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Elementary Division
Projects are not divided into categories. Elementary Projects will be judged with outstanding projects receiving an "Exemplary Project" plaque. Elementary projects can have from one to three students per projects. A maximum of eight projects from each of the eight regional fairs may be entered at the elementary level from grades 3 through 5.

Junior Divisions
Categories are:

• Biological Science,
• Earth/Environmental Science,
• Physical Science, and
• Technology.

From one to three students can work on a single project. Two entries from each of the four categories in the Junior Division will be allowed from each regional science fair.   Two Energy, Engineering, or Environmental projects will be selected to represent the NC Science and Engineering Fair at International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, & Environment) Project Olympiad (ISWEEP) in Houston, TX  on April 15-20, 2009.

Senior Division
Categories are:

• Biological Science,
• Earth/Environmental Science,
• Physical Science
• Technology/Engineering, and
• Team

Two entries from each of the four categories in the Junior and Senior Divisions will be allowed from each regional science fair. In addition, this year we have a high school TEAM Division, which is NOT divided into categories and is composed of 2-3 students per team. Two teams are allowed from each regional.

Four individual high school students and two TEAMs will be selected to attend the International Science and Engineering Competition in Reno, Nevada.

Two Environmental, Energy, or Engineering projects will be selected to represent the NC Science and Engineering Fair at International Sustainable World(Energy, Engineering, a& Environment) Project Olympiad (ISWEEP) in Houston, TX  on April 15-20, 2009.

Divisions

Senior — Grades 9-12
Junior — Grades 6-8
Elementary — Grades 3-5

Category Descriptions

Great care should be taken in selecting the category for competition that best matches the project. The following descriptions should be of assistance in making the most appropriate decisions. For detailed descriptions of the categories, visit the ISEF web site at http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/students/research_categories.asp.

Biological Science

Human and animal behavior
Social and community relations
Chemistry of life processes
Study of plants, animals, or microorganisms
Study of diseases, and health of humans and animals

Physical Science

The study of the nature and composition of matter and laws governing it
Theories, principles, and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter

Earth/Environmental Science

Geology, mineralogy, physiography, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, astronomy
Study of pollution especially related to the environment

Technology/Engineering

Technology or Engineering projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses.

If you are using the descriptions of categories listed in the ISEF Wizard, use the following table to match their descriptions with the NC State Science Fair Categories.

Updated 8/27/09