Following the successful conclusion of the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Global Finals, the competition for spots in the upcoming Sichuan Science Fair has officially begun.

For foreign students studying in mainland China, the Sichuan Science Fair is a crucial pathway to the ISEF Global Finals, with only 5 advancement spots available each year. If you are aiming for ISEF next year, it is essential to plan early and prepare thoroughly to seize this valuable opportunity.

What is the ISEF Sichuan Science Fair?

The annual ISEF Sichuan Science Fair (commonly referred to as the Sichuan Fair) is an affiliated competition exclusively designed for students attending international schools for children of foreign nationals in mainland China. Registration is organized through the schools.

Students in grades 9-12 can hone their research skills and enhance their academic knowledge through this competition. Each year, over 100 students compete for a ticket to the ISEF Global Finals. The awards issued by the Sichuan Fair itself are also highly recognized on an international level.

Major Changes for the 2025-2026 Season

The 2025-2026 season has introduced unprecedented significant changes. Adjustments have been made to the number of projects allowed: if a school won ISEF finalist or regional awards in the 2025 Sichuan Fair, it can submit 4 projects, regardless of how many awards it received. Schools that did not meet the above criteria can still submit 3 projects (in the 2024-2025 season, every school was limited to 3 projects).

Under this new policy, many schools will need to conduct a first round of internal school competitions to select candidates who will then represent the school at the Sichuan Fair. This means students must start preparing their projects much earlier.

2025-2026 Season Timeline

Let's take a look at the timeline for the upcoming season:

• Registration: October 10 - November 28, 2025
• Submission Deadline: January 3, 2026
• Judging Begins: January 9, 2026
• Interviews & Awards Ceremony: January 16 - January 17, 2026

(*The event will be open to the public for viewing on January 17.)

Comparing last year's and this year's schedules, we can see the following detailed timeline:

It is evident from the schedule that the timeline for the 2026 Sichuan Fair, from the start of registration to the deadline, is only a short window of one and a half months, which is nearly a month shorter than before. Such a brief time window undoubtedly demands higher efficiency from the participants!

Registration Guidelines

Students can participate individually or form teams of up to 3 members. The Sichuan Fair has numerous rules and forms; for specific information, please refer to the official ISEF website.

ISEF Official Website: https://student.societyforscience.org/

Projects submitted by each school must complete the approval and research plan forms in advance. These must be approved by local SRC (Scientific Review Committee) and IRB (Institutional Review Board) or similar institutions before the project begins, and complete documentation must be submitted for SRC/IRB approval for the fair.

*SRC = Scientific Review Committee; IRB = Institutional Review Board

Project Judging Process

Each school must send at least one adult chaperone to accompany the students. The project judging will be conducted in two rounds, and judges may evaluate one or both rounds. The more judges and rounds involved, the more authoritative the results.

The first round of judging only requires an understanding of the scientific method; the depth and breadth of the student's knowledge in a specific scientific field are not the primary focus. Each project only needs to be evaluated twice in the first round.

Upon entering the second round, projects will be reviewed by judges with more specific subject expertise, and each project will be reviewed by at least one judge.

Review of the 2026 Sichuan Science Fair

The 2026 Sichuan Science Fair concluded on January 17. This year, the organizing committee stipulated that each school could recommend three projects (schools that won awards at the ISEF Global Finals could recommend four). The number of participating teams was basically consistent with last year, with a total of 57 teams competing (56 in 2025). The subject categories align with the ISEF Global Finals, covering physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, mechanical engineering, art and technology, and more.

This year, the judging panel included more foreign judges than last year. The number of judges increased to 59, a historical high, providing a better judging experience for the participants. Students went all out to showcase their projects. Among the advancing projects, biology and engineering projects were particularly favored by the judges. We hope the advancing students will continue to strive and showcase the brilliance of youth on the global stage, bringing higher honors to the Sichuan Fair.

This year, there were 5 direct spots to the ISEF Global Finals.

Top students have successfully advanced and secured their tickets to ISEF!

From the judges' perspective, the academic and research team has promptly reviewed and analyzed the award-winning projects from the Sichuan Science Fair.

What makes the TOP 5 projects that advanced to ISEF this year stand out? How did they excel in their respective categories? Let's uncover the judging logic and methodology for success.

The Value of ISEF for College Applications

In recent application trends, extracurricular activities that demonstrate a student's comprehensive strength are receiving increasing attention from admissions officers at top universities. As one of the high-value extracurricular activities, ISEF, known as the "World Cup" of global youth scientific research, can undoubtedly help applicants quickly catch the eye of their dream school's admissions officers.

In fact, among the students admitted to top universities every year, many have achieved excellent results in ISEF.

ISEF Pathway and Affiliated Fairs

The pathway to ISEF is complex. In some regions, students need to start preparing their projects a year and a half in advance, continuously refining and competing, passing through multiple levels of competition to have a chance to compete for a ticket to the Global Finals.

Partial List of ISEF Affiliated Fairs:

• Sichuan Science Fair: Exclusive for children of foreign nationals in China.
• Shanghai Youth Science Society Senior Member Selection & Science Seed International Exchange Program.
• Chongqing Youth Science and Technology Innovation Competition.
• Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Youth Science Expo (BTHYSF).
• Singapore Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF).
• Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF).

If you want to participate in the Sichuan Science Fair and compete for an ISEF ticket, or learn more about other affiliated ISEF events around the world, please seek professional guidance and consultation.

Recommended Research Directions for Science Competitions

• Sociology
• Aerospace
• Economics & Finance
• Energy Science
• Applied Mathematics
• Biology + Computer Science
• Materials Science
• Psychology
• Chemistry
• Electronic & Communication Engineering