International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Eligibility & Information

The International Science and Engineering Fair is the premier science fair competition in the world! Participating in this program can be a lifechanging opportunity for students. The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) provides an ISEF-affiliated regional Science Fair, enabling us to send ONE (1) Ventura County high school student to compete at ISEF each year.

ISEF 2026

ISEF 2026 will be held in May 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Cost

• VCOE pays for ISEF registration fees, round trip travel, housing, and reasonable project shipping expenses for the participating student and their advisor.
• VCOE is not responsible for food and other travel costs.
• Family members, friends, and others interested in accompanying the selected student to ISEF must pay for their own transportation, housing, and all other travel costs.

How to Participate

Students that would like to be eligible for the International Science and Engineering Fair after competing in the Ventura County Science Fair must do the following before beginning their project:

1. Schools must create their own local SRC/IRB (Scientific Review Committee/Institutional Review Board). To learn more about the requirements and role of the SRC/IRB, click here.

2. Review the ISEF Rules and Guidelines.

3. Complete the Society for Science Rules Wizard.

4. Complete all forms listed in the Rules Wizard Summary with appropriate signatures and approvals from your school SRC/IRB.

5. Completed ISEF paperwork, with all signatures from your school SRC/IRB must be submitted to Natalia Zizumbo at nzizumbo@vcoe.org  by February 7, 2026 no later than 4:00 pm. We must receive the completed ISEF paperwork by the deadline in order for projects to be considered.

6. When registering for the Ventura County Science Fair, indicate that the science project has been reviewed by the school's designated SRC/IRB, and that the project is ISEF eligible. 

7. The Ventura County Science Fair's SRC/IRB will perform one final review of all ISEF-eligible projects at the regional level to ensure project compliance.

• The final review by the Ventura County Science Fair's SRC/IRB does not take the place of the student's school's SRC/IRB review process, which is required. The student's school must have their own SRC/IRB that performs an initial review of the project.
• Only projects that are determined to be ISEF compliant by the Ventura County Science Fair's SRC/IRB will be considered for ISEF. 

8. The student selected to attend ISEF is determined by project overall score at the Ventura County Science Fair, and may include an additional review completed by a Science Fair project review panel selected by the Ventura County Office of Education.

*Please note that Ventura County Science Fair project scores will not be released at any point during or after the Ventura County Science Fair. 
 

Bringing Student Projects into ISEF Compliance Tutorial

Please review the Bringing Student Projects into ISEF Compliance slideshow, available by clicking the image below.

You can also review an additional video tutorial version by clicking here. 

Questions?

Contact Candice Rizzie at crizzie@vcoe.org | 805.437.1365