The Golden Gate STEM Fair (GGSF) is an annual event intended to celebrate the excellent research completed by students in the San Francisco Bay Area community. Over 70,000 Middle and High School students throughout the San Francisco Bay Area complete science projects for science fairs at their schools. Those projects judged to be of the highest quality compete in local city or county competitions. The top ranked of those students progress to the Golden Gate STEM Fair. Students participate from the following cities: Napa, Marin, Mendocino, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, Sonoma, and West Contra Costa. Top placing projects move on to the California Science and Engineering Fair, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), or the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
Projects are accepted in the following categories:
- Biological Sciences
- Behavioral Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Environmental
- Engineering/Computer Sciences/Mathematics
Location(s)
- The fair is held virtually
Schedule
- Annually in March
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- Students in grades 6-12 who have participated in a local fair or contacted GGSF for permission to participate.
- All students need a math or science teacher sponsor.
- Scientific Review Committee (SRC) forms are REQUIRED if projects involve invertebrate or vertebrate animals, human subjects, recombinant DNA, tissue, pathogenic agents, or controlled substances.
Deadline
- If there is a city or county science fair in your area, you must participate in your local competition before advancing to GGSF. If there is no local competition near you, you may apply to compete in GGSF by registering online HERE.
- Teachers must register an account first before you can register and upload materials.
- Upload a PDF Slidedeck or high resolution JPEG of your project board.
Application or Entry Requirements
Notifications of Decisions
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
The Golden Gate STEM Fair is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering interest and excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) among students. Through various programs, competitions, and educational initiatives, the organization provides a platform for young minds to showcase their innovative projects, engage in hands-on learning experiences, and connect with industry professionals and mentors.
