Kern County Science Fair

Rules for Entering a Project in the Kern County Regional Science Fair

Eligibility and Registration

1. School or District Participation: Your school or district must register its Intent to Participate in the Kern County Regional Science Fair. Science Fair coaches or representatives should attend the coaches’ orientation on September 17, 2026. Coach attendance is especially encouraged for those entering projects that may require additional review or approval.
2. Student Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in a Kern County school, reside in Kern County and be in grades 4–12.
3. School Selection: Each project must be selected by the student’s school or school district for participation in the Regional Science Fair.
4. Registration Deadline: Students must register their projects by January 15, 2027 at zFairs.
5. Late Entries: Projects registered after January 15, 2027 will be accepted for display only. Late entries will not be judged and will not be eligible for awards.

Project Requirements

6. Number and Type of Projects:
   • Each student may submit only one project.
   • Grades 4–5: Only individual projects are permitted.
   • Grades 6–12: Individual and team projects are permitted. Teams may include no more than three students. Each team member must complete a separate registration account.
   • Projects from a previous year may not be resubmitted unless they are part of a longitudinal study.
7. Entry Fee: The entry fee is $15.00 per student. The Kern County Science Foundation does not intend for an inability to pay to prevent any student from participating. Families or schools needing assistance with the fee may contact the Kern County Science Foundation at (661) 636-4220.
8. Responsibility for Fees: Each student is responsible for the entry fee; however, individual schools or districts may choose to pay the fees for their participating students.

Project Quality and Research Poster Expectations

9. Quality of the Project: Projects should demonstrate the process of scientific inquiry and reasoning and be presented using a research poster format commonly used in scientific and academic settings. A strong project should clearly communicate the investigation and include:
   • Title: A concise and informative title that captures the focus of the investigation.
   • Introduction / Research Question: Identify the driving question or problem being investigated and explain why it is significant.
   • Background Research: Summarize relevant studies, concepts, or prior findings that provide context for the investigation.
   • Materials and Methods: Identify the materials used and clearly describe the procedures or design of the investigation so that others could understand and, when appropriate, replicate the work.
   • Results: Present data using graphs, tables, figures, or other appropriate representations in an organized and understandable way.
   • Discussion: Explain what the data show, identify patterns, and connect evidence to possible explanations.
   • Conclusion: Summarize key findings, discuss implications and limitations, and identify possible next steps or future investigations.
   • References: Cite relevant sources and acknowledge any support, assistance, or resources used during the project.
10. Compliance with Requirements: Projects may be rejected or deemed ineligible if they do not meet one or more of the requirements outlined above.

The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that projects entering the Kern County Regional Science Fair demonstrate meaningful engagement in scientific inquiry, clear communication of ideas and evidence, and an appropriate level of preparation for a regional science fair.