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STEM Challenge

Science and Engineering Fair for Grades 3 to 12

May 17, 2026 |  1 pm to 4 pm
Fremont Downtown Event Center

Virtual Participation Opportunity is also available

STEM Challenge Registration Form
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In Partnership with

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We are pleased to invite students in Grades 3 through 12 to participate in our Annual STEM Challenge. This exciting event provides students with an opportunity to showcase their Science and Engineering projects that address real-world problems through creativity, innovation, and critical thinking.

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Students are encouraged to explore ideas driven by their personal passions, curiosity, and desire to make a positive impact. Projects may be inspired by everyday challenges in their communities, global issues, or innovative solutions for the future.

 

To further inspire meaningful problem-solving, students may choose to align their projects with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as clean energy, quality education, climate action, health and well-being, or sustainable cities. However, this is entirely optional, and students are welcome to pursue any topic that reflects their interests and ideas.

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STEM Challenge Outline

  • Create a science or engineering project based on your personal passion that aims to solve a real-world problem.

  • Projects may optionally be inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while remaining open to any innovative idea or area of interest.

  • Choose to participate in person or virtually.

  • Students can participate individually or in a team of 1-4 students. All participants must complete an individual registration.

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Key Deliverables and Timelines

In-person Participants

  • Step 1: Register (Register early to save your spot)

  • Step 2: Submit your project at this link by May 10th:​

  • Step 3: Attend the in-person judging session on May 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM @ Fremont Downtown Event Center. Please bring:

    • Your display board

    • 10 printed copies of the abstract for judging interviews

  • Adult Volunteer/ Judge Requirement
    All in-person participants must be accompanied by an adult volunteer or judge representative. Here's the link for parents/ adults to sign up at this link

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Virtual Participants

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Awards and Recognition

  1. Virtual Award Ceremony - Date, Time, Link will be posted on May 18th

  2. Award certificates will be emailed to students

  3. Participation certificates will be provided to all In-person participants on May 17th

  4. Separate awards for In-Person and Virtual participants.

  5. Awards will be organized by both project category and grade level, including:

  • Science Projects

  • Engineering Projects

 

    Grade-level award divisions include:

  • Elementary School: Grades 3–5

  • Middle School: Grades 6–8

  • High School: Grades 9–12

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SDG Awards

Special recognition awards will be presented to projects that align with one or more of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Sponsored Awards

Corporate-sponsored awards are available through IEEE and Cadence Systems. Awards sponsored by local STEM businesses are currently provided by Socratic Academy. We are actively seeking additional corporate partners and local STEM education providers to sponsor awards that recognize students for outstanding creativity, innovation, and impact. If your organization is interested in contributing and sponsoring an award, please contact us at info@stem-4all.org

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Young Innovators Pathway - An Innovation and Impact driven Program

Projects with potential for a real-world impact will be invited to join Young Innovators Pathway program. Details of this program will be emailed to the shortlisted projects in June 2026

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Local STEM Sponsors and Partners

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - STEM Challenge 2026

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1.  Which grades are eligible to participate?​

     Students attending Grade 3 to 12 in academic year 2025-2026 are eligible to participate in the STEM Challenge

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2.  What is the objective of the STEM Challenge?​

       Our goal is to encourage student interest in Science and Engineering and leverage STEM to solve real-world problems. This event provides additional exposure to students in the Bay Area to showcase their projects. 

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3.  Where this competition will be held?​

      The contest will be held on May 17, 2026 at Fremont Downtown Event Center. Students who cannot attend in person can participate in a virtual contest

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4.  What is the competition format?

  • Students can participate in this tournament as a team of 1 to 4 students. They can choose to participate in-person or virutally

  • Project Details for In-Person Competition  - 2 min video, Abstract, SDG statement(if applicable), Headshot photos,  Display Board, In-person Interviews

  • Project Details for Virtual participation  - 5 min video, Abstract, Poster, SDG statement (if applicable), Headshot photos. No interviews

       

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5. How is scoring done?​

  • In-person participants - 25 points (Video)  +  50 points (In-person Interviews)  +  25 points (Display board)

  • Virtual participants - 50 points (Video) + 50 points (Poster + Abstract)

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6. Can I participate individually or do I need a team to participate?

​ You  can participate in this  challenge individually.

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7.  What is the deadline to register?

  • In-person registrations and submissions will close on May 10th or earlier (if the space is full).

  • Virtual registrations and submissions will close on May 17th, 2026

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8. How do I register my Team?

 All participants in the team must complete individual registration first.

 After that, upload your project details on a Google form.

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​9. How do I register Adult leaders for my Team?

 Parents are welcome to register as a volunteer or judge. Please see the eligibility guidelines to participate as a judge: https://www.stem-4all.org/judge-and-volunteer-registration

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10. Where to I upload my Video?

Students must complete registration before submitting their video link for scoring.​​

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11. What should I cover in the display board?

  A) Science Projects  should cover the following:

  • PROJECT TITLE

  • PROJECT ID**- This will provided to you at the registration desk on May 17  (Must Paste it Top Right Corner of Your Display Board)

  • INTRODUCTION - What is your research question? (purpose, research question, hypothesis)

  • METHODS - Explain your methodology and procedures for carrying out your project in details

  • RESULTS - What were the result(s) of your project?

  • DISCUSSION - What is your interpretation of these results?

  • CONCLUSIONS - What conclusions did you reach?

  • ​REFERENCES/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

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B) Engineering Projects should cover the following:

  • PROJECT TITLE

  • PROJECT ID - This will be given to you at the registration desk on May 17  (Must Paste it Top Right Corner of Your Display Board

  • INTRODUCTION - What is your engineering problem and goal?

  • METHODS - Explain your methods and procedures for building your design

  • RESULTS - What were the result(s) of your project?

  • DISCUSSION - What is your interpretation of these results?

  • CONCLUSIONS - What conclusions did you reach?

  • ​REFERENCES/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

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12. How are Awards categorized?

Thee are separate awards for  Elementary, Middle, and High school projects in Science and Engineering categories. 

Note - If any middle school team has at least one high school student in their team , they will be considered in the High school category and not in the Middle school category. Likewise, if an Elementary team has a Middle school student on the team, they would compete in the Middle school category

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Elementary School Awards (Grades 3 to 5)

 Ist Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place for each of the following categories

1. Science Awards 

3. Engineering Awards

5. United Nations Sustainability Goals Awards

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Middle School Awards (Grades 6 to 8)

 Ist Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place for each of the following categories

1. Science Awards 

2. Engineering Awards

3. United Nations Sustainability Goals Awards

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High School Awards (Grades 9 to 12)

 Ist Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place for each of the following categories

1.  Science Awards

2. Engineering Awards

3. United Nations Sustainability Goals Awards

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In addition to the above, there could be sponsored awards which will be announced at the date of the event. There is no need to nominate your projects for the awards.

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Important: Based on the project stage and feasibility for a real-world impact, projects will be invited for the innovation and impact pathway program.

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13. When and how will Judge briefing take place?

A briefing video will be shared with registered judges on May 17th @ 1 pm PT

 

14. I have additional questions. Who should I get in touch?

       Kindly email us at info@stem-4all.org

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STEM Programs

Email: Info@stem-4all.org

 

The best way to communicate with us is by submitting the form, email, or chat. 

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