Judge/Volunteer Registration

Registration Types

Category Award (8AM – 3PM) judges choose the winners in each category (i.e. Junior Division Chemistry, Senior Division Biology etc.).  Students are judged on scientific thought or engineering goals, experimental method or procedural plan, analytical approach, visual presentation and oral presentation. These judges use rubrics which are tailored to specific areas of research.  Point scores are used as a judging tool. Rubrics, less the point values, will be provided to the students’ teachers after the competition. Category award judges must be available from 8AM-4PM on the day of the fair.

Sponsor Award (12PM – 3PM) judges represent their professional organizations or institutions and judge students’ projects for their specific award criteria. These judges have specific criteria based on their company’s mission.  Sponsor award judges may interview students between 8:30AM and 11:30AM or between 12PM and 3PM.

Affiliated Sponsor Award (12PM – 3PM) judges represent sponsors from the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). PRSEF is a regional science fair affiliated ISEF. Affiliated sponsor awards are presented at PRSEF based on criteria received from ISEF and their sponsors.  For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides certificates and medallions to the projects that emphasize NOAA’s mission to understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social and environmental needs.  Affiliated sponsor award judges must be available from 8AM-2PM on the day of the fair.

Scholarship Award (12PM – 3PM) judges choose senior division students who qualify for scholarship awards from participating colleges and universities in our region. More than 100 scholarships are expected to be awarded to PRSEF student researchers from local colleges and universities.  Scholarships include full/half/partial tuition scholarships and pre-college program scholarships. Scholarship award judges may interview students between 8:30AM and 11:30AM or between 12PM and 3PM. Scholarship awards are presented during the awards ceremony the day after the fair.

Volunteers help students find their way through the museum, provide support for students on the exhibit floor, inspect project displays for safety, and direct students during lunch break.