The IRIS National Fair in India is a platform for young scientists to present their research and potentially qualify for ISEF. This guide covers how it works and how to do well.
If you’re a student researcher in India, the IRIS National Fair is one of the best places to show your work, and a path to represent India at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the USA.
What is the IRIS National Fair?
IRIS, the Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM, is a national-level research fair for Indian students that promotes STEM research among young innovators.
- Purpose: a platform for Indian students to present their research projects.
- Feeder to ISEF: IRIS is India’s primary pathway to ISEF, the world’s largest pre-college science competition.
- Organizer: the EXSTEMPLAR Education Linkers Foundation, with support from institutional partners including the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
Eligibility
- Open to students of Indian origin in Class 5 to Class 12 studying at schools in India.
- Individual or team entries: you can enter on your own or in a team of two.
- Project criteria: projects must be research-based or present a novel engineering design. Originality matters, and where applicable projects should be supported by experimental data. Engineering projects should show significant improvement over existing solutions.
- Exclusions: students who previously participated in IRIS as a Class 12 student can’t submit again. Appeals based on re-examinations by other organizations won’t be entertained.
The selection process
Around 100 students are selected to exhibit their projects at IRIS each year. There are two routes in:
- Direct application: most students apply directly through the IRIS website, submitting project details during the application window (usually September/October).
- School-level science fairs: IRIS partners with several school-level science fairs, and winners from these are invited to IRIS with mentorship guidance:
- Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition for Children
- National Children’s Science Congress
- National Council of Science Museums
- CBSE Science Exhibition
- INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)
Projects that tend to get screened out include:
- Textbook experiment replication (e.g. generating oxygen from hydrogen peroxide).
- Essays on a science topic, or survey-based reports.
- Unsupported hypotheses (e.g. electricity from speed breakers).
- Claims that violate scientific laws (e.g. perpetual motion).
- Toxicity tests or experiments that kill vertebrate animals.
- Basic visual aids (e.g. thermocol models of science principles).
Timeline and submission
- IRIS is held annually. Projects are submitted for evaluation by a deadline several months before the fair, judging happens at the fair, and winners are announced at the end.
- Projects that qualify for ISEF are announced shortly after the IRIS National Fair. ISEF itself usually takes place in May.
- Register and submit at the IRIS National Fair website.
- You can submit as many projects as you want, across one or more subject categories. Team projects have a maximum of two participants, and both must be registered with IRIS.
- Projects can be edited until submissions close (via the IRIS dashboard). Projects shown in other competitions are eligible, but research data can’t be more than 12 months old.
- IRIS doesn’t provide unofficial reviews before evaluation. Subject-category change requests are possible after confirmation and approval from the IRIS SRC. Questions go to contact@irisnationalfair.org.
- A prototype isn’t mandatory; novelty, a sound hypothesis, and authentic research matter most. If two of your projects are shortlisted, you choose one for the National Fair. You’ll also answer mandatory questions and submit a short video explaining your project.
Categories
- Animal Sciences (ANIM)
- Behavioral and Social Sciences (BEHA)
- Biochemistry (BCHM)
- Biomedical and Health Sciences (BMED)
- Biomedical Engineering (ENBM)
- Cellular and Molecular Biology (CELL)
- Chemistry (CHEM)
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBIO)
- Earth and Environmental Sciences (EAEV)
- Embedded Systems (EBED)
- Energy: Sustainable Materials & Design (EGSD)
- Engineering Mechanics (ENMC)
- Environmental Engineering (ENEV)
- Materials Science (MATS)
- Mathematics (MATH)
- Microbiology (MCRO)
- Physics and Astronomy (PHYS)
- Plant Sciences (PLNT)
- Robotics and Intelligent Machines (ROBO)
- Systems Software (SOFT)
- Translational Medical Science (TMED)
To start preparing, Rishab, an ISEF winner, offers science fair coaching and a YouTube playlist on how to do research.
How IRIS is judged
- Judging criteria: scientific merit, creativity, clarity of presentation, and real-world impact. Judges want a deep understanding of the science, an innovative approach, and clear communication.
- Judging panels: experts from academia, industry, and research institutions, bringing diverse perspectives to each project.
- Interactive sessions: judges also discuss your work with you directly, digging into your methods, analysis, and conclusions.
- Feedback: judges offer constructive feedback to help you grow as a researcher, not just pick winners.
Tips for doing well
- Answer the mandatory questions in detail: introduction and objective, what makes your project innovative, your methodology, your results and conclusions, and your acknowledgments and references.
- Attach a scientific report: use the portal to add depth and context to your work.
- Be original: avoid clichéd textbook experiments.
- Research thoroughly: collect and analyze your data carefully.
- Present clearly: keep your board and writing well-organized and concise.
- Follow the scientific method: state your hypothesis, procedures, results, and conclusions clearly.
- Mind the details: address limitations and show critical thinking.
- Practice your presentation: be ready to explain and defend your project clearly, and stay open to feedback.
- Get feedback: have teachers, mentors, or professionals review your work.
- Stay current: bringing recent research or technology into your project makes it more competitive.
- Show your passion: genuine enthusiasm comes through to judges.
- Be professional: cite your sources properly and follow the ethical guidelines.
Whatever the result, IRIS is a real platform to share your work and grow as a researcher. Good luck on your science journey.
Not sure how to start?
Rishab Jain, who won ISEF, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, JSHS, the Broadcom MASTERS (now the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge), and more, has done well across many research competitions. His free Student STEM Guide lists 50+ opportunities, internships, and competitions, and his science fair course shares his strategies.
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