North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair
ND Students Excel in Nationwide STEM Competition
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge is the nation’s premier middle school STEM competition hosted by the Society for Science. This program seeks to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators to solve the grand challenges of the future.
In 2024, two North Dakota students finished in the Top 300 Junior Innovators selected from nearly 2,000 students from 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands who applied to compete in the Thermo Fisher JIC.
- Che Yu -7th grade, South Middle School, Grand Forks, ND
- Face Recognition for Home Security
- Evelyn Chambers – 8th grade, Homeschool, Fargo, ND
- Cockroach Neuroscience: A Gateway to Human Communication
Students Set to Compete in the 2025 North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair
State junior and senior division superstars will vie for honors at the 75th annual North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair (NDSSEF) to be held in Grand Forks, ND at the Memorial Union on the campus of the University of North Dakota Monday, March 31 - Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Top finishers in the senior division will advance to compete in the 2025 International Science and Engineering Fair.
Thursday Evening Social
Thursday evening from 5-8 p.m. NDSSEF participants will enjoy a night of Northern Air fun and pizza.
We have reserved the Northern Air Action Park (1600 32nd Ave. S., Grand Forks, ND 58201) for Science Fair students, teachers, and chaperoning adults. Northern Air offers trampolines, laser tag, Virtual Reality games, and Indoor Karting. Pizza and drinks will be provided.
Indoor Karting will be on your own. The cost is $16.09 with tax; cash or card accepted.
Waiver
Please complete the Northern Air online waiver. Students will not be able to participate without a waiver.
- Picture is not needed; if added, it may show up in the karting area for those who make “top times of the day.”
- You will need a new waiver even if your child participated last year, due to the addition of Indoor Karting.
- Be sure to enter Event/booking code > UND SE
Registration and Setup - Thursday, April 4
- Beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 4, students and teachers may enter the Memorial Union to set up the project displays.
- Wifi will be available for participants. We plan to have IT help available Thursday morning.
- Departmental activities are scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Friday, April 5
Lunch Provided
UND will provide lunch on Friday for student exhibitors, alternates, and teachers/chaperones.
Awards Ceremony
The new Memorial Union Ballroom is large enough to accommodate both the displays and the Award Ceremony. Awards will be announced after judging and award preparation are completed, Friday early evening.
Parking
FREE Parking is ONLY available for buses and cars in the parking lot near the Ralph Engelstad Arena. This lot will be marked with signs that say NDSSEF Parking.
- If you prefer to park in the ramp adjacent to the Memorial Union, you MUST pay through the Passport app (signs posted) or with a credit card at the kiosk, or you will get a parking ticket.
- Parking tickets are not covered by UND or the Science Fair.
NDSSEF Information & Guidelines
Student participation fees are arranged by the regional fairs. UND sponsors for activities include the Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice-President for Research, The Graduate School, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Engineering and Mines, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education and Human Development, Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, and the College of Business and Public Administration. The City of Grand Forks and the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau contributed significant community support to the event.
International Science & Engineering Fair
Senior division first-place winners of the North Dakota competition will advance to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair. National, regional and state organizations will recognize the efforts of the students with awards and scholarships.
May 10-16, 2025
Will be held in Columbus, Ohio
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR (ISEF)
NDSSEF Regional Fairs
Qualifying Fair
January 29, 2025
Williston State College
Regional Director
Amber Beyer
East Fairview
301 2nd St. S.
Fairview, MT 59221
amber.beyer@k12.nd.us
Counties:
Divide, Williams, McKenzie, Burke, Mountrail, Renville, Ward, Bottineau, McHenry
Qualifying Fair
March 5, 2025
University of North Dakota
Regional Director
Lorraine O’Shea
Mark Sanford Education Center
2400 47th Ave S
Grand Forks, ND 58201
loshea270@mygfschools.org
NE Regional Fair Information
Counties:
Grand Forks, Nelson, Walsh, Pembina, Cavalier, Towner, Rolette, Pierce, Benson, Ramsay
Qualifying Fair
March 17, 2025
ND Army National Guard RJ Bohn Armory, Bismarck
Regional Director
Tana Schafer
Flasher Public School
206 3rd Ave. E.
Flasher, ND 58535
tana.schafer@k12.nd.us
Counties:
Adams, Billings, Bowman, Burleigh, Dunn, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark
Qualifying Fair
March 10, 2024
Fargodome
Regional Directors
Marissa Motschenbacher
marissa.oestreicher@k12.nd.us
Megan Saunders
megan.e.saunders@k12.nd.us
Lidgerwood Public School
28 3rd Ave SE
Lidgerwood, ND 58053
Counties:
Richland, Cass, Sargent, Ransom, Barnes, Steele, Griggs, Eddy, Foster, Wells, Stutsman, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, Dickey, McIntosh
NDSSEF History
The first North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair was held in 1950. The first held at UND was in 2011.