Science Fair Categories

Published: February 24, 2003

There are fifteen categories for the ISEF listed below. Your local fair may include many or all of the same categories. If you read these categories and do not find the area in which your specific project fits, call your Fair Director for guidance. You may have a project that crosses several disciplines. You need to be properly placed in a category so that you will have the best chance of success in advancing your project if you should be a winner. Also, if you are reading this list and find words and terms you have never heard of - GREAT! Just look them up in a scientific dictionary. If they look interesting, you may have found a possible new category in which to do a science fair project!

Behavioral and Social Sciences: human and animal behavior, social and community relationships - psychology, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, ethology, ethnology, linguistics, learning, perception, urban problems, reading problems, public opinion surveys, educational testing, and other areas.

Biochemistry: chemistry of life processes including molecular biology, molecular genetics, enzymes, photosynthesis, blood chemistry, protein chemistry, food chemistry, and hormones.

Botany: study of plant life - agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant pathology, plant genetics, hydroponics, and algae.

Chemistry: study of nature and composition of matter and laws governing it - physical chemistry, organic chemistry (other than biochemistry), inorganic chemistry, materials, plastics, fuels, pesticides, metallurgy, and soil chemistry.

Computer Science: study and development of computer software and hardware and associated logical devices.

Earth and Space Science: geology, mineralogy, physiography, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, astronomy, geology, speleology, seismology, and geography.

Engineering: technology - projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses - civil, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical, electrical, photographic, sound, automotive, marine, heating and refrigerating, transportation, and environmental engineering.

Environmental Science: study of pollution (air, water, and land) sources and their control; ecology.

Gerontology: study of the aging process in living organisms.

Mathematics: development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations and the application of these principles - calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, number theory, statistics, complex analysis, and probability.

Medicine and Health: study of diseases and health of humans and animals - dentistry, pharmacology, pathology, ophthalmology, nutrition, sanitation, pediatrics, dermatology, allergies, and speech and hearing.

Microbiology: biology of microorganisms - bacteriology, virology, protozoology, fungi, bacterial genetics and yeast.

Physics: theories, principles, and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter - solid state, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, superconductivity, fluid and gas dynamics, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, and biophysics.

Zoology: study of animals - animal genetics, ornithology, ichthyology, herpetology, entomology, animal ecology, paleontology, cellular physiology, circadian rhythms, animal husbandry, cytology, histology, animal physiology, invertebrate neurophysiology, and studies of invertebrates.

Team Projects: study conducted by two or three students in any discipline.