Fair Categories

Regular Fair Categories

The fair has two major divisions, the Life Sciences and the Physical Sciences. Life science projects include behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, botany, environmental sciences, medicine and health, microbiology and zoology. Physical science projects encompass chemistry, computer science, earth and space sciences, engineering, mathematics and physics.

Each division is further divided by grade with a additional categories for team projects, for a total of 10 categories. For major awards, a project will only be judged against projects in the same category. For example, Grade 7 & 8 Team projects are only judged against 7 & 8 Team projects.

Awards will be presented in each of the ten regular fair categories. The number of awards is determined from the number of entrants in the category and generally range from 10 to 20. The top four high school projects, two from Physical Sciences and two from Life Sciences, win all expense paid trips to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair, ISEF*.

*Team projects are limited to 3 students. Grade 9-12 Team projects at the CSF are not eligible for International Science and Engineering Fair, ISEF competition. An exception is the Alexion Biotechnology Awards winner.

Major Category Awards Program Sponsors

• Pfizer Life Sciences Awards
  Monetary awards, trophies and medallions for top winners and recognition plaques for all Life Sciences finalists.
• Dominion’s Millstone Power Station Physical Sciences Awards
  Monetary awards, trophies and medallions for top winners and recognition plaques for all Physical Science finalists.
• Alexion Biotechnology Awards (New for 2011)
  The top high school project, individual or team, will receive an all expense-paid trip to compete at the Intel Science and Engineering Fair.

Special Categories

Projects at the fair are also considered for awards in special categories. Projects are selected for these categories by a separate panel of judges than the regular category judges.

• Barnes Aerospace Applied Technology
  For projects applying technology to demonstrate a practical solution to a stated problem or by creating a functionally interesting use of technology.
• ATOMIC Mathematics Awards (with support from Xerox Foundation)
  For projects demonstrating the application of mathematics or theoretical mathematics. The category is conducted by the Associated Teachers of Mathematics In Connecticut with major support from Xerox Foundation.
• Xerox Computer Science Awards
  For projects which deal with computer architecture or software development directed towards better computers and software.
• Audubon Connecticut/Arch Chemical Environmental Science Awards
  For projects in environmental science and observational behavioral studies of animals in the environment. Conducted by Audubon Connecticut with support from Arch Chemicals Inc.
• CT Clean Energy Fund Energy Awards
  For projects that address concepts in clean renewable/sustainable energy.
• Goodrich Awards for Excellence In Engineering
  For projects in the disciplines of electrical, mechanical, electro-optical, and optical engineering.
• Quinnipiac University Scholarships
  Quinnipiac University selects one middle school and one high school student to receive a four year scholarships valued at $20,000.
• Future Sustainability
  The Connecticut Science Fair recognizes energy, engineering, and environmental high school projects that investigate ways to insure the future sustainability of the planet. In addition to monetary awards and trophies for top placing finalists, two overall winners will receive all-expense paid trips to compete at the International Sustainable World, I-SWEEEP, in Houston, Texas.
• eesmarts/CT Energy Efficiency Fund  Sustainable Resources and Practices Awards
  Includes projects that address energy, engineering and the environment. These projects should aim to find practical solutions to our world’s sustainablity by investigating ways that individuals and communities can use bahavior change, efficiency enhancement technologies, and energy/business/policies to maintain global sustainability.
• Urban School Challenge
  Open to projects from the public schools of Bridgeport, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Waterbury, and Windham.
• United Technologies Corporation Awards for Excellence In Science & Engineering
  United Technologies Corporation provides up to 8 awards of UTC common stock and a plaque. Criteria include innovation, topics of special interest to UTC and overall excellence in science and engineering.
• Special Awards
  There are also more than 180 special awards presented by eighty professional societies and businesses  in a wide variety of subject areas. The selection and evaluation of projects for the special awards are made by a team of judges acting for the organization sponsoring the award.