{{short description|Annual science fair held at the California Science Center}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox recurring event |name = California Science and Engineering Fair |nickname = CSEF |image = California_Science_and_Engineering_Fair_Logo.jpg |image_size = |status = Active |genre = [[Science fair]] |frequency = Annually |venue = [[California Lutheran University]], [[Thousand Oaks, California]]{{efn|The venue varies. As of 2026, the fair is held at California Lutheran University, after having previously been held at the [[California Science Center]] until 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.toacorn.com/articles/science-fair/ |first=Makena |last=Huey |website=Thousand Oaks Acorn |title=Science fair |access-date=March 17, 2026 |date=March 28, 2025}}</ref>}} |country = United States |years_active = {{age|1952|04|19}} |first = {{start date|1952|04|19}} |founder_name = California Science Teachers' Association |prev = April 13, 2025 |next = April 12, 2026 |participants = 900 |activity = [[Scientific research]] |sponsor = [[Amgen]] and [[Broadcom]] |organized = California Science and Engineering Fair Foundation |website = {{URL|https://csef.usc.edu}} |current = }}
The '''California Science and Engineering Fair''' (or '''CSEF'''), previously known as the '''California State Science Fair''', is a [[science fair]] held annually in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]. It serves as the final science fair of the academic year and is a feeder competition to the [[International Science and Engineering Fair]] (ISEF) and the [[Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge|Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge]] (TFJIC).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edsource.org/2025/reignite-science-fairs-california/743494 |first=Bill |last=Conrad |website=EdSource |date=October 22, 2025 |title=Invest in science fairs to reignite the spark of STEM |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> First established in 1952, CSEF was designated the state's official science fair in 1990 and ran its 74th fair in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/05/03/three-la-jolla-students-win-big-at-california-science-and-engineering-fair/ |first=Noah |last=Lyons |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |date=May 3, 2025 |title=Three La Jolla students win big at California Science and Engineering Fair |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://csef.usc.edu/History/ACR1990-141.html |website=California Science and Engineering Fair |title=California State Assembly: Concurrent Resolution 1990 - 141 |access-date=March 17, 2026}}</ref>
Every year, roughly 900 students from [[middle school]]s and [[high school]]s across California compete across two divisions and eighteen categories for the chance to win over [[United States dollar|$]]30,000 in prizes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mendovoice.com/2025/03/14-mendocino-county-students-to-head-to-southern-california-to-compete-in-state-science-fair/ |first=Sarah |last=Stierch |website=[[The Mendocino Voice]] |title=14 Mendocino County students to head to Southern California to compete in state science fair |access-date=March 19, 2026 |date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>
== History == No fair was held in 2020 as officials cited the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] as grounds for cancellation. The 69th was deferred to 2021.
== Qualification == The fair is fed by 28 regional science fairs, each of which is allocated a number of projects based on their number of participants. Projects can qualify by either placing first or second in their category at these fairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pasadenanow.com/main/pasadena-student-wins-top-engineering-award-at-county-science-fair |website=[[Pasadena Now]] |date=March 27, 2025 |title=Pasadena Student Wins Top Engineering Award at County Science Fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> The allocation in 2009 was 908 projects, an average of 24.7 projects per million population.<ref>{{cite web |title = 2009 California State Science Fair Projects by Fair |date = 2009-05-25 |url = http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/ProjectsByFair.ssi |access-date = 2009-05-25 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090501143331/http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/ProjectsByFair.ssi# |archive-date = 2009-05-01 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;font-size:100%" ! Fair ! Located in ! Number of projects |- | Humboldt County Science Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.times-standard.com/2026/03/18/thinking-like-real-scientists-takes-6-students-to-state-science-fair/ |newspaper=[[Times-Standard|The Times-Standard]] |date=March 18, 2026 |title=‘Thinking like real scientists’ takes 7 students to state science fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Eureka, California]] | 16 |- | Modoc County STEM Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/science-fair-being-held-at-sierra-view-elementary-school-next-week/article_a4e3c685-41f3-4e74-ab24-fc5117935a5c.html |first=Will |last=Anderson |date=February 11, 2026 |title=Science Fair being held at Sierra View Elementary School next week |access-date=March 19, 2026 |website=[[KHSL-TV|Action News Now]]}}</ref> | [[Alturas, California]] | 6 |- | Mendocino County Science Fair | [[Ukiah, California]] | 10 |- | Glenn County STEM Expo<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicoer.com/2019/05/14/students-show-science-knowledge-at-glenn-county-stem-expo/ |first=Kyra |last=Gottesman |website=[[Chico Enterprise-Record]] |date=May 14, 2019 |title=Students show science knowledge at Glenn County STEM Expo |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Orland, California]] | 6 |- | Colusa County Science and Engineering Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://colusacountynews.com/news/2026/129600/ |first=Lloyd |last=Green |website=Colusa County Pioneer Review |date=February 12, 2026 |title=Students Shine at County Science Fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Colusa, California]] | 6 |- | Nevada County Science Fair | [[Grass Valley, California]] | 6 |- | Solano County Science Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/solano-county/science-fair-celebrates-student-innovation/article_287e74fb-b05e-4592-8571-9335b2d4a53d.html |website=[[Daily Republic]] |date=March 14, 2026 |title=Science Fair celebrates student innovation |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Vallejo, California]] | 6 |- | Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://contracostaherald.com/over-100-san-ramon-valley-school-district-students-receive-county-state-recognition-at-science-engineering-fair-competitions/ |first=Ilana |last=Israel Samuels |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Over 100 San Ramon Valley school district students receive county, state recognition at Science & Engineering Fair competitions |website=Contra Costa Herald |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Danville, California]] | 18 |- | Golden Gate STEM Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://machronicle.com/stem-fair-continues-into-its-ninth-year/ |first=Jolene |last=Chu |website=M-A Chronicle |date=March 15, 2024 |title=STEM Fair Continues into its Ninth Year |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[San Francisco]], California | 32 |- | Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair | [[Alameda, California]] | 25 |- | Sacramento Regional STEM Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://goldmountaincanews.com/news/189815/ev-cain-middle-school-boasts-academic-award-winners/ |first=Traci |last=Newell |website=Gold Mountain California News |date=May 14, 2021 |title=E.V. Cain Middle School boasts academic award winners |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Sacramento, California]] | 21 |- | Calaveras County Science Fair | [[San Andreas, California]] | 6 |- | San Mateo County STEM Fair | [[Atherton, California]] | 20 |- | [[Santa Cruz County Science and Engineering Fair]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/students-don-science-hats-for-science-and-engineering-fair|title=Students don science hats for Science and Engineering Fair|date=2019-03-02|website=Santa Cruz Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Watsonville, California]] | 38 |- | [[Synopsys]] Silicon Valley Science and Technology Championship<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc7news.com/post/santa-clara-county-students-show-off-science-fair-projects/5193738/ |first=Dustin |last=Dorsey |date=March 14, 2019 |title=Innovative student science fair projects on display in Downtown San Jose |website=[[KABC-TV|ABC7]] |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[San Jose, California]] | 101 |- | San Joaquin County Science Fair | [[Stockton, California]] | 8 |- | Merced STEM Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mercedcountytimes.com/atwater-merced-top-stem-honors/ |website=Merced County Times |first=Dylan |last=McMullen |date=April 27, 2018 |title=Atwater, Merced Take Top Honors at STEM Fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Merced, California]] | 6 |- | Monterey County Science and Engineering Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/2018/03/19/salinas-high-students-win-top-awards-monterey-county-science-and-engineering-fair/439513002/ |website=[[The Salinas Californian]] |first=Chelcey |last=Adami |date=March 19, 2018 |title=Salinas High students win top awards at Monterey County Science and Engineering Fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Salinas, California]] | 21 |- | San Benito County Science Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://benitolink.com/san-benito-county-office-of-education-announces-steam-expo-winners/ |website=BenitoLink |date=March 24, 2022 |title=San Benito County Office of Education announces STEAM Expo winners |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Hollister, California]] | 6 |- | Fresno County Science Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/news/fresno-county-students-prepare-annual-171115595.html |author=[[KFSN-TV|KFSN]] |website=[[AOL]] |date=March 17, 2026 |title=Fresno County students prepare for the annual science fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Fresno, California]] | 50 |- | Tulare County Science and Engineering Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.recorderonline.com/gallery/westfield-summit-students-advance-to-state-science-fair/article_9a2f33ec-fb88-11ef-81d3-47cd597afacb.html |newspaper=[[Porterville Recorder]] |date=March 7, 2025 |title=Westfield, Summit students advance to State Science Fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Porterville, California]] | 6 |- | Santa Barbara County Science Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://syvnews.com/news/local/education/solvang-school-students-capture-science-fair-awards/article_3726bcf3-5ff7-5797-924d-53b831f814af.html |website=[[Santa Ynez Valley News]] |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Solvang School students capture science fair awards |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Santa Barbara, California]] | 23 |- | Kern County Regional Science Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/eyewitness-mornings/science-fair-03-04-2026 |first=Jasmin |last=Knox |website=[[KBAK-TV|Bakersfield Now]] |date=March 4, 2026 |title=Downtown Bakersfield hosts Kern County science fair at Dignity Health Arena |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Bakersfield, California]] | 36 |- | Ventura County Science Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.simivalleyacorn.com/articles/student-scientists-excel-in-county-brain-contest/ |first=Eamon |last=Murphy |date=March 29, 2025 |title=Student scientists excel in county brain contest |newspaper=Simi Valley Acorn |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Camarillo, California]] | 35 |- | Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/news/tn-vsl-xpm-2012-04-04-tn-vsl-0405-letting-science-be-their-guide-la-caada-flintridge-and-la-crescenta-students-earn-top-marks-at-la-county-science-fair-story.html |first=Bill |last=Kisliuk |newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 4, 2012 |title=Students win top awards at L.A. County Science Fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Pasadena, California]] | 94 |- | SIM Science and Engineering Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbsun.com/2025/03/06/young-san-bernardino-county-scientists-compete-at-fair/ |newspaper=[[The San Bernardino Sun]] |date=March 6, 2025 |title=Young San Bernardino County scientists compete at fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[San Bernardino, California]] | 23 |- | Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://riversiderecord.org/at-the-riverside-county-science-fair-the-experiments-are-just-the-beginning/ |first=Daniel |last=Eduardo Hernandez |website=The Riverside Record |date=March 2, 2026 |title=At The Riverside County Science Fair, The Experiments Are Just The Beginning |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Riverside, California]] | 38 |- | Orange County Science and Engineering Fair<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.ocde.us/orange-county-students-take-home-top-honors-at-annual-science-and-engineering-fair/ |first=Nicole |last=Pichardo |website=OCDE Newsroom |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Orange County students take home top honors at annual science and engineering fair |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> | [[Orange, California]] | 81 |- | Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair | [[San Diego, California]] | 89 |- |}
== Awards == Awards, given in several categories across both divisions, are posted shortly after the fair ends each year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/Awards/ |title=Current Category awards |access-date=2009-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817123050/http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/Awards/ |archive-date=2009-08-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Roughly two to three projects amongst the first-place Senior division category winners are chosen to advance to ISEF.
At the 2009 fair, major awards included the Patricia Beckman Project of the Year Award—David Zarrin of [[Redwood Middle School, Saratoga]] won the Junior Division ($5,000 award) and Anna K. Simpson of [[Patrick Henry Senior High School, San Diego]] won the Senior Division ($10,000).<ref>{{cite web | title = CALIFORNIA STATE SCIENCE FAIR Major Fair Awards – 2010 | url = http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/Awards/ | access-date = 2009-08-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090817123050/http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/Awards/ | archive-date = 2009-08-17 | url-status = dead }}</ref> There are also many special awards sponsored by various organizations, some with cash prizes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/Awards/SpecRec2009.html# |title=Special and Recognition Awards |access-date=2009-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201211336/http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/Awards/SpecRec2009.html# |archive-date=2010-02-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://cssf.usc.edu/ California Science and Engineering Fair] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090411002555/http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Affiliates/ California State Science Fair: Affiliates]
[[Category:Annual fairs]] [[Category:Fairs in California]] [[Category:Annual events in Los Angeles County, California]] [[Category:Education in California]] [[Category:Science and technology in California]] [[Category:Science and technology in Greater Los Angeles]]