BEYOND
GET MORE MILEAGE OUT OF YOUR PROJECT
Did you love telling people about your project? Do you want to meet more teens who are passionate about STEM? Maine State Science Fair doesn’t need to be the end of the road for your project! Check out the other opportunities you have to share your work locally, nationally, and maybe even globally. Note: be sure to check each competition’s website for deadlines. The MSSF Team does not actively monitor other competitions’ schedules.
Local Competitions
BioME Student Showcase
This life science research competition gives students an opportunity to show off their passion for life science and present their research for a chance to win cash and academic prizes.
- Deadline: Late March
- No Teams
CubeSat Design Competition
USM challenges Maine students to design, build, and operate a CubeSat capable of meeting one of five mission challenges: Habitat, Satellite Imaging, Robotics, Engivonment, and Materials.
- Deadline: February 20
- Grades 6-12
- Individuals or Teams of any size
Maine App Challenge
Students show off their skills and creativity by building an Android or iOS mobile app for a chance to win prizes and scholarships.
- Deadline: Late March
- Individuals or Teams of 2-3
Junior Science & Humanities Symposium
Students report on the results of their STEM research investigations and compete for scholarships.
- Deadline: Late Jan./Early Feb.
- Research Paper Required
- Virtual Mentoring Available
- No Teams
Funding for Projects
The Marjot Foundation funds independent research in environmental sciences with projects designed by high school students.
- Deadlines: October 15 & April 20
- Get funding for project materials and mentorship
- No Teams
National/Global Competitions
Regeneron Science Talent Search
The Nation’s oldest and most prestigious STEM competition, STS invites high school seniors to submit their original research.
- Deadline: November 9
- Research Paper Required
- No Teams
US Stockholm Jr. Water Prize
The SJWP is the world’s most prestigious award presented to a high school student for a water-research project.
- Deadline: Mid April
- Research Paper Required
- Individuals or Teams of 2
GENIUS Olympiad
An international competition about environmental issues with two STEM categories: science and robotics.
- Deadline: March
- Research Paper Required
- Individuals or Teams of 2
National Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge
An international science competition to promote medical research, policy, and advocacy in lung cancer screening.
- Deadline: February 1
- One-page proposal required
- Middle and high school students
- Individuals or Teams
Coolest Projects
Coolest Projects is the world’s leading technology showcase for young people. It’s a unique opportunity to get creative, have fun, and celebrate ingenuity. Projects are showcased in the gallery for people all over the world to see!
- Deadline: Mid May
- Individuals or Teams of 2-5
Genes in Space Challenge
Students propose an experiment that utilizes at least one tool in the Genes in Space toolkit and test their hypothesis in the ultimate lab: The International Space Station.
- Deadline: Mid April
- Individuals or Teams of 2-4
ArcGIS Online Competition
Esri challenges students to conduct and share a research project about something in their home state using an ArcGIS StoryMap.
- Deadline: Early May
- Individuals or Teams of 2
UPenn Ecoventure Challenge
Students propose a solution to a climate-related problem in one of four competition areas: Waste & Circularity, Energy & Transportation, Food & Agriculture, or Wild Card.
- Deadline: April
- Individuals or Teams of 2-5
NASA TechRise Student Challenge
Teams of sixth to 12th-grade students are challenged to design, build, and launch experiments on NASA-supported test flights. Teachers sign up now!
- Deadline: November 3
- Teams of students in grades 6-12
Fellowships & Mentorships
Rise Research
A selective, 1-on-1 virtual mentorship program where high school students publish original research, win awards, and gain global recognition under Ivy League and Oxbridge PhD mentors. Over 80% of RISE scholars publish in peer-reviewed journals.
- Deadline: Rolling Applications
- No Teams
Summit Education Summer Programs
This virtual summer fellowship is open to rising 9th-12th graders. Students connect with mentors from leading institutions to explore STEM opportunities and career pathways. Apply early! Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Application Opens: January
- No Teams
Davidson Fellow Scholarship
Scholarships given to students with projects of significant impact in STEM.
- Deadline: Mid February
- Research Paper Required
- No human subjects or live vertebrate animals
- Individuals or Teams of 2
MIT Think Scholars Program
This program provides mentors and funding to help students in the early stages of their project.
- Deadline: January 1
- No Final Project Required
- Individuals or Teams of 2