Welcome!

The Santa Barbara County Science & Engineering Fair is open to all students in 7th through 12th grade residing in Santa Barbara County or attending any public or private school in Santa Barbara County.  Home-schooled students between the ages of 12 and 18 are also welcome to participate.  Students compete for over $4,000 in prizes and may qualify to advance to the California Science and Engineering Fair or the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.

2024 Fair Information

The 2024 Santa Barbara County Science and Engineering Fair has been canceled.  We have arranged for a few students to participate in the Ventura County Fair to provide a level of competition and a qualifying fair for students to advance to the California Science and Engineering Fair.  For more information, please contact the SB Fair President.


Please watch this location for information as we plan for 2025.

2023 Fair Results

The 2023 Science and Engineering Fair is complete.  The list of divisional and special award winners is available online.

Our 2023 California Science & Engineering Fair Winners

Congratulations to Santa Barbara County's entrants in the California Science and Engineering Fair.  Two of our students placed at the CSEF in their divisions:

2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

Congratulations to Elizabeth Olivera was a finalist in this national competition.  In the fall of 2023, she will be going to Washington D.C. to participate in that event.

What Is a Science Fair

A few years ago, the Santa Barbara County Education Office produced a video describing the different ways to participate in the Fair.  If you are considering competing or volunteering, this video may help answer your initial questions.

Human Subjects Approval

Any project relying on human subjects must comply with several requirements prior to the beginning of the experiment.


Vertebrate Animal Approval

Any project relying on vertebrate animal subjects (fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.) must receive prior approval from the Science Review Committee.  The form, including instructions, is available for download.

Our Sponsors