(Kindergarten through Grade 8)

• Earth Science
  (examples: geology, oceanography, astronomy, environment)

• Life Science
  (examples: plants, animals, human physiology and medicine, ecology)

• Physical Science
  (examples: mechanics, energy, electricity and magnetism, optics, chemistry)

• Computer Science and Mathematics
  (Jr. and Sr. Divisions combined – see description below)

• Partnered exhibits
  Partnered (two-person) exhibits are their own category, regardless of the scientific topics they address, and compete only with another. Please note that partnered entries may not be eligible for special awards nor for the Champion and Grand Champion awards.

(Grades 9-12)

• Behavioral and Social Sciences
  Human and animal behavior, social and community relationships — psychology, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, ethology, ethnology, linguistics, learning, perception, urban problems, reading problems, public opinion surveys, educational testing, etc.

• Biology/Microbiology
  Biological sciences including such topics as botany and zoology.

• Chemistry/Biochemistry
  Study of the nature and composition of matter and the laws governing it—physical chemistry, organic chemistry (other than biochemistry), inorganic chemistry, materials, plastics, fuels, pesticides, metallurgy, soil chemistry, etc.

• Computer Science and Mathematics (Junior and Senior Divisions combined)
  Study and development of computer hardware, software engineering, internet networking and communications, graphics, computational science (including data structures, encryption, coding, and information theory).  Development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations, and the application of these principles—calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, number theory, statistics, complex analysis, probability.

• Earth/Space/Environmental Sciences
  Geology, mineralogy, physiography, oceanography, meteor- ology, climatology, astronomy, speleology, seismology, geography.  Study of pollution (air, water, and land) sources and their control; ecology.

• Engineering
  Technology; projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses—civil, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical, electrical, photographic, sound, automotive, marine, heating and refrigerating, transportation, environmental engineering, etc.

• Medicine and Health Sciences
  Study of diseases and health of humans and animals— dentistry, pharmacology, pathology, ophthalmology, nutrition, sanitation, dermatology, allergies, speech and hearing, as well as gerontology – study of the aging process in living organisms.

• Physics
  Theories, principles, and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter—solid state, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, superconductivity, fluid and gas dynamics, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, biophysics, etc.

• Partnered exhibits
  Partnered (two-person) exhibits in the Senior Division constitute their own category, regardless of the scientific topics they address, and compete only with one another. Please note that partnered entries are NOT eligible for most special awards nor for the Champion and Grand Champion awards.