How to Enter
SASEF is open to middle and high school students (grade 6-12) in a 23-county East Tennessee region (see below). Students in this region are eligible to present their scientific research from January of the previous year to February of the current year. A non-refundable fee is required for each participant (fee can range from $10-30 per student). Please review the below guidelines for a full understanding of SASEF participation.
Registration
SASEF has an online registration system to submit all required documents and forms. Registration is now open.
Judging Day Schedule
The tentative schedule for the 2023 Southern Appalachian Science & Engineering Fair is below.
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
| Time | Details | Location |
| 8:00am – 12:00pm | Check-in / project set-up, students and teachers welcome to check-in within these hours | Student Union 272 (Ballroom) |
| 12:00 – 1:00pm | Lunch on your own | N/A |
| 1:00 – 3:00pm | Potential UT campus tour for students and teachers | TBD |
| 3:00 – 5:00pm | Judging hours, students at their projects | Student Union 272 (Ballroom) |
Thursday, March 30, 2023
| Time | Details | Location |
| 6:00pm | 2023 SASEF awards ceremony | Alumni Memorial Building Room 204A (Cox Auditorium) |
Entry Guidelines
In the Entry Guidelines packet, you will find the information needed to successfully participate in SASEF. Included are SASEF’s divisions, project categories, what you will need to submit for your entry packet, and SASEF rules for participation.
In-Person Display Guidelines
In the Display Guidelines Packet, you will find the information needed to successfully put together your exhibit on your scientific research. Information includes; rules for your exhibit space, what to include in your exhibit, and what to exclude from your exhibit.
At-Home Resources
In the age of COVID-19 and social distancing, use these resources to come up with creative at-home projects. Find inspiration, learn how to approach a scientist in a virtual world, learn experimental design or statistics, find sources of large data sets, learn how to use smartphones for data collection, find out more about coding and app creation, and more. There are also educator resources to choose from. Click here for these resources.
23-County Region
Any public, private, or home school student in the SASEF 23-county region may enter an exhibit at SASEF.
Timeline for Science Fair Projects
August – September:
- Student selects research topic, begins literature review in library
October:
- Student completes literature review (background research for report); writes hypothesis, objectives, and methods and materials; prepares data book; completes necessary paperwork such as human subjects forms
- SASEF Teacher Grants Due
November – December:
- Student completes experiment, analyzes data, writes report and abstract
January:
- Deadline for pre-approval paperwork that includes scientific reviews by SASEF Scientific Review Committee (SRC)
February:
- In-school fairs may be held at this time (if held after the Feb 28th deadline, then students qualify for the following year’s SASEF, not this year’s); winners selected to participate in SASEF
- Student completes data book
- Student uses online entry site to complete entry forms
- SASEF entry forms due at the end of February
March/April:
- Student and teacher are informed about acceptance into SASEF, all paperwork issues must be resolved
- Student prepares poster; practices for judge interviews
- SASEF judging is set for March 28, 2023, and will be hosted in the Student Union on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus
- SASEF award ceremony is set for March 30, 2023, in the Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus
May:
- The International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) will be held in Dallas, Texas, May 13-19, 2023. Several students from SASEF will qualify and attend ISEF. Regeneron ISEF 2024 will be returning to Los Angeles, California, May 11-17, 2024.