Who can participate?
All K-12 students from public, private, and home schools in Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, and Thurston Counties are invited to participate.
Where is the fair?
The fair will be permanently virtual.
Who sponsors the fair?
The fair is managed, in partnership with PLU, by the South Sound STEM Fair Alliance, a Washington state nonprofit corporation with IRS tax exempt status.
Donations, grants, and in-kind support covers the costs of planning and staging the Discovery Regional Science and Engineering Fair. There is a registration fee for older students. The fair director will ensure that all may attend. A scholarship offer is available. See our home page under registration fee. Local, regional, and national organizations and agencies provide awards for our participants.
Who are the judges?
Educators, scientists, community members, military personnel, and other professionals serve as volunteer judges for the regional science fair. They select the outstanding projects in each grade level or scientific category and provide feedback to all students about the quality of their research and presentation.
A Brief History of the Fair
The South Sound Regional & Science & Engineering Fair (SSRSEF) began in 1998. Twelve teachers from Pierce and Thurston counties approached Pacific Lutheran University and requested that PLU host a regional science fair. Since the SSRSF began, over 6,000 young scientists and engineers have participated and displayed their research to the local community and over 70 students have represented the SSRSEF at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair. Many of our participants have pursued college degrees and careers in the scientific and engineering fields.
In 2021, as suggested by the State Fair Board, we added four counties to the original four. We started with Pierce, Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties. The additions are Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam counties. The wider geographic area suggests that South Sound is no longer a representative name. We are now officially Discovery Regional Science and Engineering Fair.