Actually Work
ISEF hands out two separate award systems — Grand Awards by category and Special Awards from outside organisations. A clear breakdown of the tiers, dollar amounts, and how winning works.
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The ISEF Research Plan, Decoded (2026): The 7 Sections You Write Before You Start
The ISEF Research Plan is the document you write before any research begins. A section-by-section breakdown of the 7 required parts and the forms that must be signed first.
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How to Choose a Strong ISEF Research Question (2026): A Framework for China-Based Students
A feasibility-first framework for choosing an ISEF research question from China: five tests every question must pass, worked examples, and a scoping checklist.
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ISEF Awards & Prizes Decoded (2026): Grand Awards, Special Awards & What the Money Actually Means
How ISEF prizes really work: Grand Awards by category ($6,000 to $600), the top honors up to $100,000, the ~$4M in Special Awards, and what each tier signals for college applications.
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How to Choose a Strong ISEF Research Question (Before You Pick a Category) — 2026
A practical framework for choosing an ISEF research question that is narrow, testable, and feasible: the four feasibility filters, the originality test, and the mistakes that sink China-based students.
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The ISEF Research Timeline: A 12-Month Project Calendar Working Backward From May (2026)
A month-by-month ISEF project calendar built backward from May finals: when to start your research, lock a question, run experiments, hit your affiliated-fair deadline, and prep judging.
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ISEF vs Science Talent Search vs JSHS: Which US Science Competition Fits a China-Based Student (2026)
ISEF, the Regeneron Science Talent Search and JSHS are three different research competitions with very different eligibility. A 2026 comparison for China-based international-school students on which path is actually open to you.