Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
About Regeneron ISEF
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world’s largest pre-college celebration of science that brings together nearly 2,000 students from more than 60 countries, regions and territories to compete for over US$9 million in awards, scholarships, tuition grants, internships, and scientific field trips. Learn more on their website https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/
Representing Canada at Regeneron ISEF, the YSC team is joined by finalists from the Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair and the Montreal Regional Science & Technology Fair, both of which have been directly affiliated with ISEF for over 40 years.
Youth Science Canada's Team Canada-ISEF Selection Process
The selection process for Team Canada-ISEF underwent significant changes in 2025, aiming to better align Team Canada with the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF). The direct application option has been eliminated. The new pathway to join Team Canada-ISEF requires participating in a YSC-affiliated regional STEM fair, being selected for the Canada-Wide Science Fair, and then being chosen as a Team Canada-ISEF candidate for the following year.
At CWSF each year, the YSC National Judging Team identifies a group of approximately 20 of the most promising gold and silver medallists at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, excluding finalists who are in Grade 7 or 12 (who would be ineligible to participate in Regeneron ISEF), as candidates for the following year's Team Canada-ISEF. Along with eligible, prior members of Team Canada-ISEF, these candidates are invited to receive scientific and project development support from October through February. In March, they present their projects to the Team Canada-ISEF selection panel, which will select eight members for the team. Candidates not selected will be encouraged to participate in their regional STEM fairs for another chance to qualify for the CWSF.
For example, if you participated in CWSF 2025, you might be selected as a candidate for TC-ISEF 2026. Students will receive an email over the summer, informing them they have been selected as a candidate. If you're selected as a candidate, but are not selected to join the TC-ISEF 2026 team, you should still participate in your 2026 regional STEM fair for another chance to qualify for CWSF 2026.
We have been made aware that there have been comments made in at least one online group that you MUST have qualified for CWSF twice before you can be selected as a TC-ISEF candidate. This is not true.
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