top of page
science-related symbols and diagrams displayed randomly like drawing on a white background

Engagement Activities

We focus on assisting Connecticut students in engaging their curiosity about and involvement in STEM-related activities. These activities supplement the typical STEM subject education received in school and allow students to pursue their interests among like-minded peers. 

CT-STEM Fair

The Connecticut STEM Fair was started in 2001 and has grown rapidly over the last 15 years. The 2024 fair was held virtually and showcased the original research of more than 250 students. A key element of the Fair is the interactive judging of all entrants.

Students receive awards in four scientific categories: health, physical, environmental, and behavioral. Within each category, awards are given for both completed projects and research proposals.

The 2025 fair will be fully remote this year and, like last year, students will meet and speak live to judges via zoom.


The fair will be split into two dates:
Completed Projects Fair February 1st, 2025 
Project Proposals Fair February 8th, 2025 


Judging time slots will be 10:30 AM-12:30 PM and 1:00 PM-3:00 PM on both days

There will be a limit of 30 Completed Projects per school. There is no limit to the number of Research Proposals, however, the total number of projects (Completed + Proposals) per school should not exceed 50.  Like last year, the fee per student will be $35.


School and Teacher Registration
Schools need to register the number of students prior to student registration. Please complete the School Registration prior to November 1st. We will then generate invoices to be sent to your schools based on this information. 


Registration for teachers is now open. If you have not been previously registered to STEM Wizard Fair Management Software, please do so using the button below.

 

Student/Completed Project Registration
Registration for Completed Projects is Due on December 2nd, 2024. This year we are asking for teacher/advisor confirmation of registrations and SRC paperwork by December 7th, 2024.  Further information on how to verify student submission in STEMWizard to follow. 


Completed Project Posters and Abstracts are due on January 17th, 2025.
Cutoff date to switch from Completed project to Research Proposal is January 17th, 2025.

 

Student/Research Proposal Registration
Research Proposal Registration is due by December 20th, 2024. 
Research Proposal Posters and Abstracts are due on January 17th, 2025

Clicking Teacher or Student Registration will take you to STEM Wizard, a site we use to manage the fair.

Science Fair Overhead.jpg
Writing an Essay.webp
No Contest is Scheduled at This Time

The Foundation regularly sponsors an essay contest. Here's an example of a recent contest:
 

Put on your thinking cap and tell us how you would solve ONE of these three environmental problems: 

  • Air Pollution 

  • Water Pollution

  • Garbage/Trash

Essay: In 500 words or less, research how ONE of the above pollution problems affects a specific organism in Connecticut.  Describe a method that you, as a Connecticut citizen, can use to prevent and/or remediate the effects that the pollution creates for that organism. ​

Essay Content

Scholarships

The Connecticut STEM Foundation sponsors scholarships for Connecticut students interested in STEM activities and pursuing careers in STEM fields. In keeping with its Vision and Mission to create a culture of support in Connecticut for students interested in STEM, the Connecticut STEM Foundation, Inc. has created a Three-Tier Scholarship Program.

2025 Scholarship information will be available in Feb 2025.

TIER ONE is designed to support Connecticut graduating seniors who have participated in the current year’s CT STEM Fair and plan to major in a STEM field at college. To help offset first-year college costs for these students, the CT STEM Foundation grants two scholarships, each worth $2,500.

TIER TWO is designed to support Connecticut undergraduate high school students who want to explore STEM fields during the summer. A Summer Scholarship of up to $500 (depending on the summer STEM program cost to the student) is available for one of these students. Examples of summer STEM programs include any college/university summer STEM course, a summer STEM internship program, a summer science center STEM program, or a tuition high school summer STEM program.

TIER THREE serves the same objectives as Tier Two, the difference being that it is designed for Middle School students to help spur their interest in STEM upon entering high school.

Image by Vasily Koloda
bottom of page