Alabama Science & Engineering Fair (ASEF): Complete Guide

The Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF) is the official state science fair for Alabama, and an affiliate of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world's largest pre-college science competition.

Held at Auburn University, ASEF brings together the winners of Alabama's four regional fairs to compete in the Senior Division (grades 9–12) and Junior Division (grades 6–8). This guide walks you through how to qualify, what to expect, and how to give yourself the best chance of advancing.

How ASEF Works

ASEF sits at the top of Alabama's science fair pipeline. Students first compete at their regional fair, one of four across the state, and regional winners become "ASEF Nominees" who advance to the state competition.

From there, the stakes are high: the top Senior Division projects earn the chance to represent Alabama at ISEF, while the top 10% of Junior Division winners (grades 6–8) advance to the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC), the premier national STEM competition for middle schoolers.

Because you can't enter ASEF directly, your first step is finding and competing at the regional fair that serves your area.

Alabama's Regional Science Fairs

Find your regional fair by county, then aim to advance to the state ASEF at Auburn. Dates below are for the 2026 cycle.

What to Expect at ASEF

Once you advance as an ASEF Nominee, there are two specific requirements worth knowing about ahead of time.

1. Your poster

Nominees submit a project poster through the ASEF system, using the official template. The poster is a fixed 48″ × 36″, and while you can add or remove photos and results as needed, and reposition sections to fit, you can't change those dimensions, and all required sections must be included.

2. Your presentation and interview

ASEF has run a virtual judging format in which students upload a single-slide PDF display that judges preview before the interview, then present live.

If your fair uses this format, a few things make a real difference: choose a quiet, well-lit spot with a clean background and strong internet, test your audio and screen sharing in advance (a practice run with a friend helps), and have your display open so you can walk judges through it. Keep your own presentation concise; most of the interview time should be reserved for the judges' questions.

In the Senior Division, top projects are called back for a second round of interviews to determine which "Best of Fair" projects advance directly to ISEF. Those finalists then submit their ISEF questionnaire and materials by ISEF's deadline to compete.

How to Create a Winning ASEF Project

Getting to ASEF is one thing; standing out there is another. A few fundamentals make the biggest difference.

• Start with a strong idea. Choose a topic you're genuinely passionate about, one that's original, addresses a real-world problem, and shows real scientific thinking. The best projects come from a focused, testable question rather than a broad one.

  • Read our guide on what makes a science fair research project worth pursuing to help you tell the difference before you invest months in it.

• Follow the method rigorously. Use the scientific method for science projects (question, research, hypothesis, experiment, analyze, conclude) or the engineering design process for engineering projects (define the problem, research and design, prototype, test and evaluate, communicate). ASEF, like all ISEF-affiliated fairs, rewards this kind of systematic rigor.

• Do thorough research. Solid research is the backbone of any winning project: a comprehensive literature review, reputable sources, reliable data collection, and careful analysis you can explain clearly.

  • Check out our guide on how to turn your research into a winning science fair project.

• Prepare your presentation. Build a clear, well-organized poster that communicates your question, methodology, results, and conclusions, then rehearse until you can present confidently and handle the judges' questions with ease.

• Find a mentor. A good mentor can refine your question, help you troubleshoot experiments, and sharpen your presentation, often the difference between a good project and a winning one.

  • Our 7 steps to find your perfect mentor for science fair success show how to find the right one.

Work With ScienceFair to Stand Out at ASEF

Winning at ASEF and advancing to ISEF takes a strong, original project, rigorous research, and a confident presentation. That's exactly what ScienceFair helps you build. Our mentors are past science fair winners, and alongside our Ivy League research mentors, they'll help you refine your idea, strengthen your research, and prepare for the judges' Q&A.

Ready to stand out? Schedule a call with our academic advisor.