The show must go on and organizers have pulled out all the stops for ISEF 2020. The 5-day virtual event runs through May 22.
For the last 70 years, the Society for Science & the Public and its partners have presented the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The event exists as the world’s largest science fair, showcasing thousands of high school students and STEM projects from around the globe. However, this year, for the first time in the organization’s history, the ISEF is being hosted virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. The five-day event kicked off on Monday, May 18, with presentations, panel discussions, and more planned through Friday, May 22.
In a matter of weeks, the organizers were tasked with the herculean challenge of transforming a global science fair, typically known for visual aids and overall immersive experience, into a fully virtual platform for students and attendees. No sweat, right? We spoke with the president and CEO of the society, Maya Ajmera, about the massive concerted effort and challenges surrounding the 2020 Virtual Regeneron ISEF.
“It’s all new. It’s all a big experiment. There are a couple of things. One is, at the beginning, is trying to figure out the platform you wanted to use. What’s the platform you want to use for everyone around the world to be able to have a great virtual experience? This isn’t just a webinar with people on Zoom,” Ajmera said.
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What does a virtual science fair look like?
We spent a portion of the afternoon, touring the virtual ISEF science fair and one thing is immediately evident: This definitely isn’t a webinar on Zoom. Once registered, attendees are transported to a 6Connex digital lobby where they have full access to all aspects of the fair including the finalist exhibit hall, STEM Experiential Hall, and more. The mainstage grants access to all live panel discussions as well as past events. This makes it convenient to watch live events or tune in for recorded coverage later.
The STEM Experiential Hall includes a wide array of curated virtual happenings from innovative titans across STEM fields such as JPL, National Geographic, NOVA, and others. A click of the NASA portal, for example, leads to a tour of the Langley Research Center. The USGS section dives into an immersive “geonarrative” exhibit.
The unofficial “Olympics” of science fairs
The very notion of a science fair may conjure up cliche images of a vinegar and baking soda volcano or maybe a fully functioning popsicle stick windmill. That said, it’s the overall scale and sophistication of the STEM projects that set the ISEF apart. In fact, about a quarter of the students who present at ISEF are patented or patent-ready, according to Ajmera. Historically, there’s a lot of money up for grabs with awards and cash prizes totaling $5 million for winners. As a result, ISEF serves as a platform and springboard for top STEM students to showcase their talents and prepare them for their career pursuits.
“We’re not legally able to say this, but we consider it like the Olympics of science competitions,” Ajmera said.
One of the biggest differences between the 2020 ISEF and past events is that there will be no formal judging or prizes this time around. The coronavirus pandemic disrupted the traditional affiliated fair systems and not all students were allowed to compete.