[Plantsci] SPLS: Judges needed, International Science and Engineering Fair

Thu Mar 26 08:00:00 MST 2026

Dear SPLS community,

The International Science and Engineering Fair will be held in Phoenix in May. Would you be available to serve as a judge? Several members of our School have done so, and I can attest that it's an enjoyable and engaging experience. Please see information below.

Warm regards,
Betsy

I’m reaching out from the Society for Science, host of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/JY98C6Ypnlf12WPN6spfqS5DIeY?domain=societyforscience.org/>, the world’s largest pre-college STEM research competition. Every year, thousands of students from around the world compete at their local, regional, and national science fairs to earn their spot at ISEF, where they compete for more than $9 million in prizes and scholarships. And this year, we’re excited to be returning to Phoenix from May 9-15!
We’re looking for qualified* individuals to serve as judges across our 22 categories<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/HlJsC7DqomiQ5RzgXuWhnSoRrJQ?domain=societyforscience.org/>, one of which is Plant Sciences, and professors like you have historically been incredible judges for us. Serving as an ISEF judge is an exciting opportunity to connect with the next generation of scientists, and the work these students do is seriously impressive (you can browse last year’s Plant Sciences projects here<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/IkzdC8XrpnfzVkXG5u2iVSyihzX?domain=isef.net> to get an idea of the research these students are doing and check out our 2025 Highlights Video<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/t8iPC93vqouMyOz0WIOsRSqHgxR?domain=youtube.com> to get an idea of the amazing energy at ISEF).
What can you expect as a Regeneron ISEF Grand Award Judge<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/iGBxC0Aj5NfMOykxXIOtDS9ixWK?domain=societyforscience.org/>? If accepted, you’ll be on-site at the Phoenix Convention Center on Wednesday, May 13, where you’ll check in by 8 AM. After we take care of some housekeeping (roll call, breakfast, training), you’ll conduct 15-minute interviews with a number of assigned projects in your category. There will be a break for lunch midday, and then judging interviews will conclude by 4 PM. After interviews wrap, judges will caucus within their categories to determine winners, usually wrapping up by 7 PM. The day ends with a cocktail reception. It’s a long but incredibly rewarding day; in fact, many judges get so much out of the experience that they choose to travel each year to serve as a judge again!
If you’re interested in serving as a Grand Award judge, please apply here<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/iltWCjAWEjf3LOYr4IjC0SmofDs?domain=judges.societyforscience.org> as soon as possible. Or, if you might know someone interested in serving in this role, please don’t hesitate to forward this email along to them or send them the application link.
Below, we’ve included some more details about the schedule and activities, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions or concerns. We’re excited to be back in Arizona for Regeneron ISEF, and we hope you’ll join us!
With gratitude,
Regeneron ISEF Volunteer Team
*Judges must meet at least one of the following qualifications:

  *
Have a minimum of 6 years related professional experience (excluding K-12 education) beyond receiving their Bachelor degree, OR
  *
Have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent (D.O., D.D.S., D.V.M., etc.) and related professional experience (excluding K-12 education) if the degree was not granted recently, OR
  *
Be a current graduate student with more than 4 years of doctoral-level research experience or who is within one year of doctoral dissertation defense

Schedule and Activities Overview
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 – optional on-site

  *
Must register online or at the Phoenix Convention Center any time between Noon and 5:00 p.m.
  *
Meet your colleagues in your category (optional on-site)
  *
Training (optional on-site)
  *
Review of display boards without finalists present (until 9:00 p.m., optional on-site)
  *
Dinner (optional on-site)

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 – on-site required

  *
Check-in by 8:00 a.m.
  *
Roll Call
  *
Breakfast with your category
  *
Short category meeting/training
  *
Head to Exhibit Hall to begin Judging at 9:30 a.m.
  *
Judging interviews (15-minute periods)
  *
Breaks during judging
  *
Judge Caucuses to determine category winners until approximately 7 p.m.
  *
Lunch, dinner, and cocktail reception throughout the day

The Regeneron ISEF Volunteer Team
[cid:24e8cf05-30db-403a-84b6-68fccae33b7e]

1776 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

isefvolunteer at societyforscience.org<mailto:ldavis at societyforscience.org>

[The University of Arizona block 'A' logo.]
A. Elizabeth Arnold, PhD

Interim Director and Professor, School of Plant Sciences

Curator, Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium

Chair and Director of Graduate Studies,

Ecosystem Genomics GIDP

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

fungi at arizona.edu

www.arnoldlab.net<http://www.arnoldlab.net> | www.gilbertsonherbarium.net<http://www.gilbertsonherbarium.net>

To schedule a meeting, please use https://calendly.com/fungi-arizona

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