South Carolina Region 1 Science Fair

07/10/2026

Last call, for now.

Over the past couple of weeks we've shared the many ways to get involved with the SC Region 1 Science Fair — board service, judging, project review, and volunteering. If any of it stirred something in you, consider this your nudge.

We're an all-volunteer, donor-funded organization, which means every person who steps up genuinely moves us forward. The students of the Upstate are counting on adults who believe in them.

Ready for the next step? Email Dr. Staci Johnson at [email protected], and we'll find the right fit for your time and interests.

07/07/2026

This is what it's all about.

In 2026, one of our regional finalists — Arjun Jain of D.W. Daniel High School — went on to earn a Grand Award at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, competing against the top young researchers in the world.

Stories like his start at the regional level: with judges who take student projects seriously, reviewers who keep them safe, and a board that keeps the whole thing running. Every student who walks into our fair deserves that kind of support.

Want to help make moments like this possible? We're expanding our board and our volunteer team. Email Dr. Staci Johnson at [email protected] to learn more.

07/03/2026

Board service isn't the only way to be part of the SC Region 1 Science Fair. There's a place for almost everyone:

· Board members to help guide our mission and growth
· Scientific Review Committee members to review student projects for safety and compliance
· Judges to evaluate projects on fair day
· Volunteers to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes

Whatever your background, we'd be glad to have you. Our 2027 fair is set for March 19, and we're building our team now.

Interested? Email Dr. Staci Johnson at [email protected].

06/30/2026

We're growing, and we'd love for you to grow with us.

The SC Region 1 Science Fair has connected Upstate students with the joy of scientific discovery since 2010. As an ISEF-affiliated regional fair serving students in grades 3–12 across seven Upstate counties, we're now expanding our Board of Directors — and we're looking for people who want to help shape what comes next.

You don't have to be a scientist. We need people who care about kids, education, and community: educators, professionals, parents, and local leaders all bring something valuable to the table.

Curious what it could look like? Reach out to Dr. Staci Johnson at [email protected]. Let's talk.

06/25/2026

🏛️ An open letter to school and district leaders across Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, and Pickens counties:

The SC Region 1 Science Fair is entering its 17th year of serving students across our seven-county region — and our 3rd year as an ISEF-affiliated fair. This year, two of your students stood on a stage in Phoenix, Arizona, competing against the best young scientists from 70 countries.

They came from one school.

Imagine what's possible if every school in our region had students competing.
We know that participation takes more than enthusiasm. It takes teacher capacity, curricular space, administrative support, and resources. We want to help remove those barriers — but we need to understand them first.

Here's what we're asking of district and school leaders today: 👇
💬 Would you be willing to have a 20-minute conversation with us about what it would take to get more students from your district to the science fair?

No obligation. No pitch. Just a conversation.

Resources like Science Coach (sciencecoach.org) provide trained, paid research coaches for teachers — reducing the burden on your staff while elevating your students' STEM experiences. We want to connect you with every tool available.

Email us at [email protected] or drop a comment below and we'll reach out. 💚
Your students have big ideas. Let's build the runway for them together.

Home - Students learn to probe, problem-solve, and persevere. Along the way, they elevate their thinking skills and discover career passions. They develop

06/22/2026

🌍 Want to know what's possible when a student in Upstate SC commits to a research question?

This spring, two students from D.W. Daniel High School competed at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix — the world's largest pre-college science competition, where over 1,700 students from nearly 70 countries gathered to share their research.

They got there through the SC Region 1 Science Fair. And they started exactly where you are right now: with a question.

🧬 Ritesh J. Babu researched a drug that could "rescue" a faulty receptor in the brain linked to severe obesity — work with implications for millions of people worldwide.
🤖 Arjun V. Jain built an AI system that analyzes how doctors and patients communicate — and detects disease outbreaks in real time. The kind of tool that could help prevent the next pandemic.

Both of them are high school students. Both of them started with curiosity and a willingness to do the work.

The 2027 SC Region 1 Science Fair is March 19, 2027. Registration opens in the fall.
Could YOU be on that ISEF stage in 2028? 🚀
What question would you want to answer? Drop it in the comments. 👇

06/18/2026

🎤 Research teachers and science coaches — we want to hear YOUR story.

Whether you've been guiding students through science fair for 20 years or you just helped your first student cross the finish line this spring — what you do matters enormously.

We have a question for you today: 👇
❓ What made you decide to support student research? And what has surprised you most about the experience?

Maybe a student amazed you with an idea you never expected. Maybe you found a resource that changed how you teach research. Maybe you're still figuring it out — and you wish someone had told you where to start.

We're building a community of educators across Upstate SC who support student research, and YOUR experience is exactly what a newer teacher needs to hear.
Drop your story in the comments 👇 — or tag a teacher colleague who should be in this conversation.

And if you're a teacher who's been thinking about getting involved but hasn't yet — check out Science Coach (sciencecoach.org). It's a national program that trains, pays, and supports research teachers so you don't have to figure it out alone. 💚

Home - Students learn to probe, problem-solve, and persevere. Along the way, they elevate their thinking skills and discover career passions. They develop

06/15/2026

💪 To every teacher, coach, and mentor who supported a student at the 2026 SC Region 1 Science Fair:

Thank you. From the bottom of our hearts.

The projects we saw this year — AI systems detecting disease outbreaks, research into obesity treatments, students earning NASA and NOAA awards — none of that happens without a teacher who said yes. Who gave up lunch periods, after-school hours, and planning time to help a student chase an idea.

Here's what we learned from this year that we want to carry into 2027:
🌱 Students who start early produce better research. Summer is the best time to plant the seed.
📋 Projects that nail the ISEF forms and SRC process have fewer stressful surprises in the spring.
🤝 Students with a mentor — a teacher, a professor, a scientist — consistently produce stronger work.
🏫 Schools that send multiple students build a culture of research that feeds itself year after year.

You don't need a perfect lab or unlimited resources. You need curiosity and a guide.
That's you.

If you're thinking about starting or expanding a research program at your school, we want to support you. Email us at [email protected] — we'll connect you with resources, mentors, and everything the SC Region 1 Science Fair community has to offer. 💚

06/11/2026

📋 Future science fair competitors: this post could save your project.
Here's one of the most important things we see students get wrong — every single year:

🚫 They start their research BEFORE completing the required review forms.
If you plan to compete at the SC Region 1 Science Fair in 2027 (especially if you have ISEF dreams), you need to know this:

✅ ISEF rules require pre-approval BEFORE you begin any experimentation
✅ Depending on your project type, you may need SRC (Scientific Review Committee) approval, IRB forms, or other documentation
✅ Research involving human subjects, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous materials, or microorganisms has specific requirements that MUST be addressed before you start
✅ If your forms aren't complete and approved before you begin, your project may be disqualified — even if the science is outstanding

The time to learn the rules is NOW — before the idea becomes an experiment.

👉 Read the ISEF International Rules and Guidelines at societyforscience.org/isef/rules-guidelines/
👉 Questions? Reach out to your school's science teacher or email us at [email protected]

Don't let a paperwork problem stand between you and your dream project. Start smart! 🔬

© 2026 Society for Science 1776 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 | 202.785.2255 Society for Science is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Rights & Permissions | Privacy Policy

06/08/2026

🤝 We want to hear from you — school leaders, principals, curriculum directors, and district administrators.

The SC Region 1 Science Fair serves students in Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, and Pickens counties. We are entering our 17th year. Our 3rd year as an ISEF-affiliated fair.

And yet — we know there are students in our region who never get the chance to participate. Students who have the curiosity, the drive, and the talent, but whose schools don't have the infrastructure, the time, or the support to make science research happen.

We want to change that. And we can't do it without understanding what's in the way.
So here's a genuine question for school leaders in our region: 👇

❓ What are the biggest barriers that keep your students from participating in science fair?

Is it time in the curriculum? Teacher capacity? Awareness? Resources? Something else entirely?

Your answer will directly shape how we design our 2027 outreach and support programs. This is not a rhetorical question — we are listening.

Drop a comment, send us a message, or email [email protected]. Every response matters. 💚