Does the United States and the state of Colorado face a shortage of scientists and engineers?

The Colorado State Science Fair, Inc. honors excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; providing opportunities for students from all regions of the state to create and present their research in environments that nurture interest in science and technology; promoting professional skills, high ethical standards, diversity and continuing intellectual development. Learn more about the CSSF, Inc. history, goals & objectives and board of directors that oversees the CSEF.

Participation in a science fair can be a very rewarding experience. Students use the full range of science, technology, engineering and mathematical practices to make sense of natural phenomena and solve problems that require a deep understanding of their topic area. Learn more about the practices, cross-cutting concepts and core ideas (opens in new window) that participation in CSEF can teach students.

The CSEF is affiliated with the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair. For this reason, we must adhere to the international rules and guidelines set forth by the Society for Science & the Public's Scientific Review Committee. These rules outline the forms and supervision that are needed for all projects as well as those that involve human subjects, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents and hazardous chemicals, devices and activities. Please remember that these rules are in place to ensure the safety of the student researcher as well as the subject (human or animal) that they may be working with in their student. They are NOT trivial and are based on what working scientists must adhere to as well as federal laws and regulations. Learn more about the forms required for participating in Colorado regional science fairs and the CSEF.

All students (with individual and team projects) who wish to participate in the 2023 Colorado Science & Engineering Fair must:

• be a Colorado student in 6th-12th grade in a public, private, parochial, home or on-line school and
• participate in only one Regional Science Fair located in the county where they go to school (or live if home-schooled) and
• be chosen by their Regional Science Fair to represent that region at the CSEF and
• agree to abide by all International Science & Engineering Fair, CSEF and Regional Science Fair rules, regulations and policies that may currently exist regarding pre-college science research.

Learn more about the CSEF participation process.

We Need You!
Judging for the 2023 CSEF will be held on April 13, 2023. Grand Award Judging is an all-day event and judges need to be available from ~9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Learn more about being a Grand Award Judge for the CSEF.

The Special Awards Program is an integral part of the Colorado Science & Engineering Fair that allows organizations, businesses and individuals to support science education by rewarding and interacting with CSEF participants in specialized areas of interest to the sponsoring organization, business or individual. Special Award Organizations provide representatives to judge the student projects through interviews and present awards based on their criteria. Awards may include cash, savings bonds, memberships, subscriptions, scientific equipment and/or internships. Learn More about the CSEF Special Awards Program.

The CSEF is run almost entirely by volunteers, from the Board of Directors who help guide policy of the event and organization to the judges who evaluate the students' research. The only way this event happens is through the wonderful people who volunteer their time to put it together. Learn more about becoming a CSEF Volunteer.

The Colorado State Science Fair, Inc. Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by Lockheed Martin was established out of the desire to honor teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching in any of the many disciplines related to the sciences and engineering. The winning teacher will be given a grant to support student research facilitated by them and/or to fund programs in their district that would best enhance instruction in the sciences and engineering. All nominated teachers also receive a small monetary award in memory of 2008 CSEF Teacher of the Year, Doug Steward, Monte Vista High School. Download the nomination form today.

The 2022 Teacher of the Year winner was Boone Starr of Flagstaff Academy in Longmont - congratulations Mr. Starr!

The Colorado State Science Fair, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit organization. Thanks to the support of generous corporations, foundations, government agencies, organizations and individual donors who believe in the importance of science education, the CSEF has been servicing Colorado and its students for 67 years. Learn more about our current sponsors and how you can also support us (pdf).

Colorado Gives Day - 12.6.22

The CSEF has many resources available for students, parents, teachers, and regional fair directors. Learn more about what it takes to complete a successful science fair project.

Each year, the CSEF hosts over 350 students from around the state, hands out over 350 individual awards to these students, sends approximately 25 students to the International Science & Engineering Fair and nominates 24 projects for the Broadcom MASTERS competition. Learn more about previous CSEFs and things our Alumni are doing.

Colorado students bring home multiple grand and special awards from the 2022 Intel ISEF (opens in new window) held May 8 - 13, 2022 in Atlanta, GA.

See a collage of photos from previous CSEFs.

CSEF Director

Courtney Butler

Colorado State University
Campus Delivery 1802
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1802

Voice Mail: 970-498-4121
Office Phone: 970-491-7716
Cell Phone: 970-222-4418
Fax: 970-491-2005

courtney.butler@colostate.edu
csef@colostate.edu