How To Win MSEF: Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair

This guide covers the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair (MSEF): categories, how to qualify, how to build a winning project, and how to advance to ISEF. Details change year to year, so confirm the current information on the official MSEF site.

About MSEF

The MSEF is an annual competition where Massachusetts students present their science and engineering projects. It’s divided into high school and middle school divisions, and top projects can advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest pre-college science competition.

Middle school categories

• Behavioral & Social Science: study human or animal behavior through observation or experiments, such as psychology, education testing, or animal behavior.
• Biology: living organisms, their development, structure, and interactions, including cells, plants, animals, health, and genetics.
• Chemistry: the composition of substances and how they react and change, including materials, organic, and environmental chemistry.
• Computer Science: computers and programming, including robotics, AI, and systems software.
• Engineering: applying science to design solutions, such as electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering.
• Environmental Science: the environment and how human or natural changes affect it, including pollution, resources, and climate.
• Math: using numbers and formulas to solve problems, including data analysis, geometry, statistics, and probability.
• Physics & Electronics: matter, energy, and their interactions, or how electricity behaves, including light, sound, circuits, and magnetism.

High school categories

• Behavioral & Social Sciences: human or animal behavior through experiments or observation.
• Biochemistry: the chemical processes in living organisms.
• Biology: cells, genetics, microbiology, or plants, animals, and evolution.
• Chemistry: as in middle school, plus modern materials science.
• Computer Science & Technology: software development and machine intelligence.
• Astronomy & Space Science: celestial objects and space phenomena.
• Engineering: design solutions across electrical/mechanical, biomedical, and environmental engineering.
• Earth & Environmental Science: weather, climate, rocks, pollution, and ecosystems.
• Math & Computational Modeling: using math to solve problems or build models.
• Physics: matter, energy, and their interactions.

How to qualify

There are two paths to the MSEF state fair, and they work the same way for the middle school division (grades 6-8) and the high school division (grades 9-12).

Through your regional fair:

1. Check eligibility: be a Massachusetts student in the right grade range, with a project that follows the research timeline and ethics guidelines.
2. Get project approval: complete a research plan and have it approved by the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) before experimenting, especially for projects in restricted areas.
3. Register your school with your science teacher on the zFairs platform (middle school / high school).
4. Register as a student and submit your project details for review.
5. Compete at your regional fair. The top 40 projects from each region qualify for the MSEF state fair.

Direct entry through school selection:

1. Complete the eligibility and SRC approval steps above.
2. Each school can choose two projects for direct entry, bypassing the regional fair. Work with your science teacher to see if yours is selected.
3. If chosen, your school confirms your participation with the MSEF organizers within the given timeframe.

For more, see the official MSEF resources.

How to win at MSEF

• Start early to leave time for experimentation and refinement.
• Choose the right category for your project, and check the latest category guidelines.
• Know the judging criteria and tailor your project to meet them.
• Be original. Pick a topic that interests you and hasn’t been done to death. Look at recent winners for inspiration, but find your own angle.
• Make it relevant. Show how your project addresses a real scientific or engineering challenge, like renewable energy or water purification.
• Keep it feasible. Make sure your project fits the time and resources you have, so you don’t end up with an incomplete experiment.

Follow the method. For science projects, follow the scientific method: ask a question, research what’s known, form a testable hypothesis, run a careful experiment, analyze your data, and draw conclusions. For engineering projects, use the engineering design process: define the problem, research and design, prototype, test and improve, then document and present.

Nail the presentation. Build a clear, engaging display with high-quality visuals and a logical layout. Rehearse your presentation, explain your work clearly, and be ready for the judges’ questions. Genuine enthusiasm comes through, so let it. And follow all safety guidelines from your school and the MSEF.

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Qualifying for ISEF

Top projects at MSEF can advance to ISEF. To qualify, you must:

1. Be in grades 9-12 or equivalent.
2. Not have reached age 20 on or before ISEF.
3. Win at an ISEF-affiliated science fair.
4. Present your project in English and follow the ISEF rules.

Resources to win science fairs

For more, Rishab offers science fair coaching where he shares his winning strategies.

Whether you’re just starting or already deep into student research, keep at it. Good luck on your science journey.

About Afreen Hossain:
I’m a web developer, amateur astronomer, and mathematician with ambitions to become a computer scientist. Eager to contribute to advancements in technology, healthcare, transportation and space for a more accessible and beneficial world. Learn more about me at LinkedIn.