Since 1955, the GREATER SAN DIEGO SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR (GSDSEF) has provided an inspiring experience in science and engineering for tens of thousands of San Diego and Imperial County students, motivating them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
This regional competition challenges students to go beyond classroom studies to do independent research – to ask compelling questions, to design and implement innovative solutions, and to present and defend results to judges who are professionals in their fields.
For more information about the GSDSEF (outside of this zFairs website), see our website at https://gsdsef.org/ .
The 2024 GSDSEF will be held in person, at the San Diego Municipal Gymnasium near the Air & Space Museum. Projects can be viewed by the public from 10am-1pm on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
The Showcase – a virtual version of the projects – will be opened to the public after the Fair.
To view the Showcase once opened, click on the Fair menu, and then Showcase.
The 70th 2024 GSDSEF is almost here!
Schedule:
- Tuesday afternoon, March 12, 1pm-7pm Project Setup at the Municipal Gymnasium (near the SD Air and Space Museum
- Wednesday morning, March 13th, 8:00am-11:15am (Categorical Judging)
- Wednesday morning, March 13, 10:00am- 11:15 am (Professional Society Judging)
- Wednesday afternoon, March 13th, 12:00- 2:00pm (Professional Society Judging)
- Wednesday afternoon, March 13th, 12:45- 3:00pm (Grand Awards Judging)
- Thursday evening, March 14, Awards Ceremony, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
- Friday morning, March 15, School Tours available
- Saturday, March 16, 10:00am - 1pm- Public invited to view projects
- Saturday, March 16, 1pm-3pm- Students may take projects.
- Sunday, March 17, 10am- 1pm - Students must take projects.
General Guidelines For all Judging
Students:
- Be on time and stay with your project at all times. If you must leave your project, tell someone when you are returning so you do not miss a judge.
- If you plan to use a computer to display information to judges, be sure to bring it with you Wednesday morning. The wifi connection in the Municipal Gymnasium is weak. If you are planning to use the internet to show anything, use your phone as a hotspot, or have the information already downloaded and ready to show.
- Bring your project notebook with you, in case you are asked about it (or to show it).
- If possible, have any models, prototypes, demonstrations, set up and ready to go for judging on Wednesday morning.
- Wear nice school clothes for judging. Your appearance is important.
- Judging interviews typically last 10 minutes. Judges may come to your project as a group or individually.
- During the interview, the judges will ask you questions about your project. You may use your backboard as a prompt, but do not read directly from it. If you made a video, the judges have probably already viewed it, so you can refer to it, but play it during the interview only if it is critical to the understanding of your project.
What to Expect on the morning of Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 (Category Judging, all projects; Professional Society Judging-some projects)
Students: Don't forget your lunch!!
- Plan to arrive at the BPAC between 7:15am-8:00am. Proceed directly from the dropoff area into the Municipal Gymnasium.
- Deposit your box lunch in the bin at the end of the row where your project backboard is and go to your project.
- Stay with your project at all times. If you must leave for any reason, tell someone when you will be back so you do not miss a judge!
- You will be interviewed by 4-9 judges, who may arrive in groups or individually.
- Category judging will start at 8:00am and end at 11:15am.
- Professional Society Judging will also occur between 10am and 11:15am. (Part 1)
- Do not leave the Municipal Gymnasium until you are released for lunch by an announcement from GSDSEF officials.
What to Expect during the morning and afternoon of Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 (Professional Society and Special Awards Judging, some projects)
Students:
- Separate from the Category and Grand awards, many Professional Societies give awards, and the GSDSEF also gives special awards. Professional Societies give awards based on their own criteria, e.g. The San Diego Astronomy Association will give an award for an astronomy-based project.
- Some of these awards are given based on information you have uploaded to zFairs, but some Professional Societies will interview you in person on Tuesday afternoon, March 15, between noon and 2:00pm. (Part 2)
- Again, stay by your project at all times so you do not miss a potential interview by Professional Society Judges.
- Do not leave the Municipal Gymnasium until you are released at the end by an announcement from GSDSEF officials.
What to Expect on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 (Grand Awards judging, some projects)
Students:
- A small number of projects in both the Junior and Senior Divisions will advance to Grand Awards judging on Wednesday afternoon, based on nominations from the Category Judging on Wednesday morning.
- Grand Award judges will interview selected projects between 12:45-3:00pm.
- Again, stay by your project at all times so you do not miss an interview!
- Do not leave the Municipal Gymnasium until you are released at the end by an announcement from GSDSEF officials.
We look forward to seeing you at the in-person GSDSEF Awards Ceremony on Thursday evening, March 14th, 2024, 6pm-8:30pm Location= The San Diego Air and Space Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
JR - Animal Sciences
Study of animals and animal life, including their structure, function, life history, interactions, classification, and evolution.
This category includes all aspects of animals and animal life, animal life cycles, and animal interactions with one another or with their environment. Examples of investigations included in this category would involve the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals, animal ecology, animal husbandry, entomology, ichthyology, ornithology, and herpetology, as well as the study of animals at the cellular and molecular level which would include cytology, histology, and cellular physiology.
JR - Behavioral and Social Sciences
The science or study of the thought processes and behavior of humans and other animals in their interactions with the environment studied through observational and experimental methods.
Subcategories:
Clinical & Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Physiological Psychology
Sociology and Social Psychology
Other/Multiple Subcategories
JR - Biochemistry
The study of the chemical basis of processes occurring in living organisms, including the processes by which these substances enter into, or are formed in, the organisms and react with each other and the environment.
Subcategories:
Analytical Biochemistry
General Biochemistry
Medicinal Biochemistry
Structural Biochemistry
Other/Multiple
JR - Biomedical/Health Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering
a) Biomedical/Health Sciences
This category focuses on studies specifically designed to address issues of human health and disease. It includes studies on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention or epidemiology of disease and other damage to the human body or mental systems. Includes studies of normal functioning and may investigate internal as well as external factors such as feedback mechanisms, stress or environmental impact on human health and disease.
Subcategories:
Cell, Organ, and Systems Physiology
Genetics and Molecular Biology of Disease
Immunology
Nutrition and Natural Products
Pathophysiology
Other/Multiple
b) Bioengineering
Projects that involve the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes including diagnosis, monitoring and therapy. Prominent biomedical engineering applications include the development of biocompatible prostheses, various diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices ranging from clinical equipment to micro-implants, common imaging equipment such as MRIs and EEGs, regenerative tissue growth, pharmaceutical drugs and therapeutic biologicals.
JR - Cellular and Molecular Biology
This is an interdisciplinary field that studies the structure, function, intracellular pathways, and formation of cells. Studies involve understanding life and cellular processes specifically at the molecular level.
Subcategories:
Cell Physiology
Cellular Immunology
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Neurobiology
Other/Multiple
JR - Chemistry
Studies exploring the science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter not involving biochemical systems.
Subcategories:
Analytical Chemistry
Computational Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Materials Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Other/Multiple
JR - Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Studies that primarily focus on the discipline and techniques of computer science and mathematics as they relate to biological systems. This includes the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavior, and social systems.
Subcategories:
Computational Biomodeling
Computational Epidemiology
Computational Evolutionary Biology
Computational Neuroscience
Computational Pharmacology
Genomics
Other/Multiple
JR - Computer Science and Systems Software
The study or development of software, information processes or methodologies to demonstrate, analyze, or control a process/solution.
Subcategories:
Algorithms
Cybersecurity
Databases
Human/Machine Interface
Languages and Operating Systems
Mobile Apps
Online Learning
Virtual/Augmented Reality and Simulations (abiotic)
Other/Multiple
JR - Earth and Environmental Sciences
a) Earth Sciences
Studies of the environment and its effect on organisms/systems, including investigations of biological processes such as growth and life span, as well as studies of Earth systems and their evolution.
Subcategories:
Atmospheric Science
Climate Science
Geosciences
Water Science
Other/Multiple
b) Environmental Sciences: Management and Engineering
Studies that engineer or develop processes and infrastructure to solve environmental problems in the supply of water, the disposal of waste, or the control of pollution.
JR - Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics
a) Engineering: Electrical
Studies involving electrical systems in which information is conveyed via signals and waveforms for purposes of enhancing communications, control and/or sensing.
Subcategories:
Circuits
Internet of Things
Microcontrollers
Networking and Data Communications
Optics and Photonics
Sensors
Signal Processing
Other/Multiple
b) Engineering: Mechanical
Studies that focus on the science and engineering that involve movement or structure. The movement can be by the apparatus or the movement can affect the apparatus.
Subcategories:
Computational Mechanics
Industrial Engineering-Processing
Mechanical Engineering
c) Engineering: Robotics
Studies in which the use of machine intelligence is paramount to reducing the reliance on human intervention.
Subcategories:
Biomechanics
Cognitive Systems
Control Theory
Machine Learning
Robot Kinematics
Other/Multiple
JR - Engineering: Energy, Materials, and Transport
a) Engineering: Energy
Studies/processes involving the production and/or storage of energy.
Subcategories:
Biological Process and Design
Solar Process, Materials, and Design
Energy Storage
Wind and Water Movement Power Generation
Hydrogen Generation and Storage
Thermal Generation and Design
Triboelectricity and Electrolysis
Other
b) Engineering: Materials
The study of the integration of various materials forms in systems, devices, and components that rely on their unique and specific properties. It involves their synthesis and processing in the form of nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanolayered structures, to coatings and laminates, to bulk monolithic, single-/poly-crystalline, glassy, soft/hard solid, composite, and cellular structures. It also involves measurements of various properties and characterization of the structure across length scales, in addition to multi-scale modeling and computations for process-structure and structure-property correlations.
Subcategories:
Biomaterials
Ceramic and Glasses
Composite Materials
Computation and Theory
Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Materials
Nanomaterials
Polymers
Other/Multiple
c) Engineering: Transport
Studies that focus on the science and engineering that involve movement or structure. The movement can be by the apparatus or the movement can affect the apparatus.
Subcategories:
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Control Theory
Ground Vehicle Systems
Naval Systems
Other/Multiple
JR - Mathematics
The study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. The deductive study of numbers, geometry, and various abstract constructs, or structures.
Subcategories:
Algebra
Analysis
Combinatorics, Graph Theory, and Game
Theory
Geometry and Topology
Number Theory
Probability and Statistics
Other/Multiple
JR - Microbiology
The study of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, prokaryotes, and simple eukaryotes as well as antimicrobial and antibiotic substances.
Subcategories:
Antimicrobial and Antibiotics
Applied Microbiology
Bacteriology
Environmental Microbiology
Microbial Genetics
Virology
JR - Physics and Astronomy
Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth.
Subcategories:
Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Astronomy and Cosmology
Biological Physics
Condensed Matter and Materials
Mechanics
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Theoretical, Computational, and Quantum
Physics
JR - Plant Sciences
Studies of plants and how they live, including structure, physiology, development, and classification. Includes plant cultivation, development, ecology, genetics and plant breeding, pathology, physiology, systematics and evolution.
Subcategories
Agriculture and Agronomy
Ecology
Genetics and Breeding
Growth and Development
Pathology
Plant Physiology
Systematics and Evolution
Other/Multiple
JR - Product Testing
Studies of quality control, and/or comparison studies of product designs by using accepted scientific tests to obtain quantifiable results. (Junior Division only)
SR - Animal Sciences
Study of animals and animal life, including their structure, function, life history, interactions, classification, and evolution.
This category includes all aspects of animals and animal life, animal life cycles, and animal interactions with one another or with their environment. Examples of investigations included in this category would involve the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals, animal ecology, animal husbandry, entomology, ichthyology, ornithology, and herpetology, as well as the study of animals at the cellular and molecular level which would include cytology, histology, and cellular physiology.
SR - Behavioral and Social Sciences
The science or study of the thought processes and behavior of humans and other animals in their interactions with the environment studied through observational and experimental methods.
Subcategories:
Clinical & Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Physiological Psychology
Sociology and Social Psychology
Other/Multiple Subcategories
SR - Biochemistry
The study of the chemical basis of processes occurring in living organisms, including the processes by which these substances enter into, or are formed in, the organisms and react with each other and the environment.
Subcategories:
Analytical Biochemistry
General Biochemistry
Medicinal Biochemistry
Structural Biochemistry
Other/Multiple
SR - Biomedical/Health Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering
a) Biomedical/Health Sciences
This category focuses on studies specifically designed to address issues of human health and disease. It includes studies on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention or epidemiology of disease and other damage to the human body or mental systems. Includes studies of normal functioning and may investigate internal as well as external factors such as feedback mechanisms, stress or environmental impact on human health and disease.
Subcategories:
Cell, Organ, and Systems Physiology
Genetics and Molecular Biology of Disease
Immunology
Nutrition and Natural Products
Pathophysiology
Other/Multiple
b) Bioengineering
Projects that involve the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes including diagnosis, monitoring and therapy. Prominent biomedical engineering applications include the development of biocompatible prostheses, various diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices ranging from clinical equipment to micro-implants, common imaging equipment such as MRIs and EEGs, regenerative tissue growth, pharmaceutical drugs and therapeutic biologicals.
SR - Cellular and Molecular Biology
This is an interdisciplinary field that studies the structure, function, intracellular pathways, and formation of cells. Studies involve understanding life and cellular processes specifically at the molecular level.
Subcategories:
Cell Physiology
Cellular Immunology
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Neurobiology
Other/Multiple
SR - Chemistry
Studies exploring the science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter not involving biochemical systems.
Subcategories:
Analytical Chemistry
Computational Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Materials Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Other/Multiple
SR - Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Studies that primarily focus on the discipline and techniques of computer science and mathematics as they relate to biological systems. This includes the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavior, and social systems.
Subcategories:
Computational Biomodeling
Computational Epidemiology
Computational Evolutionary Biology
Computational Neuroscience
Computational Pharmacology
Genomics
Other/Multiple
SR - Computer Science and Systems Software
The study or development of software, information processes or methodologies to demonstrate, analyze, or control a process/solution.
Subcategories:
Algorithms
Cybersecurity
Databases
Human/Machine Interface
Languages and Operating Systems
Mobile Apps
Online Learning
Virtual/Augmented Reality and Simulations (abiotic)
Other/Multiple
SR - Earth and Environmental Sciences
a) Earth Sciences
Studies of the environment and its effect on organisms/systems, including investigations of biological processes such as growth and life span, as well as studies of Earth systems and their evolution.
Subcategories:
Atmospheric Science
Climate Science
Geosciences
Water Science
Other/Multiple
b) Environmental Sciences: Management and Engineering
Studies that engineer or develop processes and infrastructure to solve environmental problems in the supply of water, the disposal of waste, or the control of pollution.
SR - Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics
a) Engineering: Electrical
Studies involving electrical systems in which information is conveyed via signals and waveforms for purposes of enhancing communications, control and/or sensing.
Subcategories:
Circuits
Internet of Things
Microcontrollers
Networking and Data Communications
Optics and Photonics
Sensors
Signal Processing
Other/Multiple
b) Engineering: Mechanical
Studies that focus on the science and engineering that involve movement or structure. The movement can be by the apparatus or the movement can affect the apparatus.
Subcategories:
Computational Mechanics
Industrial Engineering-Processing
Mechanical Engineering
c) Engineering: Robotics
Studies in which the use of machine intelligence is paramount to reducing the reliance on human intervention.
Subcategories:
Biomechanics
Cognitive Systems
Control Theory
Machine Learning
Robot Kinematics
Other/Multiple
SR - Engineering: Energy, Materials, and Transport
a) Engineering: Energy
Studies/processes involving the production and/or storage of energy.
Subcategories:
Biological Process and Design
Solar Process, Materials, and Design
Energy Storage
Wind and Water Movement Power Generation
Hydrogen Generation and Storage
Thermal Generation and Design
Triboelectricity and Electrolysis
Other
b) Engineering: Materials
The study of the integration of various materials forms in systems, devices, and components that rely on their unique and specific properties. It involves their synthesis and processing in the form of nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanolayered structures, to coatings and laminates, to bulk monolithic, single-/poly-crystalline, glassy, soft/hard solid, composite, and cellular structures. It also involves measurements of various properties and characterization of the structure across length scales, in addition to multi-scale modeling and computations for process-structure and structure-property correlations.
Subcategories:
Biomaterials
Ceramic and Glasses
Composite Materials
Computation and Theory
Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Materials
Nanomaterials
Polymers
Other/Multiple
c) Engineering: Transport
Studies that focus on the science and engineering that involve movement or structure. The movement can be by the apparatus or the movement can affect the apparatus.
Subcategories:
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Control Theory
Ground Vehicle Systems
Naval Systems
Other/Multiple
SR - Mathematics
The study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. The deductive study of numbers, geometry, and various abstract constructs, or structures.
Subcategories:
Algebra
Analysis
Combinatorics, Graph Theory, and Game
Theory
Geometry and Topology
Number Theory
Probability and Statistics
Other/Multiple
SR - Microbiology
The study of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, prokaryotes, and simple eukaryotes as well as antimicrobial and antibiotic substances.
Subcategories:
Antimicrobial and Antibiotics
Applied Microbiology
Bacteriology
Environmental Microbiology
Microbial Genetics
Virology
SR - Physics and Astronomy
Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth.
Subcategories:
Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Astronomy and Cosmology
Biological Physics
Condensed Matter and Materials
Mechanics
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Theoretical, Computational, and Quantum
Physics
SR - Plant Sciences
Studies of plants and how they live, including structure, physiology, development, and classification. Includes plant cultivation, development, ecology, genetics and plant breeding, pathology, physiology, systematics and evolution.
Subcategories
Agriculture and Agronomy
Ecology
Genetics and Breeding
Growth and Development
Pathology
Plant Physiology
Systematics and Evolution
Other/Multiple
Judge Criteria
About Category (Morning) Judging
The Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair is an exciting and important San Diego community event that relies entirely on the generosity of our community's volunteers. The Fair will usually have hundreds of science and engineering projects on display along with the hundreds of 6-12th graders who produced them.
Being a judge is actually a lot more fun than it sounds. It mostly requires listening to enthusiastic young kids tell you what they did.
For anyone new to judging, there is a great deal of advice regarding "how to judge" and "what kinds of questions to ask" (see links below). Also, judging is done in teams, so there are typically experienced judges to assist someone new, should that need arise.
Most of the projects are done by 7th and 8th graders, so you don’t need to be a PhD (although we do appreciate having PhD’s on our judging teams). You do need a background in science, math, computers or engineering and a good knowledge of the scientific method.
Please complete the Judging Registration to volunteer!
Grand Award (formerly Sweepstakes) Judging
These are the very best projects in the Fair. Projects recommended for Grand Award consideration are reviewed by teams of our most experienced judges during the second morning judging session. (7 or more years of experience are required. Grand Award judges must be willing to judge until at least 4PM.) Four Grand Award and four Runners-up are selected in both Junior (6th -8th grade) and Senior (9th -12th grade) Division.
Professional Society Judging
Some 100 Professional Societies and other organizations present awards at the GSDSEF. Each provides its own judges and sets its own criteria for awards.
In order to participate, one person from the Professional Society must agree to act as a point of contact for the GSDSEF. This person is responsible for recruiting judges for that Professional Society, and reporting their selected winners to the GSDSEF. Awards may be then left with the GSDSEF for distribution directly to students, or the Professional Society may arrange another method to present their awards.
For more information, or to sign up your Professional Society, please contact the Professional Society Coordinator, Sejal Pabari, at sejal.pabari@gsdsef.org