Lakeland Regional Science Fair Project Classification Guide

Background

Projects at the Lakeland Regional Science Fair are classified for judging and award purposes. The classification is based on the student’s grade level, the type of project, and the challenge that the project addresses.

Grade Levels:

• Elementary (Grade K-6)
• Junior (Grade 7-8) – can participate in YSC national Competition
• Intermediate (Grade 9-10) – can participate in YSC national Competition
• Senior (Grade 11-12) – can participate in YSC national Competition

For pair projects with finalists from different grade categories, the higher category will apply.

Project Types

Projects will be judged on their primary methodology, which could be a scientific investigation or engineering design. These are designated as:

• Discovery – Projects that seek to answer scientific questions.
• Innovation – Projects that aim to solve a problem or improve an existing solution.

Project Categories

• The LRSF challenges target issues that are significant to the community, the nation, and the world. They are designed to focus on multi-disciplinary and global issues:
• Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food: Projects that contribute to food security, sustainability, or competitiveness in the agriculture, fisheries, or food sectors.
• Curiosity and Ingenuity: Projects that contribute to the understanding or problem-solving in an area of STEM not covered by other challenges.
• Digital Technology: Projects that improve quality of life or transform existing products or services through digital devices, methods, or systems.
• Disease and Illness: Projects that contribute to our understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of diseases, or the management of physical or mental illnesses.
• Energy: Projects that focus on improving our use of current energy sources, transitioning to alternative energy sources, or reducing our energy footprint.
• Environment and Climate Change: Projects that aim to preserve the quality of air, water, soil, or biodiversity, or manage the impact of climate change.
• Health and Wellness: Projects that focus on disease prevention or promote various aspects of well-being, such as physical, social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, occupational, or intellectual.
• Natural Resources: Projects that contribute to the sustainable management, use, reuse, or recycling of Earth’s finite or renewable resources.

By classifying your project according to these categories, types, and challenges, you’ll help ensure that it is appropriately judged and considered for the various awards offered by the Lakeland Regional Science Fair.