The globally renowned youth science and engineering competition, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), recently announced the details for the 2026 Finals. This much-anticipated event will be held from May 9-15, 2026, at the Phoenix Convention Center in the United States.

The announcement immediately sparked widespread attention globally, marking the official start of the preparation process for the next round of competitors. For foreign students studying in mainland China, the Sichuan Science and Engineering Fair (Sichuan ISEF, or "川赛") has been a critical path to the ISEF finals. However, in recent years, the rules and policies for the Sichuan ISEF have been adjusted, raising the bar for students who wish to participate.

Major Changes to the 2024-25 Sichuan ISEF Competition:

In the 2024-25 season, the Sichuan ISEF has undergone unprecedented changes. Previously, each school was allotted 5 participant spots, but this year, it has been reduced to 3. This change reflects the growing number of students competing, making the competition even fiercer!

Under this new policy, the first registration deadline is no longer in the September-November timeframe as in previous years. Many schools must hold a preliminary selection before this time to choose 3 students who will represent their school at the Sichuan ISEF. This means students need to start preparing their projects by April or even earlier, before the summer.

If you're a high school student from an international school in China or hold foreign permanent residency (such as a U.S. Green Card or Canadian Maple Leaf Card), and you aspire to compete in the ISEF, you must plan and prepare well in advance—don’t miss this valuable opportunity!

Sichuan Science and Engineering Fair (川赛)

The annual Sichuan Science and Engineering Fair, a special affiliated event of ISEF for students attending international schools in mainland China (including homeschooled students), serves as a crucial gateway for students to compete in the global finals. Over 100 students from grades 9-12 participate each year, and 5 spots are awarded to enter the ISEF finals.

This event also offers awards that are highly recognized on the international stage.

Timeline for the 2024-25 Season:

• Registration: September 13 - November 29, 2024
• Submission Deadline: January 3, 2025
• Review Begins: January 10, 2025
• Presentation & Awards Ceremony: January 16 - 18, 2025
  (Public access on January 18)

Comparing the timeline of 2025 with 2024, we can see that the schedule for the 2025 Sichuan ISEF is very similar to the previous year, with only a short window of two and a half months between registration and submission deadlines. It is crucial to be well-prepared in advance to maximize your chances of success!

Registration Information:

Students can participate individually or in teams of up to 3 members. The competition has specific rules and forms that need to be followed, with the details available on the ISEF website.

ISEF official website:
https://student.societyforscience.org/

Each school’s projects must be approved by local institutions such as SRC (Scientific Review Committee) or IRB (Institutional Review Board), and the necessary documentation must be submitted for approval prior to the event.

Project Review Process:

Each school must send at least one adult to accompany the students. The project review will take place in two rounds. The more rounds and judges a project undergoes, the more authoritative the results will be.

• Round 1 focuses on evaluating the scientific methodology and general knowledge in the specific field. It’s not about depth or breadth of knowledge.
• Round 2 will be judged by specialists in the relevant subject area, with each project reviewed by at least one expert.

ISEF as a Prestigious Extracurricular Activity:

In recent years, extracurricular activities that demonstrate a student's overall ability have gained increasing attention from top university admissions officers. As one of the most prestigious science fairs, ISEF, often referred to as the "World Cup" for young scientific minds, is an invaluable opportunity for students to get noticed by Ivy League schools and other prestigious universities.

Every year, many students who are accepted into top universities have performed exceptionally well at ISEF.

Impressive Achievements by Embark Students in ISEF:

In the 2025 ISEF Finals, Embark students demonstrated outstanding research capabilities and innovative thinking, achieving remarkable success. Embark students boasted an 83% success rate in the ISEF competition, a 30% increase from the previous year. During the regional preliminaries, Embark students also performed brilliantly, achieving a near-perfect 94% success rate. They claimed top honors in various fields, winning multiple subject first-place awards, second-place, and third-place prizes, as well as four special breakthrough awards. Embark students have consistently claimed top honors for three years in a row and have even won coveted “asteroid” awards multiple times!

As a professional team specializing in preparing middle school and high school students for science competitions, Embark has cultivated over 70 global finalists in ISEF over the past two years. Many of these students have successfully gained admission to prestigious universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Princeton.

The Path to ISEF Finals:

The process for competing in ISEF is complex. In some regions, students need to start preparing their projects up to a year and a half in advance, refining their research, and participating in multiple rounds of competition. Only by overcoming various hurdles can they secure a spot in the global finals.