Mississippi students interested in research have a clear pathway from their local science fair to the Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair and, potentially, to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
The Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair (MSEF) brings together students from across the state to present original research in fields ranging from biomedical science and chemistry to engineering, environmental science, robotics, and mathematics. More than 300 finalists can participate at the state level, making it one of Mississippi's largest opportunities for young scientists and engineers.
How the Mississippi Science Fair System Works
Unlike a competition where every student applies directly to one statewide event, Mississippi uses a regional system.
The state is divided into seven MSEF regions, each managed by a Mississippi college or university. Your region depends on your county. Regional fairs may include younger students, but the Mississippi State Science and Engineering Fair is for qualifying students in grades 7 through 12.
The statewide MSEF website states that students must place first, second, or third at the regional level to be eligible for the state competition. Individual regions may provide additional advancement instructions for a particular year.
Regional Fairs in Mississippi
Region | Host institution | Counties served |
University of Southern Mississippi | Covington, Forrest, Greene, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Perry, Pike, Smith, Walthall, Wayne | |
Jackson State University | Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Hinds, Jefferson, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Wilkinson | |
Delta State University | Bolivar, Coahoma, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower, Washington, Yazoo | |
Northeast Mississippi Community College | Alcorn, Benton, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Prentiss, Pontotoc, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union | |
Mississippi State University | Attala, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Lowndes, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Scott, Webster, Winston | |
University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast | George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone | |
University of Mississippi | Calhoun, Carroll, DeSoto, Grenada, Lafayette, Marshall, Montgomery, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Yalobusha |
What to Know About the 2027 Competition
For the upcoming cycle, the 2027 Mississippi State Science and Engineering Fair is scheduled for April 1, 2027, at Millsaps College in Jackson. The 2027 Regeneron ISEF will take place May 8 through May 14 in Los Angeles.
Some regional dates are already available. Regions I and VI are currently scheduled to hold their 2027 fair on February 26 at Pelican Landing in Moss Point. Region V will hold its Upper Fair for grades 6 through 12 on February 16 at Mississippi State University's Humphrey Coliseum. Region V student project registration is due January 31, 2027.
Other regions may publish or update their 2027 schedules separately, so students should check their regional fair website early in the school year.
Do not wait until January to start thinking about your project.
Building a Project That Stands Out
The best science fair projects usually begin with a question that you genuinely want to answer.
Scope Your Question
Instead of choosing an enormous topic such as cancer, climate change, or artificial intelligence, narrow the problem until you can design an experiment that produces a meaningful answer. A focused research project with strong data will usually communicate scientific ability much better than an ambitious project that never becomes experimentally complete.
Build a Locally Inspired Project
Mississippi also offers plenty of opportunities to build projects around problems that students see around them. Agriculture, water quality, public health, coastal ecosystems, severe weather, engineering, and healthcare access are all areas where Mississippi students can connect scientific research with real problems in their communities.
That local connection can also make it easier to explain why your project matters.
Growing up in Mississippi taught me that scientific talent is everywhere, even when access to research opportunities is not. I attended schools in different districts and saw firsthand how dramatically students' exposure to STEM opportunities could vary.
One thing I would encourage Mississippi students to remember is that you do not need to begin with access to a sophisticated laboratory. Start with a strong question, learn everything you can about it, and then seek out the resources you need to answer it.
Universities across Mississippi can be particularly valuable resources. Students should consider reaching out to professors, graduate students, research laboratories, or STEM programs at institutions such as Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Jackson State, UMMC, and other colleges near them.
From Mississippi to ISEF
For high school researchers, the Mississippi fair system can lead to one of the biggest stages in student science.
The Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair is affiliated with the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Students selected as Mississippi ISEF finalists can advance to the international competition, where they present alongside students from around the world.
But even if you do not advance to ISEF, competing can teach you how to design experiments, analyze evidence, defend your ideas, and communicate complicated science clearly.
Those skills last much longer than science fair day.
Get to ISEF With ScienceFair
The regional system gives every Mississippi student a route to the state fair and beyond. A coach who has stood on the ISEF floor can help you make the most of it, from choosing a focused question to presenting your work with confidence. Book a free 40-minute consultation to find out which program fits where you are right now. Book your free consultation
