If Part 1 of this series was about the grind of getting to ISEF, Part 2 is about what happens once you’re finally there. No matter how many science fairs you’ve been to before, nothing really prepares you for the scale, the energy, and the sheer whirlwind of an ISEF week. From the moment you arrive to the last applause at the awards ceremony, the experience is equal parts overwhelming, exhausting, and exhilarating. I’ll take you behind the scenes of what a week at the world’s

When people see the photos from ISEF—the massive expo hall, students in blazers standing by huge boards, judges with clipboards—it feels like the Olympics of science fairs. And honestly, it kind of is. But those photos skip the most important part: the months of choosing a topic, wrestling with time, fixing broken code, re-formatting posters, and managing the “am I even good enough?” thoughts that sneak in. This is the part you don’t see. And it’s the part that gets you to IS

Competition day isn’t just the finish line — it’s the stage where months of work meet real-world testing. It’s your chance to not only present your project but to grow as a communicator, a problem-solver, and a member of the scientific community. How you approach the day — from setting up your board to handling unexpected challenges — will determine not just how judges see you, but how much you   get out of the experience. In this guide, I'll cover how to perform under pressu

If your science fair journey were a novel, this is the rising action — the part where your story gains momentum and the stakes get higher. You’ve chosen a topic, designed your plan, and collected data (or are in the process of doing so). Now comes the challenge: shaping all that raw work into something judges instantly recognize as exceptional . In this stage, the biggest difference between an average project and a standout one often comes down to preparation strategy, clari